Organization · Event Organizer
Extreme Tech Challenge
Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is a non-profit organization based in Palo Alto, California, that organizes a global startup competition focused on innovative technologies addressing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Overview
What Extreme Tech Challenge does
What Extreme Tech Challenge is
Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is a non-profit organization based in Palo Alto, California, that organizes a global startup competition focused on innovative technologies addressing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Event Organizer
- Founded
- Founded in 2014
- Approximate age
- About 12 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community · Event host
- Last reviewed
- April 2, 2026
Official channels
Find Extreme Tech Challenge elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Extreme Tech Challenge as a community
Community overview
Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is a global startup competition focused on purpose-driven innovation. It was founded to support entrepreneurs addressing global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization is based in Palo Alto, California, and operates in approximately 100 countries.
Community focus
XTC invests in startups that are developing technologies to solve significant global challenges. The competition encompasses various sectors, including Agtech, Cleantech, Education, Enabling Technologies, Fintech, Healthcare, and Transportation and Smart Cities. XTC aims to support startups at different stages of development, providing them with visibility, mentorship, and access to capital.
Member value
Members gain access to visibility, mentorship, and potential funding opportunities through participation in the competition and associated programs.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- bootcamp and community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Sectors
- AgTechFintechHealthcare
- Regions
- Global
Community activity
Events and activity
XTC hosts various events, including the Global Finals, an annual event where finalists pitch their solutions to a panel of judges, and Regional Competitions held in multiple countries to select startups for the global finals.
Notable members
Key team members include Young Sohn (Chairman of the Board), Dale Schilling (CEO and Founder of Hillridge Technology), and Guy Kashtan (CEO of ReWire). Notable portfolio companies include Genecis Bioindustries, Hillridge Technology, Bondi Bio, Wasteless, VITALK, SOLUBIO, and METRON.
Capability profile
Extreme Tech Challenge as an event host
Event focus
Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) invests in startups that are developing technologies to solve significant global challenges. The competition encompasses various sectors, including Agtech, Cleantech, Education, Enabling Technologies, Fintech, Healthcare, and Transportation and Smart Cities. XTC aims to support startups at different stages of development, providing them with visibility, mentorship, and access to capital.
Format narrative
XTC hosts various events, including the Global Finals, an annual event where finalists pitch their solutions to a panel of judges, and Regional Competitions held in multiple countries to select startups for the global finals.
Participant value
XTC provides startups with visibility, mentorship, and access to capital, helping them address global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Format and cadence
- Event types
- pitch-night
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Regions
- Global
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Notable portfolio companies include Genecis Bioindustries, Hillridge Technology, Bondi Bio, Wasteless, VITALK, SOLUBIO, and METRON.
Past editions
Testimonials from participants highlight the support and learning opportunities provided by XTC, including insights on pitching to investors and ongoing mentorship.
Common questions
What to know about Extreme Tech Challenge
Upseed classifies Extreme Tech Challenge under the Event Organizer organization type. Its current public profile includes community and event host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 2, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.