Prizes & Benefits
All Eligible Ambition Accelerator Innovators can benefit from:
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An opportunity to articulate their project or idea
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Invitations to virtual learning session(s) where innovators will deepen their changemaking skills, connect with like-minded young people, and receive guidance on the application process
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Ashoka staff and Taco Bell Foundation network feedback on their entries
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An opportunity to offer and receive feedback from peers
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An invitation to join the Community review process
10 Early Entry Stand-Outs
All innovators who apply by the Early Entry Deadline on 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) will receive feedback to improve their 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).
Taco Bell and Ashoka will also select 10 Early Entry Stand-Outs among these innovators who apply by February 15, 2024 to receive the following prizes:
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$500 USD each if based in the United States or U.S. Territories
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₹20,000 Indian rupees each if based in India
At least 1 Early Entry Stand-Out will be from the US, 1 from India, and 1 Taco Bell restaurant team member
250 Seed Prize Awardees
All eligible innovators who apply by March 14, 2024 (11:59 p.m. ET / 8:59 p.m. PT) and March 15, 2024 (10:29 a.m. India) will be invited to participate in our Community Review process, where they have an opportunity to evaluate peer projects, offer and receive feedback.
Based on Community Review scores, we will select 250 Seed Prize Awardees who will receive the following prizes:
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$500 USD each if based in the United States or U.S. Territories
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₹20,000 Indian rupees each if based in India
At least 50 Seed Prize Awardees will be from the US, 50 from India and 10 Taco Bell restaurant team members
75 Summit Semi-Finalists
Taco Bell and Ashoka will select 75 innovators in total (at least 5 will be Taco Bell restaurant team members) to participate at the local Summits in their respective countries. They will receive the following additional prizes:
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50 Summit Semi-Finalists in the US receive $1000 USD each
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25 Summit Semi-Finalists in India receive ₹40,000 rupees each
The Ambition Accelerator Summits are 3-day immersive in-person events and will feature skills-building workshops and networking events, fostering connections with young changemakers. Airfare, lodging, and meals will be provided, including:
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Domestic roundtrip coach airfare for semi-finalist and chaperone (if semi-finalist is under 18 years old at the time of Summit). Semi-finalist and chaperone must travel together. Flight to be booked by Challenge Partners.
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Four (4) days and three (3) nights in one (1) shared room standard double occupancy hotel accommodations at hotel selected by Challenge Partners.
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Ground transportation to and from the airport and hotel.
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Meals during the Summit.
10 Pitch Finalists
From the group of Summit Semi-Finalists, 5 innovators from the United States and U.S. Territories and 5 innovators from India will be invited to pitch their projects to a judges panel.
Based on their presentations the following awards will be offered:
US pitches:
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4 Ambition Accelerator Finalists receive $5,000 USD each
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1 Ambition Accelerator Grand Prize Winner receive a prize of $25,000 USD
India pitches:
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4 Ambition Accelerator Finalists receive ₹200,000 rupees (2 lakh) each
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1 Ambition Accelerator Grand Prize Winner receive a prize of ₹1,000,000 rupees (10 lakh)
All pitching innovators will also receive formal recognition of their contributions to the broader movement on the Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator website and social media platforms.