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October 1, 2026
By Hatch
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The Dimension X application process does not move straight from form submission to final selection. Applications go through shortlisting, online pitches, a meeting with the challenge owner and a final proposal before successful startups begin proof-of-concept (POC) development.
For Dimension X Cohort 8, applications are open from 5 to 30 October 2026. Here is what applicants can expect during each stage of the process.
After the open call closes, applications are reviewed by the same panel covered in our evaluation criteria guide.
Every application is considered against four criteria:
The same criteria apply across all Challenge Statements. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted within two to three months of applying.
For a detailed explanation of what the panel considers under each criterion, read how we evaluate Dimension X applications.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to complete one round of online pitching with Hatch and Home Team challenge owners.
The pitching stage gives the panel an opportunity to examine the technology and proposed public safety use case in more detail. Applicants should be prepared to explain what their solution can already do, what must be adapted and how the proposed approach addresses the selected Challenge Statement.
Pitching will take place virtually. Because applicants span different time zones, Hatch schedules each pitching session individually rather than in one shared block.
Finalists progress to a one-to-one virtual meeting with the relevant Home Team challenge owner.
This conversation allows both sides to examine the operational problem more closely. The startup leaves with a much clearer picture of the environment it's designing for, which shapes what the final proposal needs to demonstrate.
Selection isn't final at this stage. The panel still has to review the final proposal before making its decision.
Following the one-to-one meeting, finalists submit a more detailed proposal for final evaluation.
The panel then decides which one or more startups will proceed for each Challenge Statement. The number of awardees depends on the challenge owner, with the default generally being one per statement.
Selected startups move into POC planning and sign a formal written agreement directly with Hatch. The next phase is a structured four-month programme to develop and validate a working proof-of-concept. There's no guarantee of a pilot or procurement contract on the other side of it.
The full journey is covered in our guide to how Dimension X takes a startup from onboarding to the final on-site demo of its proof-of-concept.
Selected founders attend a one-week, in-person onboarding period at Hatch in Singapore.
During onboarding, the startup meets its Home Team challenge owner and relevant technical stakeholders. Together, they scope the project and establish a roadmap for the POC before development begins.
International teams do not need to relocate to Singapore for the entire programme. However, attendance during onboarding is required.
The startup then works with its challenge owner and relevant HTX experts to develop a working POC over four months.
Most development can take place remotely. Regular collaboration helps the team adapt its existing technology to the operational requirements of the selected challenge.
The formal objective is a POC that can be tested in a relevant environment. It's a proof-of-concept, not a deployment guarantee.
Participants return to Singapore for a separate one-week trip in July.
The POC is tested on-site, and participating startups present their work at Demo Day to public safety stakeholders and members of the wider innovation ecosystem.
Travel for both the onboarding and Demo Day trips must be covered from the S$100,000 prize money. No additional travel allowance is provided. See the Dimension X applicant FAQ for further guidance on funding, travel and global participation.
Do not submit a replacement application.
If information needs to be corrected or updated after submission, contact the Hatch team through the website contact form. Requests are handled against the original application rather than through resubmission.
A technology that is not selected for Dimension X may still be relevant to another Hatch programme, such as In-Beta or Hatch & Match.
Any consideration for another programme is separate and is not guaranteed.
Applications for Dimension X Cohort 8 close on 30 October 2026. Apply to Dimension X today.
Whether you are building breakthrough technologies or are seeking innovations for real-world challenges, as long as you are interested in advancing the future of public safety, we want to hear from you.
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