The MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge by Social Shifters and Allianz shares $90,000 USD in grant awards among youth-led social startups, with individual awards of $5,000 and $10,000. Founders must be aged 18 to 30, and submissions close on 18 December 2026 at 17:00 UTC. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the official Social Shifters page and set out the categories, the eligibility rules and the full timeline below.
What You Can Win
💵 Multiple awards of $5,000 and $10,000 USD
🧮 A total of $30,000 in each of the three award categories, which makes $90,000 USD overall
🧑🏫 Free founder and startup support: help to develop strong submissions and access to exclusive learning materials
🤝 An Allianz business mentor for every finalist founder
🌐 Access to a global opportunities network with grant funding awards, paid work and training with Social Shifters all year round
The Three Award Categories
Your startup, venture or project must fit one of these categories:
💳 Financial confidence in the digital economy: backing young innovators who help entrepreneurs and SMEs start, grow and sustain businesses with digital tools, skills and financial knowledge
🩺 Closing the health gap, equality in health ecosystems: health solutions that address systemic gaps, especially the underrepresentation of women and marginalised groups in health research, health services and diagnostics, using community-led and technology-enabled approaches
🌦️ Community-led climate resilience, from early warning to resilient livelihoods: helping vulnerable rural and urban communities prepare for and thrive despite the impacts of climate change through locally rooted solutions that combine technology with community knowledge
Who Can Apply
🧑💼 Youth-led: the founders leading the startup or project must be between 18 and 30 years old and have clear decision-making authority
🌱 Impact focused: the startup or project must address a clearly defined social or environmental issue and show measurable social outputs and impact
🌍 Social Shifters' community and support programmes are for young people anywhere in the world who take action in their community and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
What the Judges Look For
🤖 Applicants are highly encouraged to use AI and emerging technologies, while showing responsible and ethical use of technology and personal data
♿ Solutions should show inclusive design principles and consider digital accessibility for diverse users
🏘️ Solutions for and from underserved communities are prioritised
Challenge Timeline
🟢 7 October 2026: submissions open
🔴 18 December 2026, 17:00 UTC: submissions close
📊 25 January 2027: first scoring round begins
🏁 26 February 2027: first scoring round ends
📣 March 2027: finalist shortlisting and announcement
🧭 15 March 2027: finalist mentoring begins
🎤 May 2027: finals with live pitching, then winning founders are announced
🏦 June 2027: grant awards are allocated
Not an Erasmus+ or ESC Programme
This challenge is run by Social Shifters and Allianz. It is not an Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme, and it is not connected to either of them. The page does not mention an application fee or any participation fee. More calls like this are listed in the Others category.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money can a winning startup receive?
Awards are $5,000 or $10,000 USD. Each of the three categories has $30,000 in awards, and the total is $90,000 USD.
What age do founders need to be?
Founders leading the startup or project must be between 18 and 30 years old.
Which kind of projects can apply?
Youth-led startups, ventures and projects that fit one of the three categories: financial confidence in the digital economy, closing the health gap, or community-led climate resilience. They must address a clearly defined social or environmental issue with measurable impact.
When is the deadline?
Submissions close on 18 December 2026 at 17:00 UTC.
When are the winners announced?
The finals with live pitching take place in May 2027, when the winning founders are announced. Grant awards are allocated in June 2027.
Do finalists get support?
Yes. All finalist founders receive an Allianz business mentor, and mentoring begins on 15 March 2027.
Deadline
⏳ 18 December 2026
Links
🌐 Official challenge page and registration: https://www.socialshifters.co/allianz-movenow-social-innovation-challenge/
✉️ Contact: hello@socialshifters.co
