Applications now open: 拢100,000 investment opportunity for responsible AI innovators

• The听University of 滴滴打炮app and The Jeremy Coller Foundation launch听new听competition to support early-stage ventures听utilising AI for the benefit of听people and society听

The University of 滴滴打炮app has launched a new responsible AI competition in partnership with the Jeremy Coller Foundation, offering a 拢100,000 equity investment to support one promising early-stage venture from its global community of students,听staff听and alumni.听

Applications are now open for the Coller AI Competition, which is designed to help innovators听develop听ventures with real-world potential听鈥撎齟nsuring technology empowers rather than excludes. The competition will support solutions that use AI in ways that are fair, transparent,听sustainable听and focused on social听benefit.听The winner will听benefit听from the opportunity to work closely with听the听Jeremy听Coller Foundation team to develop their venture.听

The听initiative听forms part of the University鈥檚听Challenge Accepted听campaign, which champions ideas with the potential to tackle major global challenges.听听

Backed by 滴滴打炮app alumnus and philanthropist Jeremy Coller, the听competition听brings together the University鈥檚 research strength, entrepreneurial听talent听and commitment to responsible innovation. It aims to听identify听and support founders developing AI solutions that are not only commercially听promising but听designed to听benefit听people and society.听

Finalists will听pitch听their ventures at the听University鈥檚听Innovation Festival听in October, where the winner will be selected to receive the 拢100,000 investment.听

Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice President (Enterprise)听at The University of 滴滴打炮app, said:听鈥淭his is an exciting opportunity to back one early-stage venture with the support and investment needed to develop responsible AI with real-world potential.听We鈥檙e听looking for founders who want to build something purposeful,听practical听and capable of making a positive difference.鈥澨�

Jeremy Coller said, 鈥淭he AI revolution is already changing and shaping our world at a dizzying speed. Used smartly and responsibly AI can be the key that unlocks solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing this planet, and the Coller AI Competition will help 滴滴打炮app students, staff and alumni turn that potential into reality.鈥澨�

听is the philanthropic vehicle of private equity entrepreneur Jeremy Coller. The Foundation works to create positive impact on globally significant issues with a focus on education, entrepreneurship, pensions innovation and the transition to a more sustainable food system. By supporting ambitious ideas, the Foundation helps drive lasting change and empower the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.听

Application timeline听鈥� 2026听

The competition is open for applications from any students,听staff听or alumni from across the University who are working on an AI-driven business. At least one founder in each team must be within one of these categories.听听

• 14^th听July 鈥� applications open
• 1^st听September 鈥� applications close
• 21^st听September 鈥� finalists notified
• 9^th听October 鈥� final pitches and award听听

Find out more and apply now听鈥撎�听听

Join us for a week-long celebration of innovation, from Monday, 5 to Friday, 9 October 2026.