Press Release: Coastal Innovation Challenge Launch
The Idea Village and Shell GameChanger Launch Coastal Innovation Challenge to Accelerate Climate-Tech Solutions in the Gulf South
New Orleans, LA — May 22, 2025 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Idea Village, in partnership with Shell GameChanger, is proud to announce the launch of the Coastal Innovation Challenge 2025, an initiative designed to support innovative, early-stage startups tackling coastal climate challenges. The program offers up to $150,000 in non-dilutive funding from Shell GameChanger, along with mentorship, technical support, and accelerator programming led by The Idea Village.
Applications are open now through August 31, 2025, at Midnight (CST). Founders can apply at https://www.ideavillage.org/coastal-innovation-challenge.
This new challenge builds on a longstanding collaboration between Shell and The Idea Village, first established in 2019 through the launch of ENERGYx—a customized accelerator supporting entrepreneurs developing solutions in coastal construction and water management. The return of this initiative reflects both organizations' commitment to advancing scalable technologies that address environmental threats such as coastal land loss, habitat loss, and deep-water marine biodiversity. Shell’s involvement—one of the world’s largest energy companies—marks a significant milestone for The Idea Village and the region’s innovation economy, demonstrating how major corporate players can play a catalytic role in nurturing climate innovation at a local level.
The Coastal Innovation Challenge 2025 will focus on solutions that protect and restore coastal environments, improve offshore resilience, and foster deep-sea biodiversity. In Louisiana alone, the coast loses a football field of land every 100 minutes, threatening communities, ecosystems, and industries that are critical to the region’s economy. This challenge seeks to uplift solutions that are science-based, scalable, and commercially viable.
Up to four companies will be selected to participate in The Idea Village’s accelerator and will receive hands-on business development support, expert feedback from Shell mentors, along with the chance to compete for the $150,000 Shell GameChanger Award. The program is open to early-stage startups with validated concepts that are developing technologies in coastal restoration, sustainable construction, biodiversity monitoring, nature-based materials, climate risk mitigation, remote sensing, underwater vehicles, or other relevant innovations (see a full list of target focus areas on the webpage linked below). Applicants will be evaluated on novelty, impact potential, alignment with Shell’s focus areas, and feasibility of execution.
Shell GameChanger has supported more than 150 breakthrough ideas globally, transforming unproven concepts into scalable technologies across energy, sustainability, and digital transformation. This collaboration with The Idea Village brings the program’s global vision to the Gulf South’s most pressing environmental frontlines.
For more information or to apply, visit https://www.ideavillage.org/coastal-innovation-challenge.
About The Idea Village
The Idea Village champions innovation and entrepreneurship in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf South. Since its founding in 2000, The Idea Village has supported over 20,100+ entrepreneurs with mentorship, coaching, and access to capital. Alumni companies have generated more than $2 billion in regional economic impact. A 501c3 non-profit, The Idea Village provides business accelerator programs that guide startups from the idea stage through venture capital rounds. The Idea Village works every day to cultivate a robust startup community and create an inclusive, vibrant, and future-driven economy.
About Shell & Shell GameChanger
Shell's purpose is to power progress together with more and cleaner energy solutions. We believe that rising standards of living for a growing global population are likely to continue to drive demand for energy for years to come. Shell’s technological capacity, customer mindset, operational experience, and market knowledge mean we are at the forefront of innovative and collaborative approaches to help build a sustainable energy future.
Shell GameChanger works with startups and businesses on unproven early-stage ideas that have the potential to impact the future of energy. The program’s team provides support, expertise, and seed funding, while the startups keep the independence to make their own decisions. Founded in 1996, Shell GameChanger has worked with more than 5,000 innovators from around the world and turned more than 150 ideas related to advanced energy, digital transformation, and a broad spectrum of energy technologies into productive reality.
Media Contact
Sydney Scott, Marketing Manager, The Idea Village
sydney@ideavillage.org | (225) 235-6324