Table of Contents

Who can apply to the 2021 Digital Workforce Challenge?

How are we defining “digital workforce" for this Challenge?

Can my organization submit a solution to a Solve Global Challenge and a Partner Challenge?

How are we CrowdSolving the 2021 Digital Workforce Challenge?

What type of solutions will be accepted to the 2021 Digital Workforce Challenge?

How will my solution be evaluated?

What is the Challenge Timeline?

What can I win if my solution is selected?

Who can apply to the 2021 Digital Workforce Challenge?*

• ServiceNow is looking for solutions that are in pilot or early growth phase (at a minimum, the solution needs to have a working tested prototype). 
• Solutions must be tech-based. Our definition of "tech-based" is broad and includes both low and high tech, including but not limited to AI, blockchain, virtual reality, and user-friendly mobile apps – at its core, technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. 

Solutions must be either:

1. Currently deployed in one or more of the following ServiceNow locations: Australia/New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2. Operating and showing promise in another geography, and be ready with clear plans to deploy in one or more of the above ServiceNow locations. 

Applicants can be individual students, entrepreneurs, teams, or established start-ups. If you have a relevant solution, we hope you’ll apply! Solutions can be for-profit, nonprofit, or hybrid models. 

*Government agencies and any employee, officer, director, or representative of a federal, state, local, or foreign Government, or any immediate family member of any employee, officer, director, or representative of a federal, state, local, or foreign Government are not eligible to participate.
*This Challenge is open open to individuals, entrepreneurs, teams, or established start-ups except those who are legal residents of the Province of Quebec, Italy, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Mexico, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Crimea, and the Philippines.

How are we defining “digital workforce” for this Challenge? 

A digital workplace goes beyond the limits of a physical office; it is the strategic and innovative use of technologies to transform how and where we work.

Can my organization submit a solution to a Solve Global Challenge and a Partner Challenge? 

Yes, you may submit a solution to both Global Challenges and Partner Challenges. You may also apply to multiple Partner Challenges.

How are we CrowdSolving the 2021 Digital Workforce Challenge?

1. SOURCING SOLUTIONS Anyone who meets the criteria above can participate in this Challenge and submit a solution. Whether you’re working on a prototype or have an existing product, we’re looking for innovators and entrepreneurs with the best solutions.
2. SELECTING SOLUTIONS Once the submission deadlines pass, judging begins. After an initial screening by ServiceNow and Solve staff, Challenge judges select the most promising solutions as Finalists. These Finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions at a virtual Pitch Event, and judges will then select the winners.

What type of solutions will be accepted to the 2021 Digital Workforce Challenge?

Solution applications must be written in English. This Challenge considers solutions at various stages of development. 

• Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea. Please note that concept solutions will not be selected; you have until the application deadline to prototype and experiment with your idea!
• Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model. If for-profit, a new company getting off the ground that has raised little or no institutional capital (less than $500,000) in pre-seed fundraising.
• Pilot: An organization deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community. If for-profit, a young company that is working to gain traction and that has raised less than $2 million in institutional capital in seed funding.
• Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in one or, ideally, several communities, which is poised for further growth in multiple communities or countries. If for-profit, an early-stage company that has established a track record and is seeking to raise a round of roughly $2 million to $15 million in institutional capital in a Series A or potentially B round.
• Scale: A sustainable enterprise working in several communities or countries that is looking to scale significantly, focusing on increased efficiency. If for-profit, a successful company that is scaling its operations and seeks to raise a round of more than $15 million in institutional capital.

The most important thing is that your solution addresses the focus of this Challenge.

Through open innovation, this Challenge is looking for a diverse portfolio of solutions across stages of development and team members’ gender, race, ethnicity, and background. We believe that there is no one solution to the world’s most complex challenges—and encourage people of all backgrounds to submit their applications.

How will my solution be evaluated?

The Challenge judging committee will be comprised of experts and leaders from across industries. After an initial screening by ServiceNow and Solve staff, judges will score the screened solutions based on the following criteria:

• Alignment: The solution addresses the challenge that has been set forth.
• Potential for Impact: The planned solution implementation has the potential to impact lives and drive economic growth internationally.
• Scalability:  The solution can be scaled to affect the lives of more people.
• Feasibility: Solution implementation is feasible, and the team has a plan for financial sustainability.
• Innovative Approach: This is a new solution, a new application of a solution, a new business model, or a new process for solving the challenge, and the team clearly identifies its competitive advantages (e.g. intellectual property).
• Inclusive Human-Centered Design: The solution is designed with and for underserved communities, and the solution team demonstrates proximity to the community and embodies and addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion through their solution.
• Partnership Potential: The applicant clearly explains how the solution would benefit from the broad range of resources that ServiceNow is positioned to provide.

Selected finalists will pitch before Challenge judges at a closed-door pitch event. The judges will then determine which solutions are the most promising and those selected will receive prize funding and support from ServiceNow.

What is the Challenge Timeline?

• May 10, 2021 -  Challenge opens

• September 10, 2021 - Deadline for applicants to submit a solution

• October 2021 - Finalists announced

• November 2021 - Pitch event for Finalists [virtual]

• November 16, 2021 - Winner Announcement Event [virtual]

What can I win if my solution is selected?

Finalists will be invited to a virtual pitch event to present their solutions in front of distinguished judges. Winners will be invited to participate in a virtual Winner Announcement Event. 

• One Grand Prize Winner: US$100,000 in prize funding is available for the Digital Workforce Challenge Grand Prize Winner, provided by ServiceNow.
• One US Racial Equity Prize Winner: US$50,000 in prize funding is available for the Digital Workforce Challenge US Racial Equity Prize Winner, provided by ServiceNow. Eligible Finalist solutions must be designed by and for communities of color and help advance antiracist and equitable digital workforces in the US.
• One ServiceNow Employee Choice Award: US$10,000 will be given to the Finalist solution with the most ServiceNow employee votes. 

In addition to funding, ServiceNow may provide the selected winner of the 2021 Digital Workforce Challenge with in-kind resources, including skills-based mentorship, media opportunities, and ServiceNow workflow solution support.

*The ServiceNow Employee Choice Award Winner and the US Racial Equity Prize Winner may also be the Grand Prize Winner. 

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void where prohibited. Contest begins at 09:00am ET on 05/10/21 and ends at 12:00pm ET on 09/10/21. Must be age of majority or older. Excludes residents of the Province of Quebec, Italy, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Mexico, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Crimea, and the Philippines. Restrictions apply, see Official Rules.