Ambition Accelerator - FAQ

FAQ

Eligibility

Do I need to have an established project in order to apply?

Nope! Brand new ideas are welcome. You can have an idea for a project, and not have started it yet. Your initiative could be in the preparation phase, the scaling phase, or anything in between! We accept applications for projects and ideas at any stage.

I won one of Ashoka's other youth Challenges. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes! Finalists and winners of other Ashoka youth Challenges who fall within the age range are welcome and encouraged to apply.

I won a $500 seed grant from Ambition Accelerator 2022. Am I eligible to apply?

If you won a $500 seed grant from Ambition Accelerator 2022 but were not a semi-finalist for the Summit, you are still eligible to apply again!

Ambition Accelerator 2022 semi-finalists, finalists and grand finalists are not eligible to apply. In other words, if you were invited to the Ambition Accelerator Summit in 2022, you are not eligible to re-apply.

Do I have to be a Taco Bell customer to apply to this challenge?

Nope! Anyone ages 16-26 residing in the United States, U.S. Territories, or India are welcome to apply.

Can Taco Bell employees apply?

Taco Bell Restaurant corporate and franchise restaurants’ team members are eligible and encouraged to apply to the Ambition Accelerator!

Teammates

What if I don’t have a team member?: You don't need to have a team member to apply to the Ambition Accelerator 2024. You can apply as an individual or with one other team member.
Is it okay if I have teammates outside of the age range?: All applicants must be within the specified age range (16-26) at the time of the application deadline on March 14, 2024 (U.S.) / March 15, 2024 (India). You may have additional teammates outside this age range, but they will not be invited to the Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator Summit.
Does my team member also have to apply, or do we submit just one application?: If you are applying with a team member, you just need to submit one application. Only one team member needs to apply on your team’s behalf.
Can my team members edit my application on the platform?: No. The platform does not currently allow multiple people to edit the same application.

Early Entry Deadline

What is an Early Entry deadline and why should I apply early? If I don’t apply early entry, can I still apply later?

The Early Entry deadline is February 15, 2024 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time/ 8:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time) and February 16, 2024 (10:29 a.m. India Standard Time).

Applying before the Early Entry deadline is an opportunity to get personalized feedback on your project and revise your application before the final deadline of March 14, 2024 (11:59 p.m. ET / 8:59 p.m. PT) and March 15, 2024 (10:29 a.m. India).

Additionally, 10 Early Entry applications will be chosen to receive the Early Entry Stand-Outs prizes (you can read more about the prizes here). Applying for Early Entry is optional. You can submit your application any time before the final deadline!

I won the Early Entry prize. Does this mean that I'm guaranteed a spot at the Summit?

Winning the Early Entry prize does not guarantee you a spot at the Summit. But it does mean that you receive the Early Entry Stand-Out prize to support your project and feedback to improve your application! You can read more about the prizes here.

References

Who should I include as my project references? Do my references need to be Taco Bell employees?: References should be adults who know you well and are familiar with your idea or project. They do not need to be Taco Bell employees. If you are under 18 years of age, at least one of your references should be a parent or guardian. Teachers and mentors can also be great references. Just be sure to ask them if they’re willing to be a reference before including their contact information so that they’re not surprised if we contact them!
What information will the references be asked to provide?: Your references do NOT need to submit a letter of recommendation. We will send a short survey link to references asking about your role in your initiative and the impact you have had. It should take between 5-10 minutes for your references to complete. Should we have any additional questions, we may reach out to a reference via phone.

Prize Awards

Why are the prize amounts different for applicants in the U.S. and U.S. territories compared to those in India?

We want to support young changemakers globally in an equitable manner. Many factors enter this equation so that when granting prizes, we can support changemakers where they are and adjust to local needs while avoiding creating disadvantages for others. The same amount of funding, say 100 USD, can enable very different expenditure possibilities. Therefore, if we want to apply a fair prize range, we need to adjust the prize amount for each country.

To determine the prize amounts, we adapted the widely used Purchase Power Parity (PPP) standard and cost of living adjustment to the context of an open innovation challenge. In addition to these indexes, we also took into account the ecosystems in place and the costs that are already subsidized by them. For example, in some countries, safe public spaces with access to technology, where you can work on your project, are more readily available, while other changemakers need a higher personal investment in accessing such spaces. Considering these factors, we are applying a 50% parity between grant amounts in India and the U.S., to enable parity for changemakers in both places.

If I am selected as a prize recipient, are there requirements for how I use the prize funding?

It is our expectation that you will use all of the prize funding in service of your project. Additionally, you will receive prize funding guidelines after you have been declared a prize awardee and can attend one of our info sessions where we will provide more information on prize funding.

Pitch Video

I am nervous to upload a video! How professional does it need to be?

Don’t overthink it! You can talk on your phone and computer like normal. You can also add photos or videos related to your project as you talk. We just want to hear your passion and excitement for your solution! You are not required to appear in the video. However, if you would like, feel free to get creative using any other format like a video recording of a voice-over slideshow or any other option that works best for your circumstance.

How should I upload my video to YouTube?

When uploading your video, in the “Visibility” section, select the “Unlisted” option which will allow anyone with the link to access the video. Then post the link to your video on the application form.

Please ensure that you are not putting your video on the “Private” option, as community reviewers will not be able to access and view your video. Please make sure you test the link accessibility; you are responsible for checking if it works before submitting it.

What tips do you have for filming the video?

Start by writing down what you want to respond to the question before recording. Consider the evaluation criteria and how your answer demonstrates these four criteria.
When recording, make sure you can find a place where the noise won’t interfere with your video.
Please make sure you speak up and that we can hear your voice in the video.
Remember the video must be between 1 and 2 minutes long.

Look at our Application Guide for more tips.

My YouTube video is low resolution. What should I do?

When uploading to YouTube, a low-resolution video is uploaded first. The resolution will improve, but it usually takes a few hours to do so. Be patient! Regardless, you won’t be penalized for the production quality of your video.

Technical Issues

I am having trouble creating an account. What should I do?

You may be redirected to either 1.) the Create an Account page you were just at or 2.) the main Ambition Accelerator webpage (changemakers.com/challenge/ambitionaccelerator) after creating an account. If you are redirected to the Create an Account page, go back to the main Ambition Accelerator webpage (changemakers.com/challenge/ambitionaccelerator). Scroll down and click the "Apply Here" button to be led to the application portal that looks similar to this.

Once you arrive to the application portal, click the light blue “Terms and Conditions” button on the upper left corner. Read/scroll through the Challenge agreement and click “Accept” at the bottom to be led to the application page, where you can now start your application!

Watch a 2-minute tutorial video on how to successfully create an account below. If you are still having issues after watching this video, please email us at [email protected] or text us at (571) 622-1066 if based in the U.S.

How can I see the other ideas that have been submitted?

You need to be registered to see all the ideas, but some of the ideas will be featured on the ideas page, which you can view here.

How do I edit my application after I submit it?

Even after you’ve submitted your application, you can make edits to it until the final entry deadline of March 14, 2024 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time/ 8:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time/ March 15, 2024 10:29 a.m. India Standard Time).

To do this, first, ensure you are logged into your account and then find your application on the application platform. To quickly find your application, click on the Ideas tab (next to the Overview tab) and click the filter option "My Ideas" (next to the search bar). Your published idea will be filtered so you can click on it. Once you click on it, a blue banner will show up and invite you to edit the application.

If you want to make text-related changes to your application, you will need to edit the required text and then hit save. If you want to make video-related changes to your application, you will need to replace it with a new video link before hitting save. You do not need to re-submit your application; you only have to submit your application once.

All published applications will be locked as of March 14, 2024 (11:59 p.m. ET / 8:59 p.m. PT) and March 15, 2024 (10:29 a.m. India). To allow for the most fair and equitable review process, we will not be able to make any edits after this deadline.

I am having trouble applying online OR I don’t have consistent access to the Internet to update and edit my application. What should I do?

No problem! Reach out to our team at [email protected] and we will get back to you with an alternative way to apply.

I’m having a technical issue while signing up or with my application – who should I contact?

Have a question about the Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator or your application? Reach out to us at [email protected], or message us on Instagram. And, those based in the U.S. or U.S. territories can also text us at (571)-622-1066.

Other

I want to schedule an information session for my program/class/school/community – who should I contact?: We would love to partner with you and host an information session, office hours, or support session. Reach out to us at [email protected] to coordinate with our team.
To whom do the diversity questions refer to?: The diversity questions refer to the primary representative of your project who creates their account on the platform. These questions are optional and anonymous, and they are meant to help us continue to evaluate our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
I have more questions – who should I contact?: Need help with your application? Reach out to us at [email protected], or message us on Instagram. Those based in the U.S. or U.S. territories can also text us at (571)-622-1066.

U.S. & U.S. Territories FAQs

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen? Are foreign citizens studying, working, or living in the United States eligible to apply?: All United States or U.S. territory applicants must be physically located in the United States or a U.S. Territory when they apply, but U.S. citizenship is not an eligibility requirement. International students studying in the United States are eligible for the Accelerator.
What if my teammate and I live in different states? Can we still apply?: Yes! For applicants based in the U.S. or U.S. Territories, your teammate just needs to be between the ages of 16-26 and live in the United States or a U.S. Territory including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Is the Summit in person? When is it?: We are currently planning for an in-person event in the Greater Orange County, CA area, in August 2024, for those based in the U.S. or U.S. territories. If necessary, we will adjust the Summit dates or transition to a virtual event in order to keep everyone safe. We're working really hard to create an amazing and safe experience for everyone involved!
I can't make the dates for the Summit. Can I still apply?: Yes, as long as someone else from your team can attend the Summit in your place. Please ensure that this person also meets all eligibility requirements in order to attend the Summit.
What language(s) can I apply in?: All United States or U.S. territory applicants must apply in English only.

India FAQs

Do I have to be an Indian citizen? Are foreign citizens studying, working, or living in India eligible to apply?: All Indian applicants must be physically located in India when they apply, but Indian citizenship is not an eligibility requirement. Foreign citizens or NRIs studying, working, or living in India are eligible for the Ambition Accelerator.
What if my teammate and I live in different states? Can we still apply?: Yes! For applicants based in India, your teammate just needs to be between the ages of 16-26 and live in India.
Is the Summit in person? When is it?: We are currently planning for an in-person event in Bangalore, Karnataka in September 2024, for those based in India. If necessary, we will adjust the Summit dates or transition to a virtual event in order to keep everyone safe. We're working really hard to create an amazing and safe experience for everyone involved!
I can't make the dates for the Summit. Can I still apply?: Yes, as long as someone else from your team can attend the Summit in your place. Please ensure that this person also meets all eligibility requirements in order to attend the Summit.
What language(s) can I apply in?: All Indian applicants must apply in English or Hindi.

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