NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
The Moonshot Awards Competition (the "Competition") is designed to encourage self-starters and change-makers around the world ("Entrant(s)”) learn how to use their ideas to change the world. Judges will choose the winning entries, and prizes will be awarded in accordance with these Official rules.
The Competition is open to anyone who is at least fifteen (15) years old at the time of entry. Employees of Moonshot Platform Inc. and other companies associated with the promotion of the Competition, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising and promotion agencies, as well as the immediate family of each such employee, are not eligible. The Competition is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
The Competition is Organized by Moonshot Platform Inc., located at 201 N. Union Street Suite 110, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314.
Participation in the Competition constitutes Entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Organizer, which are final and binding. Participation by minor Entrants constitutes Entrant’s and Entrant’s Parent/Guardian full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Organizer, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein.
The Competition begins on August 1, 2022 12:00 a.m. ET and ends on September 30, 2022 11:59 p.m. ET (the "Competition Period"). Entries that are submitted before or after the Competition Period will be disqualified. Submissions will be accepted online for the duration of the Competition.
Online: Enter by visiting our website www.moonshotplatform.org and following the directions provided to fill out the entry information, and submit. Entries are not limited to one per person. Entries without a completed Application form, as well as a completed and signed Under-18 Parent / Guardian Consent form if Entrant is a minor, will be disqualified. All entries become the property of the Organizer and will not be acknowledged or returned. There is no purchase required to enter.
All entries must meet the following criteria ("Entry Requirements"):
a. They must not be derogatory, offensive, threatening, defamatory, disparaging, libelous or contain any content that is inappropriate, indecent, sexual, profane, tortuous, slanderous, discriminatory in any way, or that promotes hatred or harm against any group or person, or otherwise does not comply with the theme and spirit of the Competition.
b. They must not contain content, material or any element that is unlawful, or otherwise in violation of or contrary to all applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulation including the laws or regulations in any state where the entry and supporting statement are created.
c. They must not contain any content, material or element that displays any third party advertising, slogan, logo, trademark, representation of characters indicating asponsorship or endorsement by a third party, commercial entity or that is not within the spirit of the Competition, as determined by Organizer, in its sole discretion.
d. They must be original, unpublished works that does not contain, incorporate or otherwise use any content, material or element that is owned by a third party or entity.
e. They cannot contain any content, element, or material that violates a third party's publicity, privacy or intellectual property rights.
f. The project or idea entered is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim.
g. Incomplete entries or entries not complying with these Rules are subject to disqualification.
What will the jury evaluate me on?
The Moonshot Awards jury looks at each application holistically through a multitude of lenses and from several angles. We recognize each project is unique and prioritizes slightly different goals and approaches, but generally we evaluate projects on 5 key criteria under our proprietary “V.I.T.I.V.” framework:
· Viability — What are the prospects for long-term survival? When faced with “the real world”, will the initiative be able to sustain itself over time?
· Innovativeness — The idea of “not reinventing the wheel” is useful at times, but to change the status quo, truly novel approaches are needed. Is the idea completely new, or has it been thought of and tried before?
· Transferability – It’s always perfectly fine – and in fact recommended – to start out with a small initial target audience and geography, but what then..? Can the idea be implemented in other parts of the world, and add to a truly global impact?
· Impact Potential — If fully developed, successfully implemented, and adopted, what is the magnitude of the change that the idea can create? Will it help a few thousand, or can it truly change the lives of billions?
· Value-fit — As a mission-driven organization, we seek to award projects that create a positive change in the world and align with our core tenets of equality, sustainability, diversity, value-centricity, and collaboration.
At the same time, from our experience, we know the founding team is very much a key make-or-break factor that determines the success of a project, and thus, we look at the applicant / leader / initiator too. It isn’t about coming up with ideas—it’s about the work put in to see them through.
As such, we look for entrepreneurs, community workers, and leaders who show to us that they have what it takes to become global drivers of change who can make their project succeed. Some common key traits among the most successful applicants are:
· Team-Player — You can collaborate dynamically and put the team before your personal goals.
· Entrepreneurial — You take initiative to push yourself even outside of your comfort zone.
· Passionate — You are genuinely enthralled by addressing the specific problem you’ve set out to solve.
· Impact-Oriented — You don’t just care about the solution itself; you care about creating real results it creates.
· Determined — You are ready to persevere until you succeed.
Moonshot ideas are catalysts of change. They have the power to set the course of world’s history (or rather, the future) in either a better or worse direction. To be on the right side of history, and ensure the prevalence of only the positive value-creating ideas, we seek to support evolutionary developments in natural sciences, humanities, arts, and ethics which are only mental seedlings, awaiting realization through physical acts.
What’s the main topic?
Sustainable Development Goals-related digital innovations.
Who can apply?
Any ‘digital citizens’ (18-30 years old) with ideas serving other digital citizens.
What can you win?
1st place: 10,000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
Exclusion
No established organizations.
Startups are the future of business. Small in company size but massive in impact potential, these mission-driven organizations break molds, fix problems, and empower a more positive future. We aim to help them change a piece of the world in a positive way, particularly those who have yet to receive any formal support or funding.
What’s the main topic?
SDGs-related digital innovations.
Who can apply?
Any ‘digital citizens’ (15-25 years old) with ideas serving other digital citizens.
What can you win?
1st place: 10,000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
Exclusion
No startups that have gone through an investment round.
The Covid-19 pandemic upended almost every aspect of school at once. ‘The school’ and education overall, an institution/industry too often in the background and almost taken for granted, has been changed forever, placing a lot of stress on students and educators alike. Particularly in the 21st century, a period of growing demands that students from preschool to college must keep up to date with, the world requires new ways to harness technology, spark students’ creativity, provide the services they need to succeed – let’s help accelerate these.
What’s the main topic?
Digital education. Mental health. [SDGs 3+4]
Who can apply?
Founders, inventors, and entire initiatives building the future of learning and aiding students’ mental health.
What can you win?
1st place: 10,000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
Exclusion
No governmental organizations.
A strenuous geopolitical situation in multiple parts of the world is causing disruption to the lives of over 2 billion people living in these conflict-affected areas and often causing major displacement of entire cultural groups. Civilian casualties and major destruction of civilian infrastructure has forced millions to flee their homes seeking safety, protection, and assistance – creating a new wave of refugees and destroying the cultural heritage of many indigenous communities. In light of the emergency and the scale of humanitarian needs, we look to support initiatives that serve minority communities on a “for the people, by the people” principle.
What’s the main topic?
Digital education. Mental health. [SDGs 3+4]
Who can apply?
Individuals or teams from indigenous, migrant, internally displaced or refugee communities anywhere in the world.
What can you win?
1st place: 10,000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
Exclusion
No governmental organizations.
Responding to emergencies quickly and efficiently is a challenge of growing importance in today’s turbulent world full of looming natural, technological, geopolitical, and other threats. Thanks to a number of emerging innovations, it is becoming easier for everyday citizens to assess threats, share information, and plan responses to the most urgent of emergencies. We seek to help the most promising initiatives achieve scale for larger impact.
What’s the main topic?
Social innovation. [SDGs]
Who can apply?
An initiative launched to respond to an emergency, seeking self-sustainability before scaling.
What can you win?
1st place: 10,000 USD
1st, 2nd & 3rd place: exclusive invitation to Moonshot Young Leaders Acceleration Camp with world-class mentors, including room & board.
Exclusion
No governmental organizations
Monumental changes require monumental efforts, great sacrifices, plenty of time, a couple of brilliant minds, and often significant resources and investments. Every idea, project, or initiative that makes it through a scrutinizing selection process all the way to the final is bound to possess almost all: a bright motivated team with a grand vision to make change and an innovative proposition to match. Let’s ensure the resource piece isn’t missing either for the single project that is crowned winner!
What’s the main topic?
All of the above.
Who can apply?
Everyone who has applied for any of the previously mentioned categories is automatically considered for this award as well.
What can you win?
40,000 USD
Exclusion
Respective to each of the previous categories.
The Organizer will attempt to notify the potential winner via telephone or email latest on 30th of October 2021. If the potential winner cannot be contacted within five (5) days after the date of the first attempt to contact him/her, the Organizer may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place from the remaining non-winning, eligible entries.
The winners of each category are obliged, if their placement is communicated to them in advance, to observe a non-disclosure agreement until the award ceremony, i.e. until the actual announcement of their placement on the day of the Award Ceremony.
If the potential winner is a minor, or is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, the Organizer reserves the right to award the prize in the name of his/her Parent/Guardian, who will be required to fulfill any other requirements imposed on winner set forth herein. Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, the Organizer will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner from among remaining eligible entries.
Any false information provided within the context of the Competition by Entrant concerning identity, mailing address, telephone number, email address, ownership of rights, or non-compliance with these Rules or the like may result in the immediate elimination of the entrant from the Competition.
The Organizer also reserves the right to request photographs, graphic or other material relating to Entrants and their entered projects for the purpose of media coverage. By providing materials, the Entrant confirms that these materials are original, that by publishing them, the promoter of the competition will not incur any obligation to third parties, nor will the copyright and other rights or legitimate interests of third parties (includingthe right to protection of personality or reputation of third parties) be affected.
By submitting the material, the Entrant further declares that:
(a) the Entrant has unlimited rights to grant other persons the right to use the photograph to an unlimited extentand
(b) the persons depicted in the photograph have consented to the publication of the photograph in the competition.
Any taxes associated with participation or winning in the Competition are solely the responsibility of the Entrant, or of the minor Entrant and their Parent/Guardian.
In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Competition is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, bug, worm, unauthorized human intervention or other technical problem, or in the event the Competition is unable to run as planned for any other reason, as determined by Organizer in its sole discretion, the Organizer may, in its sole discretion, either (a) suspend the Competition to address the impairment and then resume the Competition in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules or (b) terminate the Competition. The Organizer reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Competition or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Organizer reserves the right to seek damages (including attorney's fees) and any other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Failure by the Organizer to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
By participating in the Competition, Entrants (and their Parent/Guardian, if Entrant is a minor) agree to release and hold harmless the Organizer, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the Competition, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Competition or Awards (including any travel or activity related thereto), including, but not limited to: (a) any technical errors associated with the Competition, including lost, interrupted or unavailable Internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Competition; (c) mechanical, network, electronic, computer, human, printing or typographical errors; (d) application downloads, (e) any other errors or problems in connection with the Competition, including, without limitation, errors that may occur in the administration of the Competition, the announcement of the winner, the cancellation or postponement of the event, the incorrect downloading of the application, the processing of entries application downloads or in any Competition-related materials; or (f) injury, death, losses or damages of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Entrants’ participation in the Competition or attendance at the Awards (including any travel or activity related thereto). Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Competition, and in no event shall the Entrant be entitled to receive attorney's fees. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Competition. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.
Except where prohibited, each Entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Competition or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in Virginia. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, Entrants rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Organizer in connection with the Competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Virginia.
These rules may be unilaterally changed by the Organizer at any time. Any changes will be published on the Sustainable Development Goals 2022 Awards website immediately after the change and will take effect upon publication unless otherwise specified.
Information collected from Entrants is subject to the Organizer's privacy policy.