The Earthshot Prize

Launched in 2020 by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, The Earthshot Prize is a prestigious global competition that seeks out and supports the most promising solutions to the planet's most urgent environmental challenges. Every year, five winners each receive a catalytic £1,000,000 (approximately ₹10.5 Crore) grant in non-repayable funding across five 'Earthshot' categories: Protect & Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate. The prize is designed not only to reward existing progress but to accelerate it—spotlighting scalable, tested innovations that can be replicated worldwide. The initiative has a strong global reach and is scheduled to host its 2026 awards ceremony in Mumbai, India, reflecting the prize's commitment to engaging with diverse ecosystems. India already has two past winners, demonstrating the program's openness to Indian founders, organisations, and teams.

Unlike many funding programs, The Earthshot Prize does not accept direct applications. Instead, ventures must be nominated by a network of accredited 'Official Nominators'—including universities, accelerators, investors, NGOs, and government bodies—after a pitching process with the nominator. Shortlisted nominees then move through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation involving expert reviewers, advisory panels of leading scientists and business leaders, and ultimately the Prize Council, which selects the five annual winners.

• £1,000,000 prize per winner
• Global environmental solutions challenge
• 5 categories awarded annually
• Nomination-only application process
• 2026 ceremony in Mumbai, India
• Solutions beyond idea stage required

The prize is open to organisations and teams anywhere in the world—there are no geographic restrictions, though Indian teams are strongly welcomed (two past winners). Eligible solutions must be beyond the idea stage: they must have a working prototype or an operating solution that has been tested with real users and is already demonstrating early positive impact. The prize accepts nominations on behalf of for-profit companies, non-profit organisations, government bodies, universities, research institutions, and even individuals or informal collaborations.

There is no specific requirement for DPIIT or MSME registration, and ventures can be at any legal stage as long as they can show a real-world, tested solution in one of the five Earthshot categories. Pure concepts or unvalidated ideas will not be considered.

The Earthshot Prize is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The Earthshot Prize accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

Each of the five annual winners receives a substantial £1,000,000 (approximately ₹10.5 Crore) in non-repayable prize funding—not a loan or equity investment, so winners retain full ownership. Beyond the cash, winners gain:— Unparalleled global visibility through a high-profile, televised awards ceremony and widespread media coverage, which can open doors to new markets, partnerships, and investor interest.- Access to the 'Earthshot member' network, which offers ongoing tailored support, expert mentorship, strategic networking opportunities, and facilitation for further fundraising.

This combination of direct funding, reputation boost, and ecosystem support is designed to help winning solutions scale their impact and reach the next level of growth.

The Earthshot Prize is offered by The Earthshot Prize. It is delivered directly by The Earthshot Prize as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The selection process is multi-staged and extremely rigorous. It begins with nomination by an accredited Official Nominator—once a nominator agrees to support a solution, they submit the formal nomination within the prize's open nomination window. After submission:- Initial Screening: Expert reviewers check that nominees meet the core eligibility criteria (beyond idea stage, relevant category) and show sufficient potential.- In-Depth Analysis by Advisory Panels: Shortlisted solutions are evaluated by panels of leading scientists, environmentalists, business leaders, and policymakers. They assess impact potential, scalability, replicability, and innovation.- Final Decision by the Prize Council: A high-level Council of influential figures (including experts and global leaders) reviews the panel recommendations and selects the five annual winners—one per Earthshot category.

Only five prizes are awarded each year, making the competition exceptionally selective.

Before you apply to The Earthshot Prize, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

The Earthshot Prize is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹10.5Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.