SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2025
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Prudence Foundation's disaster-technology awards with over US$150,000 in cash prizes for innovators worldwide whose tech improves resilience to natural disasters.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Prudence Foundation
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 21 March 2025. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Prudence Foundation. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards were created by the Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, to find, fund and support technology that saves lives before, during and after natural disasters. This round is closed: applications for the 2025 edition closed on 21 March 2025 (the row's deadline is 20 March 2025 at 18:30 UTC, which is the start of 21 March in India), and the awards were held on 11 June 2025. The official page calls the awards bi-annual and does not announce a next edition.
The awards invite innovators from around the globe, so Indian startups could enter; they are not India-only. The 2025 awards included live pitches at Echelon Singapore, so finalists should expect a live pitching event rather than a purely paper process.
What the program offers
The 2025 edition offered over US$150,000 in cash prizes in total, live pitch opportunities at Echelon Singapore 2025, and AWS cloud technology support for all finalists. The foundation lists three objectives for the awards: tackling key challenges with a focus on climate change and smarter, more resilient communities; discovering scalable solutions; and empowering innovators with funding, mentorship and opportunities to grow and scale globally. The sources do not say how the prize pool is split between winners.
Who can apply
The 2025 launch invited innovators from around the globe. The technology must be used innovatively to improve resilience against natural disasters. That can be a product focused on disasters, or technology that forms part of the value chain for early warning, preparedness, prevention, mitigation, relief, response or recovery. "D-Tech" covers new or existing technology, so you do not have to invent something from scratch.
The 2025 edition took entries under two themes. Climate and Health looked at the growing threat of climate-related health impacts. Smart Resilience looked at using technology to improve disaster preparedness, real-time response and efficient recovery. A future edition may choose different themes. This suits a startup with a working disaster-related product, such as early-warning systems, flood or heat monitoring, emergency logistics, or health tools for climate emergencies. The pages do not state conditions on company stage, registration or team size, so check the rules of the next edition.
How to apply
For 2025, innovators applied online through the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards application linked from the launch announcement. The public pages do not list the questions or the materials required. A practical tip: prepare a short explanation of the disaster problem you address, how your technology works in practice, any evidence of use, and how you would scale it; this is a tip, not an official requirement.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The pages do not describe the judging process or the criteria. They show that finalists were invited to pitch live, and that the awards took place on 11 June 2025. Each finalist received AWS cloud technology support, and the cash prizes were announced at the event.
About the Prudence Foundation
The Prudence Foundation is the community investment arm of the Prudential plc group. It created the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards, first launched in 2019, which have been run every two years. The 2025 launch named UNDRR (the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction), the IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), Amazon Web Services and e27 as partners.
Things to check before you apply
- No next edition is announced; the awards are described as bi-annual, so do not assume a date.
- Prizes are in US dollars. Indian companies should check with an adviser how foreign prize money is treated for tax and exchange rules before entering.
- The pages do not say whether the prize is a grant, whether it takes equity, or whether finalists must travel and who pays; ask the organisers or read the terms of the next call.
- Entry requirements, judging criteria and the split of the prize pool are not on the pages read.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
The 2025 awards offered over US$150,000 in cash prizes across the winners, plus live pitch opportunities at Echelon Singapore 2025 and AWS cloud technology support for all finalists. The foundation describes the awards as giving funding, mentorship and global recognition.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The public pages say finalists are invited to pitch live at the awards event, which in 2025 was held on 11 June at Echelon Singapore. The pages do not describe the judging criteria or the shortlisting steps.
Application Process
- 1
Apply online
Submit your disaster-tech solution during the open window.
You - 2
- 3
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards open now?
No. Applications for the 2025 edition closed on 21 March 2025 and the awards took place on 11 June 2025. The awards are described as bi-annual and no next edition has been announced.
Can Indian startups apply for the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards?
The 2025 edition invited innovators from around the globe, so Indian startups were not excluded. The pages read do not state any other eligibility conditions.
What technology counts as D-Tech?
New or existing technology used innovatively to improve resilience against natural disasters. It can be a disaster-focused product or part of the value chain for early warning, preparedness, prevention, mitigation, relief, response or recovery.
How much can winners get?
The 2025 edition offered over US$150,000 in cash prizes in total. The pages do not say how the pool was divided between winners.
What else did finalists receive?
Live pitch opportunities at Echelon Singapore 2025 and AWS cloud technology support for all finalists. The foundation also describes funding, mentorship and opportunities to scale globally as its aims.
Is it a grant or equity?
The pages describe cash prizes and support. They do not mention equity or any repayment, but they do not set out the full terms either.
What were the 2025 themes?
Climate and Health, about the growing threat of climate-related health impacts, and Smart Resilience, about using technology for disaster preparedness, real-time response and efficient recovery.
Do I have to travel to pitch?
The 2025 finalists were offered live pitch opportunities at Echelon Singapore. The pages do not state whether attendance in person was required or who covered costs.
Is it free to enter, and what do I need to submit?
The pages read do not mention an entry fee or list the application questions. Applications were made through an online form linked from the launch announcement.
When will the next awards be?
The awards are described as bi-annual, but the page does not name a next edition or date. Follow the Prudence Foundation page for any announcement.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
