QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge 2026
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Quick Answer
A free, six-month virtual accelerator and competition for climate-resilience startups worldwide, with a US$100,000 non-dilutive grand prize (about ₹95 lakh). The 2026 round has closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Leading Cities
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 30 April 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Leading Cities. 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 2026 round of the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge is closed: applications shut on 30 April 2026. The official page says applications open every April for one month, but it does not give a date for the 2027 round. The challenge is a six-month global accelerator and competition run by Leading Cities, a Boston-based non-profit, with the QBE Foundation, and it carries a US$175,000 prize pool, including a US$100,000 grand prize (about ₹95 lakh).
It is fully virtual, so there is no travel, and it is open to innovators anywhere. India is well represented: the 2026 list of selected companies includes startups from Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Indore. The 2026 group was chosen from over 960 applications from 77 countries.
What the program offers
The prize pool is US$175,000 in non-dilutive funding, which means you give up no ownership. The Grand Prize is US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh). Its winner must put part of the award toward a real-world pilot with a community after the program, usually through Leading Cities' AcceliGOV platform, and gets support to structure and launch that pilot. The rest of the pool is shared among standout finalists, with specialty prizes awarded at the final event.
Prizes are only part of it. All Top 100 participants get a weekly virtual curriculum on working with cities, including procurement, public-private partnerships and finding a city champion, which leads to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Readiness certification. They are also invited to monthly City Solutions Forums where municipal leaders share their priorities, and get a year of free access to LaunchPad 11, Leading Cities' network of city leaders and investors. The page also says participants can keep studying the curriculum until the following June at no cost. Leading Cities takes no equity and there is no fee to apply.
Who can apply
The challenge looks for startups, entrepreneurs and technology providers whose solutions help communities prepare for, withstand and recover from climate risks, infrastructure disruptions and other resilience challenges. Themes include climate resilience, environmental protection, water, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, public safety and sustainable urban systems. The page frames it as a deployment pathway rather than a pure pitch contest, so it suits companies with a working product that are ready to test it with a city or community. Early ideas with no product to deploy will struggle to use it well.
Applicants choose between two regional divisions, each taking 50 startups. The East division runs live sessions on Tuesdays from 1 PM to 2 PM Australian Eastern time (UTC+11), which is about 7:30 AM in India, and suits Asia, Australia and Oceania, the Middle East and East Africa. The West division suits the Americas, Europe and West Africa.
How to apply
Apply online through the Resilience Challenge page during the April window, choosing a division. It is free. Global judges score each application on impact, the problem addressed, innovation and the business model. A practical tip: write about the specific community or city problem you solve and who would pilot it, since the program is built around real-world deployment.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Several judges from Leading Cities' global network score each application separately. The Top 100 are invited in May and have two weeks to accept. From June to November they follow the weekly virtual curriculum. The Top 50 take part in Smart-Up Week in early September, with three one-on-one meetings with global experts, city leaders and industry partners; those mentors also help pick the Top 10. The Top 10 join a week-long virtual bootcamp in early October and then present to a panel at a live virtual final pitch event. The Grand Prize winner and specialty prize winners are announced at a public final event in November.
About Leading Cities and QBE
Leading Cities is a Boston-based non-profit that connects innovators with city governments. The Resilience Challenge is one of its AcceliCITY challenges, alongside the Mass Climate Tech Challenge and the Humanitarian Challenge. QBE is an international insurer and reinsurer founded in 1886 in Townsville, Australia, with a presence in 26 countries; its stated purpose is to enable a more resilient future.
Things to check before you apply
- The Grand Prize money is tied to a community pilot, so budget the pilot into your plan.
- Live sessions are weekly for about five months, so confirm your team can attend the East division slot.
- The curriculum leans towards US and city-government procurement in later months.
- Winning is not guaranteed by joining; only the Top 10 pitch and only the finalists share the prizes.
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 challenge awards US$175,000 in non-dilutive funding. The Grand Prize winner receives US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh) and must allocate part of it to deploying a real-world pilot with a community after the program. The remaining US$75,000 is distributed among standout finalists across key resilience themes. All Top 100 participants get the PPP Readiness curriculum, mentoring and complimentary LaunchPad 11 membership.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Each application is independently scored by several judges from Leading Cities' global network of experts. The Top 100 join the program, mentors in Smart-Up Week help choose the Top 10, and the Top 10 pitch to a panel of global experts at a live virtual event. The Grand Prize winner and specialty prize winners are announced at the final event in November.
Application Process
- 1
Apply in April
Submit your solution during the one-month April window.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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
Can Indian startups apply to the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge?
Yes. The challenge is open to innovators from anywhere, and the East division's schedule suits Asia. Several Indian startups were among the 2026 selected companies.
Is the Resilience Challenge open now?
No. Applications for 2026 closed on 30 April 2026. The page says applications open every April for one month, but it does not announce 2027 dates.
How much is the prize?
The total pool is US$175,000 in non-dilutive funding. The Grand Prize is US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh), and the remaining US$75,000 is shared among standout finalists.
Does Leading Cities take equity?
No. Leading Cities does not take equity from applicants or winners, and the prize funding is non-dilutive.
Is there a fee to apply?
No. Thanks to QBE's support, there is no cost to apply.
Do I have to travel?
No. The curriculum, mentoring, bootcamp and final pitch event are all virtual.
What must the grand prize winner do with the money?
The winner must put part of the US$100,000 toward a real-world pilot with a community, usually through Leading Cities' AcceliGOV platform. The program gives post-award support to set up and launch the pilot.
How does the selection work?
Several judges score each application on impact, the problem addressed, innovation and the business model. The Top 100 join, the Top 50 get mentor meetings, and the Top 10 pitch at the final event.
When are the winners announced?
The Grand Prize and specialty prize winners are announced at a public final event in November.
What do non-winning participants get?
All Top 100 companies keep access to the curriculum, can earn PPP Readiness certification, get monthly City Solutions Forums and a year of free LaunchPad 11 access.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
