Young leaders tackling
Over 1300 brilliant young minds aged 15 to 20 from 150+ countries joined the Shape the Future Challenge, in collaboration with Volkswagen Group, to work on groundbreaking solutions for a greener, more sustainable, and accessible future of mobility.
From mentoring sessions, expert keynotes, tools, and insights, these young changemakers have ventured into the field, channeling their creativity and passion, breaking the norms, and exploring the limits of what can be achieved.
Explore the solutions developed and meet the winning team, who will join us for an unforgettable trip to Silicon Valley, California!
From groundbreaking ideas in road safety driven by AI to VR-enhanced urban planning, witness the passion and creativity of brilliant young minds participating in the challenge.
MEET THE WINNERS
Congratulations to Lilia Gerber, Tobias Lendl, Oliver Sommer, and Luis Kalckstein for winning the Shape the Future Challenge!
Team Autopreneurs from Austria’s HTL Spengergasse developed an innovative AI system for better road safety. Their prototype uses traffic camera video streams to evaluate road risks, which helps prevent accidents and traffic congestion. The collected data can also support future road construction. This idea could pave the way for more AI-driven solutions in road safety.
MEET THE FINALISTS
Discover the solutions of the top seven teams that advanced to the finals.
HOW IT WORKS
01
APPLY
APRIL 3RD – MAY 7TH
Submit Your Application
– Apply as an individual or team, with or without an idea
– Receive your acceptance email to the challenge on May 8
– Get invited to the challenge space on the Moonshot Pirates platform
02
TEAM UP
MAY 8TH – MAY 15TH
Finding a Kick-ass Team
– Join the Kick-off call on May 9 & other networking events
– Learn about the winning criteria and milestones
– Find your teammates and submit your team
03
CHALLENGE
MAY 15TH – JUNE 4TH
Developing Your Ideas
– Attend the Opening Ceremony on May 15th
– Book mentoring sessions, participate in workshops, and reach challenge milestones
– Submit your idea for the future of mobility and a 1-minute pitch video
04
FINALS
JUNE 6TH – JUNE 15TH
Voting & Final Pitching
– Selection of 7 final teams through online and partners’ vote
– Final Pitching of team’s sustainable solutions for the future of mobility
– Award ceremony and jury selection of the winning team
LET’S SHAPE
THE FUTURE
OF MOBILITY
TOGETHER
How do people want to move around megacities and rural areas in the coming decades? What options can we offer that will meet their needs? And how – with what kind of technological solutions – do we implement them into products, services, and new business models in such a way that we achieve our climate targets? We at Volkswagen Group Innovation think these questions need to be tackled in the upcoming years within mobility.
#carbonneutralmobility #urbanmobility #autonomousdriving
With its “NEW AUTO – Mobility for Generations to Come” strategy, Volkswagen strives to become one of the world’s leading software-driven mobility providers by 2030. With a wide range of skills and its international network, Volkswagen Group Innovation is dedicated to focal points such as decarbonization, security, conserving resources, and future mobility models for maximum customer benefits.
One of the most pressing issues within the field of mobility for national roads operator like ASFINAG is the need to improve the carbon footprint and find innovative solutions to reduce traffic congestion. This includes reducing the number of accidents and fatalities on the roads, addressing issues such as speeding and distracted driving, and investing in infrastructure improvements such as better road design and maintenance. Additionally, there is a need to address the impact of transportation on the environment, including reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable transportation options.
#smarthighways #smartmobility #greenhighway
As a reliable, innovative, and sustainable mobility partner, we connect regions and people in the heart of Europe. ASFINAG was founded in 1982 and is a company owned by the state. Our tasks: We plan, fund, build, maintain, operate, and collect tolls along almost 2,249 kilometers of motorways and expressways.
MEET THE MENTORS
From mobility experts to innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, coders, and brand gurus, these experienced mentors and advisors helped our pirates turn their ideas into reality.
Dennis Kirpenstejn
Angel Investor, Founder & Director at Zollhof Tech Incubator (UK)
Hari Kalymnios
Coach, Speaker, Author & Trainer at The Thought Gym (UK)
William Tian
Sr Staff Technical Project Manager at Volkswagen Group of America (US)
Edith Rührer
Teamlead Customer Insights at ASFINAG (AT)
Mathias Haas
CEO at SuperSocial (AT)
Stefan Niedermair
Technology and Innovation Strategist at NBG Fiber Optics (AT)
Juan Guerra
Storytelling for Startups at Skills of Life (AT)
Doris Strohmaier
COO at Pipelife (AT)
Martin Nemec
Project Manager Traffic Information at ASFINAG (AT)
Mario Herger
Technology Trend Researcher & Author (US)
Elisabeth Korshunova
Innovation Expert at TheVentury (AT)
Matthias Schulz
Director New Business & Innovation at Otto Krahn New Business GmbH & Co. KG (DE)
Raphael Mikl
Branding & Story Telling at Karma & Pitch (AT)
Laura Falquez
Content Creator & Influencer (AT)
Kat Haber
Climate Changing Behaviorialist, TEDx Pitch Xpert, Social Profit Leading (US)
Richard Brandt
Founder at Code Train Africa (GH)
Adam Montandon
Founder of Speakers Impact Network (DK)
Elisabeth Handl
Experience Designer & Cultural Manager at 1000AND1 studio (AT)
Magdalena Neidhart
Sustainability Manager at CellCube (AT)
Silke Edelmann
Innovation, Marketing & Design Thinking & Agile Coach at Hartmann Group (AT)
Ali Mahlodji
Influencer CEO & founder at futureOne (AT)
Helene Prenner
Project & Innovation Manager at ELGA GmbH (AT)
Lois Young
Corporate Social Responsibility Team Lead at Amalitech (GH)
Ying Li
Decarbonization Technology at Volkswagen (CN)
Craig Matthews
Senior Innovation Consultant at Science Park Graz (UK)
Alexa Karanyic
Digital Product Strategist at Supercharge Ltd (HU)
Jun Lin Too
Energy & Decarbonization Innovation Manager at Volkswagen Group Singapore (SG)
Lewis Dzacka
UI & UX Designer at Amalitech (GH)
Patrick Batka
Business & Finance at Red Cross (AT)
Marc Düvel
Project leader at Volkswagen AG (DE)
Gordana Ilic
Head of Decarb Innovation Portfolio Management at A.P. Moller - Maersk (DK)
Tim Cox
Public Speaking Coach & Senior Partner at Opera Consulting Group (AU)
Sarah Straub
Innovation Manager at Österreichische Post AG, AT
Vaiva Seskeviciute
Market Engagement Lead at E.ON Hydrogen (DE)
Nathalie Köck
Learning Program Manager at Talent Garden Innovation School (AT)
Ralf Schiebel
Scientist at the Max Planck Society (DE)
Lenny Leeman
CEO & Co-Founder at Greenspark (AT)
Isabel Oostvogel
Innovation, Business Model & Impact Strategist at Lake Constance Sciences Association (DE)
Daniela Martinez
Global Product Manager at Signify (NL)
Niki Skene
Founder of EXO ONE & Silicon Valley Inspiration Tours (AT)
Martin Wolf
Founder & Head Coach at Visible Leader (AT)
Martin Binder
Strategy Expert Mobility at ASFINAG (AT)
Verónica Celis Vergara
Architect, MIT Top Innovator under 35 & CEO at Valumia (CH)
Arne Schiefer
Innovation Manager at CARIAD SE (DE)
Kemetse Kofi Semenyo
Sales Support Specialist at DHL (GH)
William Paxton
Senior Scientist and Project Lead at Volkswagen Group of America (US)
Elvis Markovic
Advisor, Foresight Manager Department Innovation & Digitalization at WKÖ (AT)
Alexandra Waldherr
Quantum Computing Expert (AT)
Daniel Cronin
Co-Founder AustrianStartups & The Pitch Professor (AT)
Daniel Drack
IT Infrastructure Specialist at AVL List GmbH (AT)
Ibrahim Mustapha
CEO at Me For Africa & Public Speaking Coach (GH)
Erez Tsalik
Facilitator at Systematic Inventive Thinking (IL)
Jude Amegashie
Digitalization Officer at DHL (GH)
Sean King
Founder at FuturesGroup (ZA)
Simon Thel
AI for CAE engineer & Volkswagen AG (DE)
Uwe Wieland
Senior Software Development Manager at Volkswagen AG (DE)
Anja Silberbauer
CEO at Harmony & Care (AT)
Briken Bufi
International Account Executive at Prewave (AT)
Nina Bauregger
General Manager at Austrian Leadership Academy (AT)
Tobias Schaller
Management Consulting & Product Development at mosaik Projects GmbH (AT)
Clarisa Doval
Global Head of Digital Solutions at Continental (DE)
CHALLENGE KEY DATES
APRIL 3 – MAY 7
APPLICATION
MAY 9
KICK OFF CALL
& NETWORKING
MAY 9 – MAY 15
NETWORKING
MAY 15
MILESTONE 1:
TEAM SIGN UP
MAY 15
START & OPENING
CEREMONY WITH PARTNERS
MAY 15 – JUNE 4
CHALLENGE & MENTORING SLOTS
MAY 30
MILESTONE 2:
SUBMIT IDEA CANVAS
JUNE 4
MILESTONE 3:
FINAL SUBMISSION
JUNE 6 – JUNE 10
ONLINE VOTING
JUNE 11 – JUNE 14
FINAL PREPARATIONS
JUNE 15
PITCHING CEREMONY
SEPTEMBER 2023
SILICON VALLEY
TRIP
We are looking for young people between the ages of 15 and 20 with creative, innovative, and bold ideas and solutions for the future of mobility. If you’re one of them, don’t wait! Apply for the challenge by May 7th. And don’t forget to tell your friends to shape the future with you!
Join the kick-off call and start networking with your fellow participants on May 9. During this week, you can attend networking events to find a team to join the challenge with.
This is where the fun begins! During this online challenge, you will have the chance to work on innovative solutions shaping the future of mobility with support from international mentors. Step by step, you’ll receive educational and inspirational videos, an idea-generation process, workshops, and tips and tricks for executing your ideas!
Want to find out what happened in our previous challenges? Check out the ideas developed, the final pitch nights, and who were the winners here:
The top-ranked team from the public online voting, together with four teams selected through online voting and criteria assessment, one team selected by mentors’ vote, and two teams by partners’ vote, will present their projects during the final Pitching Ceremony. Vote for your favorite ideas here!
Once your team reaches the finals, you’ll be supported by a professional pitch trainer to make the most out of your final presentation.
The top seven teams will be part of a final Shape the Future challenge pitching ceremony, presenting their solutions to the public and a jury. The team with the best solution will win a trip to Silicon Valley, California.
The team with the best idea selected during the final pitching will be invited to fly with Moonshot Pirates to Silicon Valley in California together. The trip includes flights, accommodations, a week of meetings with startups, workshops, visits to companies like Instagram, Apple, Pinterest, and Google, and exploring the University of Silicon Valley and Stanford campuses. The team will learn about the way of life and work in Silicon Valley while exploring the beauty of San Francisco. The exact travel dates will be aligned directly with the winners.
THE WINNERS’ TRIP
The 5-day program in Silicon Valley includes workshops, meeting interesting startups and founders, visiting companies like Meta, Apple, Amazon, and Google. You will explore campuses of the Silicon Valley University and Stanford. You will get all the insights, explore the future of education, and discover the entrepreneurial mindset and moonshot thinking behind the area! This experience will undoubtedly shape your future!
Watch the highlight video to join the previous challenge winners on their journey to Silicon Valley.
IN COOPERATION WITH
The following partners helped us put together this amazing experience for you!
&
THANK YOU, mates!
ANY OPEN QUESTIONS?
