Applications Now Open for 2026 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge
NEW YORK, NY, APRIL 1, 2026 — QBE Insurance today announced that applications are now open for the 2026 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, a Leading Cities initiative. Entrepreneurs with pioneering ideas that leverage smart-city solutions that aim to enhance community resilience, urban risk mitigation, equity and sustainability are encouraged to apply by April 30, 2026, at AcceliCITY.com.
The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge connects entrepreneurs from around the world with communities to help develop and expand solutions addressing global challenges. The Challenge has a total prize pool to the value of $175,000 USD, with the winner to receive a single $100,000 grand prize for a city pilot project. Additionally, the top 100 selected entrepreneurs will benefit from a six-month Public-Private Partnership Preparedness training and certification through Leading Cities Academy. They will also gain access to mentorship, client-investor matchmaking and publicity opportunities.
“Through the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge we continue to support entrepreneurs tackling complex challenges facing cities worldwide,” said Chris Castaldo, Chief Financial Officer at QBE North America and QBE AcceliCITY Executive Sponsor. “The program provides a powerful platform to help turn bold ideas into innovative solutions that help build more resilient communities.”
Last year the City Solution of the Year grand prize was awarded to RCOAST, a climate-tech company that specializes in high-resolution coastal erosion analytics transforming complex coastal dynamics into actionable intelligence. RCOAST was selected from a pool of more than 820 entrepreneurs from 71 countries.
“Disasters may be rising, but so are the number of solutions to tackle them,” said Michael Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities. “Resilience isn’t just about responding to floods or fires—it’s about spotting risk earlier, protecting people more equitably, and deploying proven solutions faster. The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge turns these innovative solutions into funded pilots that deliver measurable results for communities.”
Applications for the 2026 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge are open now through April 30, 2026. To apply or learn more, visit the AcceliCITY website.
About QBE North America
QBE North America is a global insurance leader that gets to the heart of what’s at risk for our customers. Part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, QBE North America reported Gross Written Premiums in 2025 of $7.7 billion. QBE Insurance Group’s results can be found at qbe.com. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 26 countries around the globe, with a presence in every key insurance market. The North America division, headquartered in New York, conducts business primarily through its insurance company subsidiaries. The actual terms and conditions of any insurance coverage are subject to the language of the policies as issued. Additional information can be found at qbe.com/us or follow QBE North America on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
About Leading Cities
Leading Cities is a global nonprofit organization that drives transformative urban innovation through a comprehensive, impact-focused approach. Leading Cities’ unique methodology encompasses the entire innovation lifecycle—from global sourcing and rigorous vetting to stakeholder education, implementation funding, and deployment support. Through flagship programs like AcceliGOV and AcceliCITY, Leading Cities systematically reduces the barriers to urban innovation by de-risking the adoption of new technologies for municipalities worldwide. Leading Cities connects public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors to accelerate solutions that aim to enhance sustainability, resilience, and equity in communities of all sizes. For more information, visitwww.LeadingCities.org or connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Media contact for QBE North America:
Lou Casale, Media Relations
[email protected]