APPLICATION CLOSED
About Wildfire Resilience Case Competition
The impact of wildfires in the Western United States over the last ten years has been devastating for both communities and the environment. The US Forest Service and the State of California have recognized the need to increase the pace and scale of forest ecosystem restoration treatments such as thinning and controlled burns, which can reduce the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires. But these practices are often unfeasibly expensive and produce a large quantity of wood waste by-product. There is a significant opportunity to address multiple environmental and economic challenges by finding innovative ways to use wood waste from forest restoration treatments.
The 2022 Wildfire Resilience Case Competition invites participants to propose innovative next-gen solutions that support forest ecosystem restoration, community resilience, and economic opportunity in forested communities affected by wildfire.
Up to four teams will be selected as semi-finalists and receive expert coaching before pitching their proposal to a panel of expert judges. The judges will award the grand prize of $10,000 and $5,000 and $2,500 to second and third places, respectively.
Key Dates
- March 1: Program Launch
- April 1: Early Bird Deadline #1
- May 1: Early Bird Deadline #2
- June 1: Final Submission Deadline
- June 15: Semi-finalist teams selected and notified
- July: Teams will work with an expert business coach to learn how to successfully pitch their proposal
- End of July/early August: Semi-finalist teams will present their proposals to a panel of judges with expertise in forestry and forest management
Benefits
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Professional Coaching. Semi-finalist teams will receive four weeks of coaching ahead of the final pitch. The coaching will help teams refine their proposal and create a strong pitch. The coaching will be provided by Rodrigo Gallego, the co-founder of the Social Innovation Warehouse, Eidos Global’s social impact accelerator.
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Cash Prizes. The winning team will receive a $10,000 cash prize with second and third place winning $5,000 and $2,500 respectively.
How it Works
Submit a Proposal!
Participants must submit a proposal that addresses the challenge prompt.
Submit your solutions by the early-bird deadline of May 1 to receive customized feedback and the opportunity to re-submit before the final deadline (June 1).
Become a Semi-finalist!
Up to four teams will be selected to move forward as semi-finalists.
Pitch-off and Win!
The journey for semi-finalist teams culminates with pitching their proposal to a panel of expert judges in late summer 2022.
The winning team will receive a $10,000 cash prize with second and third place winning $5,000 and $2,500 respectively.
Eligibility Criteria
- Undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals worldwide are welcome to apply.
- Submissions may come from teams of up to 5 members, ideally with a variety of academic backgrounds or perspectives.
- Current or former employees of the United States Forest Service and Net Impact are not eligible.
- We ask that you respect the Dixie Fire communities and refrain from contacting them. They are working in real-time to rebuild their communities and do not have the capacity to support background research. Contacting the local community is grounds for disqualification from the program.
