YEP Accelerator has announced the start of accepting applications for the Imagine Next Innovation Challenge 2026 — an international challenge for early-stage teams developing planet-centric solutions in energy, climate, and related fields.
YEP Accelerator has announced the start of accepting applications for the Imagine Next Innovation Challenge 2026 — an international challenge for early-stage teams developing planet-centric solutions in energy, climate, and related fields.
According to a press release from the YEP Accelerator, Imagine Next is an international energy and climate innovation program developed by the Sustainable Innovation Council, with access to a global network of experts and investors. The partnership with YEP is intended to integrate Ukrainian solutions into an international system for searching, evaluating and scaling climate/energy projects. The President of the Sustainable Innovation Council, Yulia Davii, emphasized in the message that the initiative focuses on innovations that are in harmony with natural systems.
The Challenge accepts cross-sectoral products, including in the areas of energy, climate, circular economy, sustainable food and agribusiness, water and ocean solutions, biodiversity and urban environments. Applications are being accepted in three waves: deadlines are February 22, March 22 and April 5. You can apply here .
The organizers promise participants who make it to the TOP-50 an invitation to the Imagine Next Summit 2026 as part of SF Climate Week in California, access to the international community of investors and partners of the Sustainable Innovation Council, as well as opportunities for pilots and cooperation with the public sector in different countries. For Ukrainian teams, a separate session of the Imagine Next Challenge Q&A Ukraine on February 26 has been announced, in which you can register at the link .
This is a Ukrainian accelerator and startup ecosystem that acts as the national partner of Imagine Next in Ukraine. Women in Tech Ukraine, Greencubator, and Digital Transformation Institute are also listed as partners of the recruitment. The organizers emphasize that this adds an inclusive focus to the program, expertise in sustainable innovation, and practical digital transformation.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how YEP Accelerator began recruiting for the second wave of the free Beyond the Thesis program, an initiative created to support Ukrainian deeptech developments and help scientific teams transition from technology to a commercial product.
