A diagonal split image with a purple section on the top left and a black section on the bottom right.

2024 Challenge:

Youth Resilience

The purpose of a Challenge is to identify and pilot technologies that support the well-being of rural communities. AscendRural annually hosts Challenges to identify promising approaches to solving problems in rural settings.

A woman with short curly hair smiling outdoors at sunset, with one hand on her chest.
A dark background with a thick, diagonal, purple stripe running from the bottom left to the top right.

AscendRural Youth Resilience Challenge

In 2024, AscendRural identified its first series of pilots through a national Challenge process in partnership with ScaleHealth focused on technologies that support and improve youth resilience. Over 50 startup companies from across the country applied.

Through a multi-round judging process, the highest-impact technologies were identified. In partnership with five community-based partners from central Minnesota, pilots to support youth resilience will launch in March 2025 and conclude in June 2025. Findings and learnings will be shared at a symposium in August 2025.

Man smiling outdoors in a plaid shirt holding a tablet with mountains and greenery in the background.