Wealth Hacker's Challenge

$15,000 for 'hacks' that make wealth allocation more equitable.

competition

Coming soon

Open

Open until 11/3/2024, 12:00:00 AM

Closed

11/3/2024, 12:00:00 AM

Description

We imagine a world where our fellow WealthHackers are encouraged to develop and launch their hacks, and are supported through a combination of financial and social capital and access to an aligned hacker community. We are partnering with our first supporting sponsor, the UK-based Joseph Rowntree Foundation, to launch the inaugural Hacking Wealth Challenge and to identify new ideas or works in progress that can be significantly advanced with a one-time infusion of GBP 15,000 over a 4 - 8 week sprint. 

What Qualifies as a Hack?

Below are example hacks that align inside of what we’ve identified as the five “dimensions” for these scalable subversions: 

Legal / Governance

  • “Trust-busting” instruments that enable full expression of wealth

  • Redefine “fiduciary duty” to be more than private wealth accumulation

  • Alternative approaches to who are the legal guardians of wealth (eg. not trustee model)

Financial

  • Models for making investment decisions more inclusive, participatory and democratic 

  • Client service and business models that prioritise repair and the redistribution of wealth, power and privilege

  • Alternative fund economics design and models that build community health and wealth

Digital

  • Tools and practices for spend-down redistribution modelling 

  • Financial Planning technology that supports holistic investment and financial planning decisions

  • Alternative platforms, structures and tools that support investing in alternative economies

Accounting

  •  Reimagine a P&L that captures all forms of value 

  • Tax, regulatory and accounting policy reform and advocacy

  • Tax planning that prioritises redistribution of wealth through solidarity, not charity

Behavioural

  • Behavioural and psychological tools for wealth holders to redirect their wealth, manage family dynamics and replace misaligned intermediaries.

  • Alternative approaches to stakeholder governance / accountability (eg. planning for future generations)

Application Process

  • The Challenge opens on September 2, and closes September 30. 

  • Good uses of funds include building a prototype of a product or service; adapting an existing intervention to another jurisdiction or language; or conducting applied research for a new intervention.

  • Selected hackers will be announced in early November. They will have until January 15 to utilise the award funds to work on their intervention. 

  • Selected hackers will also attend an in-person gathering of their peers and additional stakeholders in early  2025 in the United Kingdom. Location and dates will be announced in November. 

  • All submissions will have an opportunity to join the forthcoming WealthHackers Community.

  • While the proposed hacks do not need to originate in the United Kingdom, explicit statements for how they would work there are supportive.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for the Hacking Wealth Challenge as an individual?

We encourage you to apply in whatever capacity feels most aligned with your project, whether that’s as an individual, as a motley crew of disjunct hackers, as an existing team representing your org or institution, as a coalition of orgs, etc.

How will applications be reviewed?

Hacking Wealth Challenge applications will be reviewed across the following criterion categories: 1) Strategic Alignment: Does the hack align with the intention and strategy of the WealthHackers Initiative? 2) Team: How capable of building the hack is the team? 3) Budget: Does the award meaningfully impact and match the ability to implement the hack? 4) JEDI: Is the initiative strong on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion? Are there strong partnerships (existing or potential)? 5) Outcome Potential: Does the hack have the potential to develop outsized outcomes?

What sort of questions will I be asked to answer in the application?

The application is short and will require hackers to: 1) create a profile for themselves and organisation (if applicable); 2) describe the hack (approx. 1,000 words); 3) describe what the funding will allow them to do; 4) answer a short series of questions (i.e. location, industry, projected outcomes, etc.)