The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize
By Wellcome
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Quick Answer
A global challenge prize offering up to £6.25 million (approx. ₹65.6 crore) to multi-disciplinary teams developing innovative solutions to improve outcomes for people affected by snakebite in high-burden settings.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Wellcome
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 16 September 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Wellcome. 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 Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize is a significant global challenge prize, launched by Wellcome and delivered by Challenge Works, aimed at tackling the devastating impact of snakebite envenoming. Each year, up to 2.7 million people are bitten by venomous snakes, leading to over 100,000 deaths and 400,000 life-changing disabilities globally. The burden is acutely felt by rural, poor, and agrarian communities in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South-East Asia, and Latin America, where access to timely and effective care is severely limited.
This prize calls for innovators worldwide to develop and scale solutions that strengthen community responses, accelerate access to appropriate care, or improve the delivery of treatment for snakebite. It supports both early-stage concepts (Launch Track) seeking proof-of-concept and more mature solutions (Growth Track) aiming for wider implementation and impact. The program emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach, encouraging collaboration and drawing expertise from diverse fields to create technological, social, logistical, and systems-level innovations. Through a multi-stage process of assessment, development, and final judging, the prize seeks to identify and fund the most impactful solutions that can make a near-term transformative difference in the patient journey from bite to effective emergency care.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Wellcome is a global charitable foundation focused on science to solve urgent health challenges. It supports discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, with a focus on mental health, infectious disease, and climate and health. Wellcome provides funding opportunities for…
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What You Get
The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize offers a total fund of £6.25 million (approx. ₹65.6 crore) to catalyze impactful solutions. Finalists receive seed funding: £75,000 (approx. ₹78.75 lakh) for Launch Track teams (up to 10) and £100,000 (approx. ₹1.05 crore) for Growth Track teams (up to 5), along with bespoke support during a 10-month development phase. Up to four winning teams will then share a further £5 million (approx. ₹52.5 crore) for a three-year implementation period, with individual prizes reaching £750,000 (approx. ₹7.87 crore) for Launch winners and £1.75 million (approx. ₹18.37 crore) for Growth winners. Beyond funding, innovators benefit from a matchmaking platform for collaborators, a webinar series with snakebite experts, and hackathon-style events.
- Disbursement
- Milestone Based
- Duration
- 37 months
- Cohort size
- 15 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Applications are first subjected to an eligibility check. Eligible entries are then reviewed by expert assessors and judges against predefined judging criteria. Following this initial assessment phase, up to 15 of the most promising teams are selected as finalists. These finalists proceed to a 10-month development period, during which they refine their solutions. Finally, the 15 finalists submit their refined solutions and long-term proposals for a second, final round of judging by the expert panel. Up to four winning teams are then selected to receive the larger prize funds for further development and implementation.
Application Process
- 1
Prize Opens
The prize officially opens for entries across both Launch and Growth tracks.
Provider - 2
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 2
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 3
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 4
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total prize money available?
The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize has a total fund of £6.25 million (approximately ₹65.6 crore). This is distributed across finalist seed funding and larger prizes for the ultimate winners.
Who is eligible to apply for this prize?
Legally incorporated organizations such as companies, non-profits, charities, research organizations, universities, and civil society groups are eligible. The lead entrant must be at least 18 years old. Individuals without an organizational affiliation cannot apply.
What kind of solutions is the prize looking for?
The prize seeks technological, social, logistical, and systems-level solutions to improve patient outcomes in the pathway from snakebite to effective emergency care. Solutions focused solely on drug development, primary prevention, basic research, or long-term recovery are generally out of scope as a primary focus.
Are there different tracks for solutions at varying stages?
Yes, there are two tracks: the Launch Track for new or early-stage ideas seeking proof-of-concept, and the Growth Track for more mature solutions with tested principles or prototypes ready for wider implementation and scaling.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline for initial submissions is strictly 16 September 2026, at 12 noon UTC (5:30 PM IST). Late entries will not be accepted.
Where will the solutions be implemented?
Proposed solutions must be specifically tailored for and implemented in high-burden snakebite settings, which are defined as areas with high mortality or morbidity rates and significant unmet need, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South-East Asia, and Latin America.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
