7 Great Tips to Win the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) as a High School Student
If you’re a high school student eager to explore entrepreneurship, you could do so by building and pitching ideas. Competitions give you a fast-paced, real-world environment where you can collaborate with peers, test your creativity, and solve global problems under time pressure. Beyond helping you think like a founder, these experiences also strengthen your leadership, teamwork, and analytical skills, qualities that stand out in college applications and future ventures alike.
Among the most globally recognized entrepreneurship competitions is the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC). Each year, it invites high schoolers from around the world to develop innovative, technology-driven business solutions to real social challenges. This year, the challenge is to design a cost-effective technological solution that helps global companies support and include deaf employees in the workplace. With over 2,600 participants from 28 countries last year, the GYEC has become a powerful platform for young innovators who want to turn ideas into impact.
What is the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge?
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) is a 12-hour international business idea competition designed for high school students who want to apply creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork to real-world challenges. The event aims to help you develop entrepreneurial thinking while learning how science and technology can be used to build sustainable, inclusive solutions.
The competition is conducted entirely online, meaning you can join from anywhere in the world as long as you have internet access. During the challenge, teams receive a problem prompt linked to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Then, they have 12 hours to develop a business idea, write a concise two-page business plan, and create a three-minute video presentation.
Each year, the GYEC focuses on a pressing global issue. This time, it’s about designing a cost-effective technological solution to help global companies include and support deaf employees in the workplace. By competing, you’ll not only practice entrepreneurship but also explore how innovation can drive social impact on a global scale.
What are the rules of the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge?
The GYEC follows a structured and transparent set of rules to ensure fairness and encourage creativity across all participating teams. Each team must consist of 3 to 8 high school students aged 14 to 18, all studying in the same country (though not necessarily the same school). A maximum of three teams per country can advance to the finals, and only one team per school can represent that country.
The competition is held entirely online, and participants can work either from the same physical space or remotely via video conferencing. On the competition day, the challenge prompt is released at 8:00 AM Japan Standard Time (JST), and teams have 12 hours to complete and submit the following materials:
Two team photos or an online meeting screenshot
A two-page business plan (A4 size, single-spaced, minimum 11-point font)
A three-minute presentation video featuring a prototype or 2D/3D model of the idea
A short post-competition questionnaire completed by each team member
Submissions must be in English and must be entirely original. The GYEC prohibits the use of AI-generated content, stock media, or copyrighted materials in any written or visual submissions. You may use generative AI only to brainstorm or organize thoughts, but not to create text, images, or videos included in your final deliverables.
All teams are judged by an international panel based on creativity and innovation, finance and production, marketing and market research, and communication.
These guidelines encourage you to think independently, use ethical practices, and showcase your ability to develop an idea that’s both impactful and achievable within tight time constraints.
What are the prizes of the contest?
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge rewards creativity, collaboration, and innovation rather than financial gain, making recognition itself one of the competition’s biggest prizes. Every participating team receives a Certificate of Participation and a feedback sheet with detailed comments from the judges.
The winning team is awarded a trophy and a Certificate of Achievement, while the runner-up also receives an official recognition certificate. These awards are shipped internationally after the competition concludes, and winners typically receive them within two to three weeks.
The event is also supported by major partners such as KPMG, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Nichicon, and Nissin Electric, allowing you to be recognized on an international platform.
Winning or even advancing to the finals demonstrates initiative, global awareness, and the ability to innovate under pressure.
Who is eligible to participate?
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) is open to high school students aged 14 to 18 from around the world who are eager to apply their creativity and problem-solving skills to global challenges. To participate, you’ll need to form a team of 3 to 8 students who all attend schools within the same country (they do not need to be from the same school).
Each country can have up to three representative teams in the Final Round, and only one team per school may advance. If you’re based in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Mongolia, you must apply through your country’s national partner organization, which runs its own domestic selection process. All other teams compete in the Preliminary Round to earn a spot in the global finals.
To be officially registered, you must submit your application form between February 1 and March 21 (Japan Time) and complete the registration fee payment of ¥10,000 per team. Late payments are not accepted, and teams must cover any international transaction fees to ensure full payment is received.
How much does participating in the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge cost?
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) has a registration fee of ¥10,000 per team, approximately $66 USD. This fee covers both the Preliminary Round and the Final Round, as well as administrative costs and the issuance of certificates and feedback sheets.
Is the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge prestigious?
The GYEC is widely recognized as one of the most internationally competitive and respected entrepreneurship contests for high school students. Its prestige comes from both its global scale and its demanding format, which pushes you to think creatively and act quickly under real business constraints.
In 2025, the GYEC attracted 430 teams from 28 countries, involving more than 2,600 students. Of these, only 57 teams advanced to the Final Round, and just a handful received awards, making it a selective and noteworthy achievement for any participant.
The competition is also backed by respected organizations, including KPMG, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Nichicon, and Nissin Electric. Competing and especially winning demonstrate initiative, collaboration, and innovation at a global level, all of which are standout qualities for college applications or startup portfolios.
Even if you don’t win, being part of a global challenge judged by an international panel is an impressive indicator of your ability to generate solutions that address real-world problems under pressure.
Who is the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge right for?
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) is ideal for high school students seeking hands-on, competitive experience in entrepreneurship and an opportunity to test their problem-solving skills in a global context. If you’re someone who enjoys brainstorming innovative ideas, collaborating in teams, and tackling real-world challenges, this competition will push you to think bigger and work smarter.
7 Tips to Win the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Winning the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) isn’t just about having a great idea: it’s about strategy, teamwork, and clear execution. Here are ten practical tips to help your team stand out:
1. Form a balanced and diverse team
Choose teammates who bring different strengths, such as research, design, business strategy, and communication. A well-rounded group will help you cover all aspects of the competition efficiently within the 12-hour limit.
2. Simulate a 12-hour challenge before the real one
Practice under timed conditions to understand how quickly you’ll need to move from brainstorming to finalizing your video. This helps you spot bottlenecks early and keeps your team calm and focused on competition day.
3. Research the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Each year’s challenge ties into one or more SDGs, so familiarize yourself with themes like sustainability, inclusion, and innovation. Understanding these goals will help you design an idea that’s relevant, feasible, and aligned with GYEC’s mission.
4. Assign roles and communicate constantly
Decide early who handles which tasks, research, scriptwriting, prototype design, or editing. Use shared documents or project boards to track progress and prevent last-minute confusion.
5. Run your presentation by a teacher or mentor
Before submitting your video or business plan, share your draft with a teacher, advisor, or mentor for quick feedback. They can point out areas where your messaging, visuals, or logic could be stronger, improving your final score.
6. Showcase originality in both idea and presentation
Creativity is one of the main judging criteria, so make sure your business plan and video stand out visually and conceptually. Avoid using stock visuals or generic examples; use your own research, visuals, and storytelling to make your idea memorable.
7. Gain entrepreneurial experience via a startup incubator
You can improve your chances of succeeding at GYEC by participating in programs that build your entrepreneurial skills. Programs such as the Young Founders Lab (YFL), a startup incubator founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, help you do so. At YFL, you’ll develop your own revenue-generating venture, receive mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, and X, and learn how to pitch like a founder. This hands-on experience can make a big difference in your competition or college application. You can access the application link here!
Image Source - GYEC logo