Compete
How Does It Work
1. Register Your Team (LIFT is FREE!)
Use the form at the bottom of this page to register your team for FREE now. We highly suggest a team of 3 to 5 students, but are open to any number of students.
Note: Teams may include students from multiple schools, colleges, universities and/or from multiple departments. We encourage it!
Watch this 4-minute informative video
If you have additional questions after watching the recorded information session, send us an email: aces@unc.edu. We are excited to meet you and welcome you to this year’s LIFT Challenge cohort!
2. Choose SDGs to Address
Choose one or multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address. Choose local, regional or global SDGs.
3. Choose an Initiative
This can be an existing or proposed initiative. We welcome collaboration between students and organizations – it is a perfect opportunity to build your network, gain experience, and solve real issues!
4. Develop a Blended Finance Solution (Submissions deadline Monday, October 6, 2025 at noon)
Once you register, you will receive a link to the proposal submission site. Your solution should include a three-paragraph summary of your proposal and a presentation slide deck of up to 25 slides. Optional supplements include a two-page narrative describing the proposal and a spreadsheet illustrating the financial and impact details of the proposal.
Am I Eligible?
Create and Submit Your Proposal (due by 12 p.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025)
The Finals (October, 2025) – Top Eight Proposals compete live with panels of judges
For more details visit the “About” page
Optional: Sign up for one or more information sessions
Dates and Times are TBD. You can join these sessions anytime and you do not need to stay the entire time. You can also view the recorded session above from last year’s LIFT challenge.
Judging Criteria
- Challenge
- Innovation
- Scale of Solution
- Impact
- Sources of Funding
- ROI & Risk
- Timing