GoAERO Prize
This competition invites individuals and teams worldwide to develop innovative, compact aircraft for emergency response, with substantial cash prizes and mentorship opportunities available for successful submissions.
GoAERO Prize is a three-year, global competition initiated to develop and deploy the world’s first compact, autonomy-enabled Emergency Response Flyer. Spearheaded by GoAERO in collaboration with major partners such as Boeing, NASA, and RTX, this initiative aims to bridge the critical gap in emergency response capabilities through innovation in aviation technology. The competition invites teams worldwide to create a high-tech aircraft designed to overcome obstacles in disaster response, providing swift and safe access to people in need during emergencies such as natural disasters, health crises, and other critical situations. The purpose of the GoAERO Prize is to foster the development of aircraft that are safe, simple to fly, highly portable, and robust enough to handle diverse and difficult conditions. It focuses on autonomy-enabled systems that reduce the training burden on operators and make aerial rescue accessible to more first responders. The competition includes three major scored missions: Productivity, Adversity, and Maneuvering, each designed to test specific operational capabilities crucial to real-world emergency responses. Funding is substantial, with over $2 million in total prizes. Stage 1 offers up to ten $10,000 awards for digital technical submissions. Stage 2 offers up to eight $40,000 awards based on concept validation. Stage 3 culminates in a live Fly-Off competition, awarding a $1,000,000 top prize, three $150,000 mission prizes, a $100,000 RTX Disruptor Prize, and a $100,000 Autonomy Prize. Notably, winners must enter into an equity agreement with GoAERO, granting GoAERO a minor equity stake equivalent to the prize value won. Eligibility is open to individuals and teams globally, with some restrictions regarding sanctioned countries and affiliation with specific corporate partners. Stage 1 accepts individuals and teams; Stages 2 and 3 require participation as legally formed business entities. All applicants must submit registration documents and accept detailed competition agreements, including liability releases and media rights acknowledgments. Teams must maintain compliance with international laws and meet insurance requirements for participation. The competition timeline is as follows: Stage 1 submissions are due by December 11, 2024; winners will be announced February 11, 2025. Stage 2 submissions are due by September 30, 2025, with winners announced November 18, 2025. Stage 3 qualifying opens June 5, 2026, closes December 15, 2026, and the final Fly-Off event takes place February 5, 2027. Participants benefit from mentorship and access to expert lectures through GoAERO’s Innovation Incubator. Experienced aerospace professionals and industry luminaries provide guidance on engineering, fundraising, corporate setup, and intellectual property. Questions and registration information are handled through the official GoAERO Prize email at info@goAEROprize.com.
Award Range
Not specified - $1,000,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Additional Details
Teams win prizes across three stages. Stage 1 offers up to ten $10,000 awards; Stage 2 up to eight $40,000 awards; Stage 3 awards include $1,000,000 top prize, three $150,000 mission prizes, a $100,000 RTX Disruptor Prize, and a $100,000 Autonomy Prize. Winners must agree to GoAERO receiving an equity interest proportional to prize value.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Stage 1 Eligibility: Individual Innovators: The Competition is open to individual Innovators who (a) are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in his/her jurisdiction of residence if it is older than 18), (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Stage 1 Competition Agreement, and (c) are able to participate without violation of any third-party rights or obligations, including without limitation an employer’s policies or procedures. Exclusions: Individual Innovators may not be (a) an employee of Boeing or RTX (or an affiliate) or a member of any such employee’s immediate family, (b) located in a jurisdiction where participation in the Competition is prohibited or otherwise restricted by law (or an individual with a residence in or who is a national of Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Russia, Sudan or, as applicable, Crimea and covered regions of Ukraine) or (c) subject to export controls or sanctions of the U.S. Business Entities: The Competition is open to legal entities that wish to compete as a Team and (a) are validly formed and in existence under applicable law, (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Stage 1 Competition Agreement, and (c) are able to participate without violation by the Team or any Team Member of any third-party rights or obligations. Exclusions: Entity Innovators must not have any presence in Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Russia, Sudan or, as applicable, Crimea and covered regions of Ukraine, or be subject to export controls or sanctions of the United States. Stage 2 and Stage 3 Eligibility: Among other requirements, Stage 2 and 3 of the Competition are only open to business entities that wish to compete as a Team and (a) are validly formed and in existence under applicable law, (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Master Team Agreement, (c) have completed the full package of required legal documents, and (d) are able to participate without violation by the Team or any Team Member of any third-party rights or obligations. All Team Members must (a) be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in his/her jurisdiction of residence if it is older than 18), (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Master Team Agreement and all other GoAERO legal documents, and (c) be able to participate without violation of any third-party rights or obligations, including without limitation an employer’s policies or procedures. Exclusions: A Team Member may not be (a) an employee of Boeing or RTX (or an affiliate) or a member of any such employee’s immediate family, (b) located in a jurisdiction where participation in the Competition is prohibited or otherwise restricted by law (or an individual with a residence in or who is a national of Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Russia, Sudan or, as applicable, Crimea and covered regions of Ukraine) or (c) subject to export controls or sanctions of the U.S. Additionally, Teams must not have any presence in Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Russia, Sudan or, as applicable, Crimea and covered regions of Ukraine or be subject to export controls or sanctions of the United States. In all cases, each Team’s legal documents, forms and questionnaires are subject to GoAERO’s review and approval. Each Team’s compliance with these requirements and eligibility for the Competition will be determined by GoAERO in its sole discretion. Only Teams meeting all of the eligibility requirements set forth in the Master Team Agreement as determined by GoAERO and who are otherwise qualified and accepted by GoAERO will be recognized as participants in the Competition. Each Team must obey all local, national, and international laws in undertaking any activities related to the Competition. Teams must also acquire all necessary licenses, waivers, and/or permits from the applicable regulatory bodies or other applicable third parties. GoAERO is not required to advise Team regarding such legal and regulatory compliance, and GoAERO shall have no responsibility for a Team’s compliance with laws and disclaims any responsibility for advising on the applicability of laws or regulations or a Team’s compliance therewith. GoAERO’s acceptance of a Team into the Competition does not constitute approval of that Team’s compliance with laws applicable to it.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
Grantor
GoAERO
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