Circle, a leading global financial technology firm and issuer of USDC and EURC, is expanding its Unlocking Impact Pitch Competition Roadshow Series with new events in New York and Washington, D.C. scheduled for September 22 and October 26, respectively.
This fall, the competition invites innovators to showcase their groundbreaking solutions to a distinguished audience of global leaders, investors, and changemakers. Winners have the opportunity to receive up to $100K in USDC, along with mentorship, guidance, and co-marketing support from Circle to amplify their initiatives. The series aims to unite humanitarian, corporate, and tech sectors to explore new ways to leverage Circle’s technology in addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mercina Tillemann Perez, VP of Circle Impact, stated, “The Unlocking Impact Pitch Competition highlights Circle’s commitment to fostering innovations that offer real-world solutions. These groundbreaking ideas have the potential to address critical global challenges and drive significant, positive change. We are honored to support these visionary entrepreneurs in their quest to broaden financial access.”
The 2024 Washington, D.C. competition winner, Ensuro, is revolutionizing the insurance industry with blockchain and smart contracts. As a decentralized (re)insurance provider, Ensuro utilizes these technologies to deliver more efficient and inclusive coverage. By using USDC to denominate policies, Ensuro facilitates rapid payouts and extends vital financial protection to underserved populations, such as smallholder farmers in the Global South. Ensuro has underwritten over 170,000 policies across seven programs, leading the way in blockchain-based insurance solutions.
Rahat, winner of the 2024 Paris Unlocking Impact competition, is a Nepal-based financial resilience platform that uses blockchain and the USDC stablecoin to automate humanitarian aid payouts to beneficiaries’ mobile devices before disasters occur. Utilizing smart contracts and various data sources, Rahat ensures timely fund distribution even in low-tech environments.
Liquidstar, a finalist from the inaugural NYC edition, creates “Waypoints”—all-in-one micro data centers powered by renewable energy. These units provide clean water and internet access to off-grid communities while selling excess capacity back at reduced rates. By integrating blockchain-based identity and autonomous systems, Liquidstar is developing a decentralized utility platform that addresses key UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Unlocking Impact Pitch Competition was established to identify and support transformative ideas and projects that enable rapid humanitarian assistance globally. Following a successful 2023 pilot in New York, the competition has expanded to Paris and Washington, D.C., and is now accepting applications for the fall series.
Innovators interested in participating can apply here.
About Circle
Circle is a global financial technology firm that empowers businesses of all sizes to leverage digital currencies and public blockchains for payments, commerce, and financial applications. As the issuer of USDC and EURC, Circle provides highly liquid, interoperable, and trusted money protocols on the internet. Circle’s open and programmable platform and APIs enable organizations to manage international payments, build accessible Web3 applications, and handle internal treasury operations efficiently.
