Got questions?

Q: What is T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge?

On August 8, T-Mobile , the T-Mobile Foundation, and nonprofit partner Ashoka kicked off the second-annual Changemaker Challenge , a nationwide contest to mobilize the next generation ready to create positive change in their communities. This year’s T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge looked for 30 bold ideas from young visionaries, advocates, and social entrepreneurs ages 13 to 23 from across the USA and Puerto Rico. Teams entered the Challenge by submitting a project that drove social change in one of three categories: Technology, the Environment, and Education. In early November, T-Mobile officially announced the top 30 teams. Winners selected by senior leaders from T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation received seed funding and a three-day Changemaker Lab experience in Bellevue, Washington to help take their projects to the next level.

Q: How did you select the 30 winners, and what was the criteria?

T-Mobile , the T-Mobile Foundation, and Ashoka Youth Venture reviewed submissions from across the USA and Puerto Rico and selected winning teams based on the following criteria: Changemaker Quality: already taking steps to make a difference Creativity: fresh, innovative ideas that challenge the norm Commitment: devotion to seeing a project through and making a lasting impact Connection: ability and openness to work with others in their communities

Q: When and where is the Changemaker Lab, and what happens there?

The Changemaker Lab took place February 19-21 at T-Mobile ’s HQ in Bellevue, Washington. The Lab was an Un-conference-style workshop with sessions led by T-Mobile and Ashoka, focused on developing critical changemaking skills and community building. Teams received mentorship from T-Mobile executives and skills training from Ashoka while gathering a powerful changemaker network along the way. At the Lab, all participating teams presented their ideas to T-Mobile employees and leaders. The winning team from each category received additional seed funding and the opportunity to pitch their ideas to T-Mobile senior leadership and the T-Mobile Foundation. One selected grand prize winner received additional seed funding and a second all-expenses-paid trip back to T-Mobile ’s HQ for further hands-on mentorship to continue supercharging their ideas.

Q: How will T-Mobile and Ashoka support the winners after the Changemaker Lab?

T-Mobile , the T-Mobile Foundation, and Ashoka Youth Venture will: Provide ongoing skill development, mentoring, and project guidance to help put their plans into action. Offer ongoing mentorship, webinars, and other community-building opportunities throughout the year. Showcase these young visionaries and promote their innovative ideas as inspirational examples of the next generation of changemakers.

Question 1

What is T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge?

Accepted Answer

On August 8, T-Mobile, the T-Mobile Foundation, and nonprofit partner Ashoka kicked off the second-annual Changemaker Challenge, a nationwide contest to mobilize the next generation ready to create positive change in their communities.
This year’s T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge looked for 30 bold ideas from young visionaries, advocates, and social entrepreneurs ages 13 to 23 from across the USA and Puerto Rico. Teams entered the Challenge by submitting a project that drove social change in one of three categories: Technology, the Environment, and Education.
In early November, T-Mobile officially announced the top 30 teams. Winners selected by senior leaders from T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation received seed funding and a three-day Changemaker Lab experience in Bellevue, Washington to help take their projects to the next level.

Question 2

How did you select the 30 winners, and what was the criteria?

Accepted Answer

T-Mobile, the T-Mobile Foundation, and Ashoka Youth Venture reviewed submissions from across the USA and Puerto Rico and selected winning teams based on the following criteria:

Changemaker Quality: already taking steps to make a difference
Creativity: fresh, innovative ideas that challenge the norm
Commitment: devotion to seeing a project through and making a lasting impact
Connection: ability and openness to work with others in their communities

Question 3

When and where is the Changemaker Lab, and what happens there?

Accepted Answer

The Changemaker Lab took place February 19-21 at T-Mobile’s HQ in Bellevue, Washington.
The Lab was an Un-conference-style workshop with sessions led by T-Mobile and Ashoka, focused on developing critical changemaking skills and community building. Teams received mentorship from T-Mobile executives and skills training from Ashoka while gathering a powerful changemaker network along the way.
At the Lab, all participating teams presented their ideas to T-Mobile employees and leaders.
The winning team from each category received additional seed funding and the opportunity to pitch their ideas to T-Mobile senior leadership and the T-Mobile Foundation. One selected grand prize winner received additional seed funding and a second all-expenses-paid trip back to T-Mobile’s HQ for further hands-on mentorship to continue supercharging their ideas.

Question 4

How will T-Mobile and Ashoka support the winners after the Changemaker Lab?

Accepted Answer

T-Mobile, the T-Mobile Foundation, and Ashoka Youth Venture will:

Provide ongoing skill development, mentoring, and project guidance to help put their plans into action.
Offer ongoing mentorship, webinars, and other community-building opportunities throughout the year.
Showcase these young visionaries and promote their innovative ideas as inspirational examples of the next generation of changemakers.

Question 5

What's the T-Mobile CSR youth strategy beyond this contest?

Accepted Answer

T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation are inspired by changemaking youth who are challenging the status quo and working to solve the issues facing their communities. That was the inspiration for launching the first T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge in 2018 – and it has become an iconic annual program as part of our overall CSR efforts.
T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation's broader youth strategy also includes impactful programs such as EmpowerED, which is focused on bridging the digital divide by bringing mobile technology to schools in low-income communities nationwide; and Generation T, a youth career exploration program to prepare young people for great futures in business and technology.

Question 6

Why do you make the Changemaker Challenge submissions public?

Accepted Answer

We believe real change happens when you encourage community engagement and create a culture of changemakers.
By making the ideas available for registered users to view, participants can get real-time feedback, address questions, collect additional ideas, and even make new connections with people that might help them take their ideas to new levels.
It's important for us to safeguard our Changemakers, so no personal information is included.

Question 7

Why did you narrow the Challenge down to only three categories this year?

Accepted Answer

This year's Changemaker Challenge categories are aligned with the initiatives and values that T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation prioritize. T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation are committed to leveraging our technology, employees, and resources to change the world for good through programs that focus on youth, the environment, education, community giving, D&I, veterans, and more.

Question 8

What is the T-Mobile Foundation and how does it support the Changemaker Challenge?

Accepted Answer

The T-Mobile Foundation is a private charitable foundation, created and funded by T-Mobile US Inc., and is committed to changing the world for good. The Foundation advances positive change in our communities by supporting causes that focus on youth development, and by providing opportunities for T-Mobile employees to engage in causes that benefit the communities where they live and work.
The T-Mobile Foundation funds the cash prizes awarded to the Changemaker Challenge winners and provides grant support to Ashoka.

Question 9

What is Ashoka?

Accepted Answer

Ashoka is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works around the world with partners like T-Mobile to support youth by honing core competencies of empathy, teamwork, and collaborative leadership. For more than 20 years, Ashoka has supported young social entrepreneurs as they address the world’s biggest challenges, strengthening their skills and transforming their ideas into regional, national, and global social impact.

Congrats to the 2019 T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge winners!

What they won.

About Ashoka.