After months of preparation, mentoring, and global collaboration, the 2025 edition of the Social Entrepreneurs in Tourism (SET) Competition has officially come to a close with our pitch and awards ceremony.
From a record-breaking 196 applications across 66 countries, four initiatives have been named winners in this year’s Launch and Growth Tracks. These winners represent innovative, impact-driven solutions aimed at building a more inclusive and sustainable tourism industry.
Congratulations to all participants for sharing their innovations, and let’s meet the winners!
Zerotrail Climate Action Vehicle is a mobile, AI-powered waste management and sustainability hub that tackles tourism-related waste in ecologically fragile regions like Ladakh, while promoting circular economy practices, local livelihoods, and eco-conscious travel. Founded by Tariq Wani.
The Portal is an indigenous-led tourism experience at Botswana’s Tsodilo Hills that blends heritage preservation with immersive drone light shows and storytelling, with plans to scale this community-based model to other cultural sites across the region. Founded by Mmoloki Pitse.
Legends in the Landscape offers gamified, open-air cultural experiences in rural Nepal, led by trained local youth who bring heritage sites to life through storytelling, interactive quests, and community-based tourism. Co-founded by Bimochan Pathak and Bidhata Pathak.
CarbonTrace is a platform that empowers individuals and communities to take climate-positive action by tracking, reducing, and offsetting carbon footprints—supporting grassroots projects across India while rewarding eco-conscious behavior and connecting users to sustainable choices. Founded by Ratan Kumar Ghimire.
This year marks a milestone for SET: the highest number of applications since the competition began. With 196 submissions – up 40% from last year – the interest in using tourism as a force for good continues to grow.
Entrants were evaluated across two tracks:
10 Finalists were selected after a rigorous jury process and took part in a one-month mentorship program with international experts – meet the Jury and Mentors who support the SET Competition.
The final Pitch Contest and Award Ceremony took place online on 17 November 2025 moderated by Kevin O’Shaughnessy, founder of CityHook, and produced my Maria Stoyanova, Program Manager of the 2025 SET Competition.
Founded by Prof. Dr. Claudia Brözel six years ago, the SET Competition is the world’s first international initiative dedicated exclusively to social innovation in tourism. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners whose ongoing support makes the Social Entrepreneurs in Tourism Competition possible.
Special appreciation goes to Amadeus, Travel Massive, Wiif, SINA (Social Innovation Academy), Lufthansa City Center, Stiftung Entrepreneurship, Neusta Destination.One, and ITB Berlin.
We are also grateful to our supporting partners: Social Impact Award, Tourism Cares, Fachhochschule Eberswalde, Social Enterprise Thailand, FutureTravel. Your collaboration helps empower changemakers and strengthen the global movement for impact-driven tourism.
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Congratulations to all winners! And great thanks to our partners and the whole who made this Competition possible.
Join our next Webinar is on 9 January:
• How to prepare for ITB Berlin 2026?
• Speaker: Ryan Fuller – ITB Berlin
👉 Register: www.travelmassive.com/events/webinar-how-to-prepare-for-itb-berlin-2026-3924136205
So many amazing projects, congratulations to the winners!
My company Wander Woofs Tourist Dog Sitting was among the 25 shortlisted companies of the SET Competition, and even though we didn`t win, it was an honor to be featured among so many incredible, life-changing projects!
Thanks for the feedback, Vick! Keep following the newsletter as we're sharing more opportunities for social entrepreneurs all the time.