Unleash your Superhero

HeroX is excited to host a challenge to share the stories of ordinary people creating extraordinary innovations.

Tell us your story or the story of someone you know, who has defied conventional wisdom to create a game-changing breakthrough.

What was the motivation, what was the journey? What made them hang in there?

We’re not looking for the perfect story; we’re looking for the true story. Tell us the reality of the innovation journey - the failures, the ups and downs, and the make-or-break moments.

Using any medium you like - written, audio, visual, multimedia, song – tell us the story behind an extraordinary innovation.  

What kind of stories can I submit?

The challenge will award prizes in two categories:

1. Your Path to the Prize asks you to share the journey behind an innovation that was submitted to an incentive challenge (whether or not you, or the someone you know, won!).
2. Innovation Heroes asks you to share the journey behind an innovation that was outside the scope of an incentive challenge.

You may submit a story in one or both categories. However, the same story cannot be submitted multiple times.

You may share your own personal story or that of someone who inspires you! Looking for a story tell? Check out our database of over 1600 incentive challenges to get started.

What impact will my story have?

"Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today." --Robert McKee  

The Unleash Your Superhero challenge is your opportunity to share your ideas and journey with the world.

All stories will be shared with our community of innovators on the challenge page. Stories may also be shared on the HeroX blog, social media, and to our global community.

What can I win?

HeroX will award up to 8 prizes, totaling $5,500 USD. The judging panel will select up to 3 winners in each category, according to the judging criteria listed in the Challenge Guidelines.

In addition, a People’s Choice award of $1000 USD will be awarded in each category, based on popular vote.

Submission Categories

The challenge will award prizes in two categories:

1. Your Path to the Prize: Your innovation, or that of someone you know, was submitted to an incentive challenge (whether or not you, or the someone you know, won!).
2. Innovation Heroes: Your innovation, or that of someone you know, was outside the scope of an incentive challenge

You may submit a story in one or both categories. However, the same story cannot be submitted multiple times.

Story Format

Be creative! Stories can be told using any platform - written, audio, visual, multimedia, song - your options are limitless!

There is no minimum or maximum length for your story. It can be as short or as long as it needs to be for you to share the journey of achieving the innovation. Remember you must keep your audience engaged; quality trumps quantity!

Your Audience

The Unleash Your Superhero challenge is your opportunity to share your ideas and journey with the world.

All stories will become public on the challenge page on HeroX.com immediately after they are submitted. Stories may also be shared across our social media platforms, on our blog, on the Unleash Your Superhero challenge page, and in any other future communication by HeroX. HeroX may edit your story for space or clarity.

Only the fields in the submission form marked (public) will be visible to the public and to the judges.

Telling Someone Else’s Story?

If you are sharing someone else’s story, you must obtain their written consent or submit the story in partnership by forming a team on HeroX.com.

We’ve made our database of over 1600 incentive challenges freely available to you, so dive in and start digging for your story!

Prompting Questions

We encourage you to captivate, inspire, and excite us. Each story will be as unique as its subject. These questions may be used as prompts to get your storytelling juices flowing.

1. In what ways has your innovation solved a problem or created a breakthrough in the world?
2. What was the defining moment that most dramatically changed or influenced your innovation?
3. What weaknesses, failures, and setbacks did you need to overcome? What adversity did you face?
4. What drove you to strive for audacious goals? What motivated you to participate in the incentive challenge or push the boundaries with an innovation?
5. What was the journey to your innovation? How did you develop it? Who and what supported you throughout your journey?

Storytelling Tips

• Jump right into the action! The opening of your story captures the audience’s attention and sets the context for the rest of the story. Make it strong to ensure you don’t lose your audience.
• Make it personal. Stories resonate with an audience when the character is relatable. Weave your goals, dreams, setbacks, ups and downs, and make or break moments into the narrative.
• Don’t tell the perfect story; tell your story. The failures you faced, the setbacks, the ups and downs - these are what make a great story. Be bold, take the risk, and tell your truth.
• Invoke a feeling.
• Choose an angle. A story is most powerful when the audience is left with one or two main ideas to take away.

Additional Storytelling Resources

• Hatch for Good: The Rockefeller Foundation’s suite of storytelling resources.

Submission Requirements

Submissions must be made online (only), via upload to the HeroX.com website. All document uploads must be in PDF format (2 MB maximum).

Any video submissions must first be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, or other video sharing site. Double-check that all of your links are working and that they are set to Public.

All sections marked required on the submission form must be completed. Once the challenge moves into Enter mode, please click “Start Here” to begin your submission and view the fields required in addition to your story.

Prizes

HeroX will award up to eight prizes, totaling $5,500 USD. The judging panel will select up to three winners in each category, according to the judging criteria listed below.

In addition, a People’s Choice award of $1000 USD will be awarded in each category, based on popular vote.

Judging Criteria

The judging panel will evaluate submissions based on the criteria below. With a tie, the winner(s) will be selected based on the highest votes from the Judges.

Voting

All submissions will become public on the challenge page, as soon as they are submitted. Only the fields in the submission form marked (public) will be visible to the public. Please see the timeline for when voting will open and close.

One story will be selected in each category for a people’s choice award, based on popular vote. All votes are subject to review. Any competitor using unfair methods to solicit votes will be automatically disqualified from the challenge. The final selection of the people’s choice award will be at the sole discretion of HeroX.  

Additional Rules

Participation Eligibility:

The challenge is open to all individuals and teams. Innovators may originate from any country. Submissions must be made in English. Video submissions may be in other languages provided they have English subtitles. All challenge-related communication will be in English.

No specific qualifications or expertise is required. HeroX encourages outside individuals and non-expert teams to compete.

To be eligible to compete, you must comply with all the terms of the challenge, as defined in the Challenge-Specific Agreement, which will be provided upon registration.

Registration and Submissions:

All innovators must be registered prior to submitting an entry. Final submissions must be received on or before the submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted.

Any submissions containing nudity, profanity, offensive language or other objectionable material will be disqualified at the sole discretion of HeroX.  

Selection of Winners:

Prizes will be awarded per the Judging Criteria section above. With a tie, the winner(s) will be selected, based on the highest votes from the Judges. One prize will be awarded in each category, based on popular vote. The final selection of all winners is at the sole discretion of HeroX.

Judging Panel:

The determination of the winners will be made by a group of people, including thought leaders, influencers, and HeroX team members.

Additional Information

• By participating in the challenge, each competitor agrees to submit only their original work. Any indication of "copying" amongst competitors is grounds for disqualification.
• All submitted work must be your own original creation and be free of any copyright material.
• All applications will go through a process of due diligence; any application found to be misrepresentative, plagiarized, or sharing an idea not their own will be automatically disqualified.
• All ineligible applicants will be automatically removed from the competition with no recourse or reimbursement.
• No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win the competition.
• Void wherever restricted or prohibited by law.