Circle Supports Pioneering Humanitarian Aid Entrepreneurs with Unlocking Impact Pitch Competition

Upcoming competitions in DC and New York present projects and startups a chance to win $100K USDC

BOSTON — July 25, 2024 — Circle, a global financial technology firm and the issuer of USDC and EURC, has announced two new stops in the Unlocking Impact Pitch Competition Roadshow Series, with returns this fall to both New York and Washington, D.C. on September 22 and October 26, respectively.

This fall, the competition invites innovators to present their visionary solutions to an audience of global leaders, investors and changemakers for a chance to win up to $100k in USDC. Winners also receive mentorship and guidance to support them through the next stages of implementation, along with co-marketing opportunities with Circle to amplify their work. This series brings together the humanitarian, corporate and tech sectors to surface new ways to use Circle’s technology to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

“The Unlocking Impact Pitch Competition reflects Circle’s dedication to nurturing innovations that can deliver real-world solutions,” said Mercina Tillemann Perez, VP of Circle Impact. “These ideas have the power to tackle pressing global challenges and drive lasting, positive transformation - we feel privileged to support these pioneering entrepreneurs on their journeys to expand financial access.”

Ensuro, the winner of the 2024 Washington, D.C. edition of the competition, is transforming the insurance industry through blockchain and smart contracts. As a decentralized (re)insurance provider, Ensuro uses these technologies to offer more efficient and inclusive coverage to policyholders. By denominating policies in USDC, Ensuro ensures fast payouts, extending critical financial protection to underserved populations, such as smallholder farmers in the Global South. With more than 170,000 policies underwritten across seven programs, Ensuro is at the forefront of transforming the insurance landscape with innovative blockchain-based solutions.

Rahat, the winner of the 2024 Paris Unlocking Impact competition, is a financial resilience platform founded in Nepal that uses blockchain and USDC stablecoin to deliver automated humanitarian aid payouts to beneficiaries' mobile devices before disasters strike. Leveraging smart contracts and multiple data sources, Rahat can verify triggers and disburse funds, even in low-tech environments. 

Liquidstar, a finalist from the inaugural NYC edition of the series, builds "Waypoints" - all-in-one micro data centers that use renewable energy to power clean water and internet access for off-grid communities. These units not only meet local needs, but also sell excess capacity back to residents at discounted rates. By integrating blockchain-based identity and autonomous systems, Liquidstar is creating a decentralized utility platform to efficiently deliver essential services and resources, tackling key UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Circle’s Unlocking Impact Pitch Competition was designed to help identify and support the newest transformative ideas and innovative projects to enable rapid humanitarian assistance anywhere around the world. Due to its popularity and success following the 2023 pilot in New York, the competition has already made rounds this year searching for innovators in Paris and Washington, D.C and is open to innovators for the fall series. 

Innovators may apply here.