ELIGIBILITY:

The Grand Challenge will unfold across three rounds and offer up to $100 million in total funding. The first round will include the following two phases.

Phase 1: Proposals

The first phase will award up to 30 seed grants for promising ideas that multiply impact using modern AI. Phase 1 is open to all eligible applicants.

During the first phase:

Potential applicants will have access to a virtual information session, webinars introducing AI and discussing the focus areas, and a collection of curated resources as they develop their proposals.

A submission should articulate the proposed solution and the problem it addresses, the near-term and long-term impacts the solution will have, the potential for scaling the solution, the resources needed for development, and the approach to responsible development of the solution.

Phase 1 submissions are due by 5:59 p.m. Eastern Time (9:59 p.m. UTC) on Tuesday, July 30. Applicants must accept the Grand Challenge Agreement to submit a proposal.

An expert review panel and multidisciplinary judging panel will evaluate submissions according to Phase 1 selection criteria. Based on their evaluation, judges will recommend up to 30 awardees.

Phase 2: Implementation plans

Seed Grantees will enter a virtual Innovation Sprint; these grantees will receive targeted support and resources from AI experts as they develop detailed implementation plans. Phase 2 is open exclusively to Seed Grantees.

The virtual Innovation Sprint will include:

Teaming support. Seed Grantees will build partnerships to enable development and implementation of their proposals.

Expert mentorship. Expert mentors will guide Seed Grantees as they refine their proposals and prepare for implementation.

Webinars. Seed Grantees will join exclusive webinars to hear from influential experts at the forefront of climate, nature, and AI.

Additional resources. Seed Grantees may receive access to additional resources, which may include computing infrastructure or access to relevant datasets.

Seed Grantees will submit their implementation plans and present them to the judging panel. Judges will evaluate submissions according to the Phase 2 selection criteria and recommend up to 15 awardees. 

BENEFIT:

Phase 1 Grants: The Bezos Earth Fund will determine the final slate of Seed Grantees. After completing a Bezos Earth Fund grant agreement, each Seed Grantee will receive $50,000 and an exclusive invitation to participate in Phase 2.

Phase 2 Grants: The Bezos Earth Fund will select the final slate of Implementation Grantees. Phase 2 will culminate with the announcement of up to 15 Implementation Grantees; each team will each receive up to $2 million to close the gap between concept and viability.