QS World Merit

What QS World Merit does

QS ImpACT is a UK-registered charity (Charity 1198642), headquartered in London at 1 Tranley Mews, Fleet Road, and operates as the youth-empowerment arm of QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). Its functional purpose is to engage young people aged 18-35 in sustainability initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a portfolio of recurring programs: a $50,000 scholarship pool, six-category awards program (£5,000 prize pool), the Skills Challenge ('Games for Good' digital games competition), the AI for ImpACT Hackathon, the Global Day of Action, local Council chapters, the Future17 program, and an annual Youth Summit in London. The organization is UNEP-accredited and explicitly partners with universities (Imperial College London, UPenn, ASU, Ajman University, Chung-Ang University, UPEC) and corporate sponsors (CITIC, Carbon Re, Olio, Bare Necessities, Pee Safe, Earth Quest) to distribute programming and amplify ESG impact.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally minimal: QS ImpACT is not a software product company. Programs are delivered via a public website (qsimpact.org), the Zoom platform for virtual events (notably the AI hackathon), social media channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X), and email newsletters. There is no proprietary platform, no mobile app, no API, and no disclosed data assets. The core 'product' is a curated calendar of competitions, scholarships, awards, and convenings, with the website functioning as the application and registration layer.

The business model is that of a grant- and partnership-funded charity rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. All youth programs are free to participate; the Youth Summit offers partially funded delegate seats at a modest £15.5 fee. Income is generated through donations, corporate sponsorships seeking measurable ESG outcomes, and institutional funding from universities embedding sustainability opportunities for students. Three primary customer segments are addressed: young leaders seeking funding and impact platforms; universities seeking turnkey sustainability programming and ESG positioning; and organizations seeking credible, UNEP-aligned youth engagement for ESG reporting.

Name

QS World Merit

Legal name

QS ImpACT

Website

https://qsworldmerit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sustainability and SDG Education Programs

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Sustainability education
• Scholarship funding
• SDG community building
• Youth innovation challenges

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and partnership funding: As a registered UK charity (Charity 1198642), QS ImpACT generates revenue through donations, corporate partnerships, and institutional funding from universities and organizations seeking to support youth-led sustainability initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

QS ImpACT is a UK-registered global charity that delivers free youth-led sustainability programs for people aged 18-35, including scholarships ($50,000 pool), sustainability awards (£5,000 prize pool), a "Games for Good" Skills Challenge, the AI for ImpACT Hackathon, a Youth Summit, a Global Day of Action, and local Council chapters. All programs are free for participants, with the organization funded through donations, corporate sponsorships and university partnerships under UNEP accreditation.

Product overview

QS ImpACT is a global charity and youth empowerment platform that operates as a unified programme portfolio rather than a traditional software product. The core offerings include the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge (a 'Games for Good' digital games competition), AI for ImpACT Hackathon (ethical AI challenge), Scholarships, Awards, Youth Summit, Global Day of Action, Councils, and Future17. These programmes collectively enable young people and universities to build solutions for a sustainable future aligned with UN SDGs through education, impact, and innovation. UNEP Accredited status supports the organization's credibility in sustainability education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skills Challenge: A free 'Games for Good' competition where young people design digital games aligned with the UN SDGs.
• AI for ImpACT
• Global Day of Action
• Youth Summit
• QS ImpACT Awards
• Scholarships
• Councils

Products and services

• QS ImpACT Scholarships A free scholarship programme with a $50,000 funding pool for young people aged 18-35 who demonstrate outstanding community impact and academic excellence, intended to fund higher education. Applications are submitted via qsimpact.org.
• QS ImpACT Awards 2026 An annual awards programme with six categories recognising and celebrating the most impactful sustainability initiatives led by young people, featuring a £5,000 prize pool and a final event in London.
• QS ImpACT Skills Challenge A free, fully virtual 'Games for Good' competition in which young people aged 18-35 design playable digital games aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals; the third edition is open to global participation.
• AI for ImpACT Hackathon A virtual global innovation challenge empowering young people to explore the role of ethical, responsible AI in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, held on Zoom with a £2,000 prize pool.
• Youth Summit QS ImpACT's annual global sustainability summit held in London, designed for young leaders, partner universities and forward-thinking organisations to turn sustainable ideas into measurable global action.
• Global Day of Action An annual global challenge that activates youth around the world to channel their collective efforts into creating measurable sustainable impact, scheduled for June each year.
• QS ImpACT Councils Local chapters of changemakers who turn the UN SDGs into action through grassroots events and initiatives in their own communities worldwide.
• Future17 A sustainability and innovation programme designed for youth and universities, delivered under the QS ImpACT umbrella.
• QS ImpACT Community Network The global year-round community network of 12,000+ young people creating real, local impact for a more sustainable world, accessible via qsimpact.org.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ youth engaged in sustainability programs globally
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, regional, support and minor.

• QS (Parent Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQS, the parent company and education ranking organization, provides brand association, operational infrastructure, and strategic direction for QS ImpACT as its youth empowerment arm focused on sustainability and the UN SDGs.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNEP accreditation provides international legitimacy and alignment with global environmental frameworks, enabling QS ImpACT to operate as a recognized youth sustainability initiative under UNEP auspices.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership brings global sustainability and innovation opportunities to students, embedding future-ready skills and employability across the institution.
• Arizona State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASU partners to provide sustainability programming and innovation opportunities to students as part of their commitment to global impact.
• University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPenn collaboration provides access to prestigious university network and supports student engagement in global sustainability initiatives.
• Ajman UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership extends QS ImpACT reach into the Middle East region, enabling regional youth engagement in sustainability programs.
• ZoomsupportTechnology or IntegrationZoom provides virtual event platform for AI for ImpACT Hackathon and other virtual programs, enabling global participation.
• OliominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-focused partnership supporting shared mission of environmental impact and waste reduction.
• Carbon ReminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI-powered carbon reduction company aligned with sustainability mission, supporting youth innovation in climate technology.
• Chung-Ang University (CAU)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean university partnership extending regional reach in Asia for sustainability education programs.
• UPEC (Université Paris-Est Créteil)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench university partnership supporting European regional engagement in youth sustainability initiatives.
• Earth QuestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partnership supporting shared sustainability goals and youth engagement.
• Pee SafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-focused brand partnership supporting health and environmental initiatives.
• CITIC (China CITIC Bank)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial institution partnership supporting Asian regional engagement and potential funding opportunities.
• Bare NecessitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability e-commerce brand partnership supporting ethical consumption initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• One Young World: Global youth leadership and impact summit platform focused on young leaders driving social and environmental change. Directly comparable as a youth-led impact organization targeting 18-35 cohorts with annual summits, ambassador networks, and partner programs aligned to SDGs.
• Resolution Project: Fellowship and venture-building platform for young social entrepreneurs addressing SDGs. Directly comparable in targeting university-age leaders with awards, mentorship, and global cohorts.
• Enactus: Global nonprofit that engages university students in social entrepreneurship projects aligned with SDGs. Directly comparable in leveraging university partnerships to deliver youth-led sustainability programs and competitions.
• United Nations Millennium Fellowship: UNA-driven fellowship for university students advancing SDGs on campus. Closely comparable as a UN-aligned, university-anchored youth SDG program with scholarship-like recognition and global cohort structure.
• Net Impact: Global nonprofit that mobilizes students and professionals to use their careers to drive positive social and environmental impact. Comparable in using university chapters, career/employability framing, and partner networks for young leaders.
• Echoing Green: Fellowship and accelerator for emerging social entrepreneurs, including a strong youth focus. Comparable as a curated awards/fellowship model surfacing young leaders tackling SDG-aligned problems.

Emerging players

• Youth Climate Lab: Organization focused on equipping young leaders with skills and networks to address climate change. Comparable in the youth-sustainability skills-building niche, narrower on climate specifically.
• Student Energy: Global youth-led organization empowering students to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future. Comparable as a youth sustainability community with chapters, events, and a UN-adjacent mission, narrower on energy.

Broad incumbents

• Global Citizen: International youth advocacy and action platform focused on ending extreme poverty and advancing SDGs. Comparable in mobilizing 18-35 cohorts around SDGs and partnerships with universities and corporates, but with a broader advocacy and policy angle.
• Ashoka: Global organization supporting young social entrepreneurs and changemakers through fellowships, networks, and programming. Directly comparable mission and youth demographic, with a much larger and longer-established footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/qsimpact
• Facebookfacebook.com/QSImpACT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qs-impact
• Instagraminstagram.com/qsimpact

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QS World Merit