About Round One
The finalist teams are currently developing their solutions
Please note, entries to the First Manchester Prize are now closed. Entries for the Second Manchester Prize are open until 17 January 2025.
The first Manchester Prize runs from November 2023 to March 2025, and will award £2 million in two phases.
In its first year, the Manchester Prize awarded innovators with the most innovative and impactful AI solution which demonstrates social benefit by overcoming challenges in the fields of energy, environment and infrastructure.
10 of the most promising solutions were each awarded £100,000 grants and additional non-financial support. The finalists are currently developing their prototypes capable of winning the £1 million grand prize in spring 2025.
Interested in meeting the teams or joining the Manchester Prize Demo Day in March 2025? Email the Manchester Prize team at: info@manchesterprize.org
Manchester Prize has brought more credibility to our work, particularly in advancing our talks and building our industry connections. This has been particularly useful in establishing our ongoing partnership with Network Rail. Furthermore, the prize has allowed us to be more visible with probably the hardest markets to get into in the UK, so even if we don’t win the 1 million pound grand prize, we are in a much stronger place to go forward and go further for investment
The Prize Phases
The entry phase, opened on 30 November 2023, teams developed their ideas and proposals, worked towards submitting their entry by the final deadline of 1 February 2024. Phase 1 culminated with ten entrants being selected as finalists, and each receiving an award of £100,000 in April 2024.
The finalist phase, which began in May 2024, and ends in January 2025 challenges the teams to develop their ideas into a working prototype. In addition to their £100,000 grant, finalists have received non-financial support in the form of a package of up to £90,000 of compute, profile-building, match-making sessions with key stakeholders (such as problem-holders, potential adopters, and investors), and business, IP and value proposition training. In January 2025, teams will demonstrate their prototype and make a final submission to be considered for the grand prize. In March 2025, the best team, selected according to the judging criteria, is awarded the grand prize of £1m.
Timeline and key dates
- 30 November 2023 – Manchester Prize opens for entries
- 1 February 2024 – Entries close
- 21 May 2024 – Finalists announced
- 17 January 2025 – Final submissions
- 20 March 2025 – Demo Day
- March 2025 – Grand prize winner announced
Interested in meeting the teams or joining the Manchester Prize Demo Day in March 2025? Email the Manchester Prize team at: info@manchesterprize.org
