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Back to the Awards

Tech for Change
Tech for Change
Tech for Change
Innovation That Moves the World Forward
Innovation That Moves the World Forward
Innovation That Moves the World Forward

Exhibiting Startups Only

Exhibiting Startups Only

Exhibiting Startups Only

Tech For Change : a Recognition & an Award

Built on the conviction that economic value and positive impact can reinforce each other, the Tech For Change recognizes exhibiting startups that place measurable positive impact at the core of their business model. 

Apply now and join us for the 10th edition of VivaTech, taking place 17–20 June 2026 in Paris. 

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Tech For Change

VivaTech is where innovation meets business, and where innovation meets impact.  
In 2026, for the second edition of the Tech For Change, our recognition highlights 500 impactful exhibiting startups fostering solutions in three main areas: Environment, Society, and Health.  

From all the Tech For Change recognized startups, the most outstanding ventures enter the Tech For Change Award selection : the Top 30  (10 per category) and the Top 6 finalists (2 per category).  

The 6 finalists will pitch live on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, on the Pitch Studio stage, before the Grand Winner is announced the next day at VivaTech’s Global Innovation Awards Ceremony on Stage One, earning major visibility throughout the event. 

Make your impact visible. 

Selection Criteria
Positive Impact

Startups with impact embedded in their business model, delivering measurable positive outcomes for environment, society or health. 

Tech

The solution must be tech-driven, with technology at the core of the product and business model.

Innovation

Level of relevance, originality, and innovation demonstrated by the tech solution.

Scalability & Viability

Ability to scale while remaining technically, economically and environmentally viable. 

Jury

Gwendal Bihan

Gwendal Bihan

CEO

CEO

Axionable

Axionable

Soichiro Yasukawa

Soichiro Yasukawa

Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction

Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction

UNESCO

UNESCO

Charlie Perreau

Charlie Perreau

Head of the Tech-Media-Startup Division

Head of the Tech-Media-Startup Division

Les Echos

Les Echos

Bella Zhang

Bella Zhang

Vice-President

Vice-President

Fond Envision HongShan Net Zero

Fond Envision HongShan Net Zero

Zoe Peden

Zoe Peden

Partner

Partner

Ananda Impact Ventures

Ananda Impact Ventures

Yann Laurans

Yann Laurans

Director of conservation and Board Member

Director of conservation and Board Member

WWF

WWF

Rewards
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    For the Top 500

    • Enhanced visibility online (VivaTech social media, website, app, The Big List) and on-site (label signage on your corner, Wall of Fame…)  

    • Dedicated onboarding with the VivaTech Sustainability Team. 

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    For the Top 30 

    • Pitch opportunities on VivaTech stages (Discovery Stage, Arenas). 

    • Targeted audiences via curated formats (Tech Trails, Learning Expeditions). 

    • Visibility across channels (VivaTech social media, website, newsletter, Les Echos listing). 

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    For the Top 6 finalists

    • High visibility during the event (VivaTech News, Les Echos). 

    • Featured in Tech For Change Tech Trail, VivaTech Tech Trails and Impact Tour. 

    • Final pitch on the Pitch Studio Stage in front of a top jury + private networking session. 

    • 1 VIP pass and investor meetings. 

  • For the Grand Winner

    • Free startup corner for VivaTech 2027. 

    • Stage One pitch during the Global Innovation Awards ceremony. 

    • Year-round integration into the VivaTech network. 

    • Extensive visibility (newsletter, dedicated interviews post-event, Les Echos portrait). 

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    For the Top 500

    • Enhanced visibility online (VivaTech social media, website, app, The Big List) and on-site (label signage on your corner, Wall of Fame…)  

    • Dedicated onboarding with the VivaTech Sustainability Team. 

  • Compressed image
    For the Top 30 

    • Pitch opportunities on VivaTech stages (Discovery Stage, Arenas). 

    • Targeted audiences via curated formats (Tech Trails, Learning Expeditions). 

    • Visibility across channels (VivaTech social media, website, newsletter, Les Echos listing). 

  • Compressed image
    For the Top 6 finalists

    • High visibility during the event (VivaTech News, Les Echos). 

    • Featured in Tech For Change Tech Trail, VivaTech Tech Trails and Impact Tour. 

    • Final pitch on the Pitch Studio Stage in front of a top jury + private networking session. 

    • 1 VIP pass and investor meetings. 

  • For the Grand Winner

    • Free startup corner for VivaTech 2027. 

    • Stage One pitch during the Global Innovation Awards ceremony. 

    • Year-round integration into the VivaTech network. 

    • Extensive visibility (newsletter, dedicated interviews post-event, Les Echos portrait). 

2026 Winner
Fanny Giannou

CEO de Alithea Biotechnology GmbH

Alithea Bio develops immunopeptidomics and peptide extraction technologies to accelerate biomarker and personalized immunotherapy discovery. Our customers are biotech, pharma, and research institutions advancing precision medicine.


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Meet this year’s Top 6
Meet this year’s Top 30
Timeline

00:00:00:00

00:00:00:00

left to apply

left to apply

  • Applications open

  • Applications close

  • Announcement of Top 500 recognized startups, Top 30 and Top 6

  • Top 6 pitches on the Pitch Studio Stage

  • VivaTech Startup Prizes

  • Applications open

  • Applications close

  • Announcement of Top 500 recognized startups, Top 30 and Top 6

  • Top 6 pitches on the Pitch Studio Stage

  • VivaTech Startup Prizes

  • Applications open

  • Applications close

  • Announcement of Top 500 recognized startups, Top 30 and Top 6

  • Top 6 pitches on the Pitch Studio Stage

  • VivaTech Startup Prizes

Download rules

Download rules

FAQ

Who can apply for the Tech for Change Recognition & Award?

What is the difference between a Startup Challenge and an Award?

Do I need to buy a pass to apply for a Startup Challenge / an Award?

Can I apply for more than one Startup Challenge / Award?

Who can apply for the Tech for Change Recognition & Award?

How do I add images?

Do I need to buy a pass to apply for a Startup Challenge / an Award?

Can I apply for more than one Startup Challenge / Award?

FAQ

Who can apply for the Tech for Change Recognition & Award?

What is the difference between a Startup Challenge and an Award?

Do I need to buy a pass to apply for a Startup Challenge / an Award?

Can I apply for more than one Startup Challenge / Award?

Jury

Gwendal Bihan

CEO

Axionable

Soichiro Yasukawa

Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction

UNESCO

Charlie Perreau

Head of the Tech-Media-Startup Division

Les Echos

Bella Zhang

Vice-President

Fond Envision HongShan Net Zero

Zoe Peden

Partner

Ananda Impact Ventures

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