June 12th, 2024 | beyondearth

The Beyond Earth Institute is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated event of the year - the Beyond Earth Business Challenge 2024. This groundbreaking competition, set to commence on June 15th, is a first-of-its-kind global initiative tailored for Space entrepreneurs, also known as Astropreneurs. Open to all stages of entrepreneurs, this challenge promises to push the boundaries of human Spaceflight and habitation, exploring innovative solutions to the challenges of living and thriving beyond Earth.

Diverse Categories: The Beyond Earth Business Challenge covers many categories, reflecting the multifaceted nature of human Space exploration. Participants can submit their profiles for consideration in categories such as In-space Nutrition, In-space Recreation, In-space Recycling, Life Support, Space Medicine, Human Risk Responses, Human Behavior in Space, Space Habitat Architecture and Design, and Artificial Gravity Technologies.

Prizes and Recognition: In the Finals event scheduled for November 2024 in conjunction with the Beyond Earth Symposium (November 12-13 in Washington, DC), industry expert judges and partners will select the top finalists in each category. Winners will gain recognition for their groundbreaking ideas and be eligible for substantial rewards, including cash prizes and in-kind offerings valued at a minimum of $250,000.

Application Process: Entrepreneurs interested in the challenge can submit their profiles through an online portal, which will be the basis for both semi-finals and final judging. The application process opens on April 15, 2024, and the submission deadline is July 31, 2024.

Timeline for 2024:

·       Launch Information Webinar: June 17, 2024

·       Application Submission Opens: June 17, 2024

·       Application Deadline: August 14, 2024

·       Semi-finalist Selection: September 15, 2024

·       Semi-finalist Virtual Presentations: October 1, 2024

·       Finalist Selection and Notification: October 15, 2024

·       Finalist Presentations and Judging: November 12/13, 2024

Judging Criteria: Participants will be evaluated based on their proposals' uniqueness, feasibility, and impact. The judging process will unfold through stages, including the Launch Information Webinar, application submission, virtual presentations, and semi-finalist selection, and the ultimate finalist presentations and judging in November 2024.

The Beyond Earth Business Challenge 2024 is poised to be a milestone in Space entrepreneurship, fostering innovation and collaboration among Astropreneurs worldwide. As we look forward to the exciting developments that will unfold during the competition, it is evident that this initiative will play a crucial role in advancing humanity's journey beyond Earth. Stay tuned for updates and may the most visionary ideas propel us into a new era of Space exploration!

Stephan Reckie is the BE Business Challenge Chair and also serves as a BE Advisor. Read more about Stephan’s background and role at BE here.