Ahead of the COP31 Climate Summit, set to take place in Antalya from November 9–20, 2026, applications are open for the True Zero Global Prize, an initiative designed to spotlight startups developing solutions across planetary health and sustainability.
Organized under SparkLabs True Zero—a partnership between SparkLabs Group and NetZero TEKMER—the competition will select 20 global finalists for its “Global 20” cohort. In addition to gaining exposure to international venture capital and ecosystem leaders, finalists will compete for a total cash prize pool of $75,000, with the winning startup receiving $50,000 and the runner-up securing $25,000.
Co-chaired by entrepreneur and artist Tyrese Gibson alongside tech investor Kevin Chou, the initiative features a 34-member global jury including leaders from OpenAI, NVIDIA, IBM, and Hyundai CRADLE. Following a dedicated mentoring sprint, selected startups will pitch at Demo Day and participate in 1-on-1 investor matchmaking meetings during the COP31 period. The deadline for incorporated startups to apply is September 28, 2026.
