Behind the scenes of World Changing Ideas 2025

For eight years running, World Changing Ideas has celebrated the people and companies working to make the world safer, cleaner, more sustainable, and more equitable. It’s no small feat—but it’s inspiring to see the progress these groups are making and the impact that their projects are already having. This year’s World Changing Ideas Awards recognizes 100 projects around the world that are pursuing innovation for good.

To get there requires an editorial team that spends months poring over applications, vetting projects, and ultimately telling the stories that bring these projects to life. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how we make it happen.

METHODOLOGY

More than 1,500 applications were submitted to the World Changing Ideas Awards 2025. A team of staff editors and writers, alongside trusted freelancers, assessed each application based on our criteria, which include:

IMPACT

We look for projects that have created (or are trying to create) substantive, positive change in the world. We want the impact to be something that can improve lives, society, or the environment—not just business bottom lines.

DESIGN

We think about this both conceptually and physically. We look for projects that have well-thought-out plans for how they’ll create their impact—and how they will avoid potential negative externalities. Functionality and aesthetics are also important when we evaluate applications.

SCALABILITY

Projects may be small right now, but do they have the potential to grow and bring the change to more people? We look for ideas that have the ability to change the world. This can mean projects that create enormous change for a small number of people, as well as projects that will create small but substantive change for an enormous number of people. Either way, we look for projects that can scale to serve the entire market they’re targeting.

INGENUITY

We evaluate projects that range from conceptual to just launched to fully operational. But no matter what stage the idea is in, we judge it on whether it’s bold, new, and innovative. The best entries offer a path-breaking solution to an important problem.

“World Changing Ideas taps the collective knowledge of our editors, reporters, and outside writers,” says Morgan Clendaniel, Fast Company‘s digital executive editor. “We use these writers’ deep understanding of AI, urban design, climate tech, and transportation to create this curated list of the projects delivering the most impact and ingenuity in their sectors.”

Each winner is chosen after multiple rounds of judging and conversations about a project’s role in the current needs and challenges of this moment. This monthslong process ensures that every project chosen to receive a World Changing Idea award is representative of the best work in its field.

Meet the team

Writers: Maria Jose Gutierrez Chavez, Yasmin Gagne, Steven Melendez, Adele Peters, David Salazar, Grace Snelling, Kristin Toussaint, Talib Visram

Judges: Jeff Beer, Elissaveta M. Brandon, Morgan Clendaniel, Shalene Gupta, Jessica Hullinger, Veronica Irwin, Lily McDonald, Steven Melendez, Jocelyn Mintz, April Mokwa, Alex Pasternack, Adele Peters, Clint Rainey, Aimee Rawlins, Danielle Renwick, David Salazar, Elizabeth Segran, Grace Snelling, Eric Sullivan, Kristin Toussaint, Talib Visram

Editor: Aimee Rawlins

Copy Editors: Joanne Camas, Charissa Jones

Coordinator: Shealon Calkins

Design/Photo: Alice Alves, Jeanne Graves, Heda Hokschirr, Haewon Kye, Eric Perry, Sandra Riaño, Daniel Salo, Maja Saphir, Mike Schnaidt, Amy Wong

Development: Bryan Cuellar, Cayleigh Parrish