As a company operating in the area of risk, we understand the importance of building resilience, so that our cities and communities are prepared for evolving and increasingly severe risks.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Leading Cities to deliver the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge – to help find and support entrepreneurs from around the world whose ventures help to make communities more equitable, sustainable, and resilient.
In 2024, QBE and Leading Cities, in collaboration with Australian Red Cross Humanitech, introduced a new Humanitarian Track. The new track seeks to harness the transformative potential of technology to bridge the gap between data, community resilience decision making, and local action.
More than 740 entrepreneurs from 70 countries competed in the 2024 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge.
The 2024 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge Primary Track winner was named as Gravity Water, an international organisation revolutionising water security and climate resilience for vulnerable communities with innovative rainwater harvesting technologies. With projects in regions like Nepal and Vietnam, they deliver eco-friendly solutions that support public health, conserve resources, and empower local communities for lasting impact.
In addition to the Primary Track, two specialised tracks were available: The Proptech Track, which targets loss mitigation solutions at the intersection of commercial property insurance and sustainability, and the new Humanitarian Track, which welcomed applications from changemakers and innovators addressing a real-world humanitarian problem.
Gravity Water was also named the 2024 Proptech Track winner.
Satellite analytics company WEO was announced as the winner of the Humanitarian Track. WEO’s platform is transforming how communities strengthen their resilience by combining advanced satellite technology with local action. Leveraging data from space, the power of artificial intelligence and local knowledge, WEO provides communities with the decision-making information they need to understand and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.
QBE also awarded two $25,000 People’s Choice awards to winners selected by employees in two global regions: Reef Arches and Gravity Water.
The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge has quickly become one of the largest programs of its kind in the world and has demonstrated tremendous impact. AcceliCITY alumni have already raised more than $1 billion, with many having since deployed their solutions in cities to improve the equity, resilience and safety of our urban centres.
2025 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge
We’re looking for technological solutions that could change the world.
Applications for 2025 will open later this year.
Primary Challenge
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USD 100,000 toward a pilot project with the winning City of AcceliGOV
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2 x USD 25,000 prize for QBE AcceliCITY People’s Choice winner for Eastern and Western Hemispheres)
Proptech Track (Commercial Property)
Our Proptech Track is available to entrepreneurs whose innovations provide sustainable, loss mitigation solutions for the Commercial Property sector. We are searching for solutions that will help to identify or minimise potential hazards more quickly, lessen the effects of property damage, decrease business disruption or home evacuation caused by property damage, as well as other creative solutions for property insurance and sustainability.
Applicants participating in the Track will automatically be entered into the Primary Track for consideration for the USD 100,000 pre-paid pilot prize. All programming for the Proptech Track will align to EST time zones.
Prizing includes: USD 25,000 for the Proptech Track winner.
The winner will also receive the additional benefit of customised advisory support from QBE, in applicable areas such as operations, access to data, analytics and advice on use cases from QBE experts, such as QBE Ventures, Underwriting, Actuarial, CAT modelling and Risk.
Timeline
The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge is conducted virtually over several months of intensive and immersive learning and growth. From the unique B2G curriculum, mentoring, and engagements with city leaders to a distinguished panel of global leaders, QBE AcceliCITY propels participants toward greater and faster success.
In addition to the web-based curriculum (offered in EST and AEDST time zones), publicity, resources, mentorship and support will be provided. The 2025 program timeline will be announced in Q1 of this year.
For more information please visit QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge.