16 Pitch Competitions for High School Students
TL;DR
You’ll find 16 pitch competitions here, grouped into open national and global contests, school club events like DECA and FBLA, and regional or state contests. The biggest difference is who can enter and the format, since some run fully online and others end in in-person finals. Whether you have a rough idea or an early venture, each entry lists eligibility, cost, and 2026-27 deadlines, with prizes reaching $30,000 in cash and scholarships at Utah’s Tim Draper Challenge. For pitch prep, Young Founders Lab’s program helps you rehearse pitching and receive feedback from mentors.
A pitch competition gives you a hard deadline and a panel of strangers with no reason to go easy on your idea. That pressure is the point: you find out quickly whether the problem is real, whether the numbers hold up, and whether you can explain it all in a few minutes.
What is a high school pitch competition?
A high school pitch competition is an event where you present a business or nonprofit idea to a panel in a few minutes, then answer their questions on the spot. Most run in stages, screening written or video entries first and saving live pitches for the teams that advance.
The paper round comes first: Many competitions filter ideas before anyone speaks. In the Diamond Challenge, teams who participate in the submission round are evaluated by a series of judges and must meet the minimum score to advance to the pitching round.
The clock is strict: The University of Delaware’s official 2026-27 Diamond Challenge rules cap pre-recorded pitch videos at 5:00 minutes and judges’ questions and team responses at 3:00 minutes. Plan your talk to finish early, not on the buzzer.
The Q&A tests the whole team: Only team members who participate in the pitch are eligible to answer judges’ questions, so everyone who speaks should know the numbers.
Props count against your time: Any materials distributed to judges, including displays and prototypes, are considered part of the 5-minute pitch. A demo is worth showing only if it earns its seconds.
How do you choose the right pitch competition?
Start with eligibility, then match the format and time commitment to how far along your idea is. A single online video round and a year-long club ladder ask very different things of you.
Check who can enter first: Some competitions are open to any high schooler, while others require membership in a club like DECA or FBLA, enrollment in a specific course, or residence in one state. This list groups the competitions into those three tiers so you can rule out the ones you can’t enter before comparing anything else.
Match the format to your schedule: Online submissions fit around school, while in-person finals can mean travel. Some competitions let you choose: Diamond Challenge teams select their pitch round format during the initial submission.
Decide between one round and a ladder: Club competitions move you up level by level. A Nebraska Department of Education release on state DECA results notes that students placing first, second, or third in the competitive events and first or second in the prepared events qualified to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference.
Weigh field size against reach: State contests usually draw fewer entrants than global ones. The University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute announced its top 20 teams, from over 220 applications, for the 2024-25 Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge.
How we selected these competitions
Every competition on this list is open to high school students, ends in a judged pitch or presentation, and was checked against its organizer’s own current materials.
Official sources only: We used rules documents, student guides, and organizer pages, not third-party roundups. For example, Conrad’s 2026-27 Student Guide sets the Activation Stage at August 27 to October 29, 2026.
Current-cycle dates: Entries show 2026-27 dates wherever the organizer has posted them.
Estimates labeled: Any figure the official page doesn’t state is marked as an estimate rather than presented as fact.
What do judges look for in a high school pitch competition?
Judges score whether your idea is new, whether it can work, and whether your team can deliver it, and they use the Q&A to test all three.
A problem with proof: Show exactly who has the problem and how you know, whether that’s interviews, a survey, or early sign-ups. “Everyone needs this” is the claim judges push back on fastest.
Novelty that still holds up: Originality only scores if the idea is workable. The Conrad Challenge’s judge requirements ask volunteers to assess strengths and improvement areas considering innovation, science, business, teamwork, and professionalism. That’s a useful checklist for any pitch, STEM or not.
Numbers you can defend: Know your price, your main costs, and how you’ll reach your first customers. A judge’s follow-up question on any of these should never be the first time you’ve thought about it.
Answers that sound rehearsed in the right way: Practice the Q&A as hard as the pitch. Decide in advance who takes questions on the product, the market, and the money.
Outside feedback before the real thing: A run-through with someone who has judged pitches catches gaps your teammates won’t. Young Founders Lab’s Pitch Competition Prep track works with students preparing for named business-plan and pitch competitions.
Are pitch competitions worth it for high school students?
Yes. Every round forces you to validate a problem, build a plan, and defend it to people with no reason to be kind.
Feedback from strangers: Judges ask the questions your friends and family won’t, and that’s where weak assumptions show up.
A deadline that forces progress: A submission date turns a someday idea into a written plan, a deck, and a rehearsed pitch.
Funding at the top end: Some prizes are substantial. The Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge offers $30,000 in cash and scholarships, and a Hillcrest High School team developing a water-filtering bottle cap won first place and the $10,000 grand prize in 2026.
Something concrete to show colleges: A finalist placement is a recognition you can list on your applications, and the plan behind it is evidence of sustained work.
| Section | Top competitions | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| National and global pitch competitions | Diamond Challenge, Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition, Conrad Challenge, Technovation Girls, NFTE World Series of Innovation | Free to $499 | Students open to any eligible high schooler, with online early rounds and prizes up to $12,000 per track at Diamond |
| School clubs and programs | DECA Start-Up Business Plan, FBLA Business Plan, NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase, INCubatoredu National Student Pitch, TiE Young Entrepreneurs | Set by chapter or school (e.g., $499 for TiE Seattle) | Students already in a DECA or FBLA chapter, NFTE program, or INCubatoredu class who want a structured path from idea to judged pitch |
| Regional and state pitch competitions | Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, YEScarolina State Business Plan Competition, tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition, Project ECHO | No entry fee listed (prizes up to $30,000 at Tim Draper) | Students in a specific state or region who want a smaller field and a better shot at placing |
National and Global Pitch Competitions
These are open-entry competitions that any eligible high schooler can join, and most run online through the early rounds. They draw entrants from dozens of countries, so advancing takes a well-tested idea.
1. Diamond Challenge
Location: Online submission round; pitching round at partner events worldwide or by pre-recorded video; finals at the Limitless World Summit in Wilmington, Delaware
Cost/Stipend: No entry fee listed on the official competition page (estimate); grand prizes of $12,000, $8,000 and $4,500 in each track from a $100K prize pool
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Teams of 2 to 4; teams must reach a minimum judges' score to advance, with no fixed number of slots published
Dates: Submission window opened September 16, 2026; pitching round February 16 to March 7, 2027; finalists announced March 9; Summit April 29 to 30, 2027
Application deadline: January 14, 2027 (5 p.m. EST)
Eligibility: High school students ages 14 to 18 worldwide, in teams of 2 to 4 with one adult advisor (21+); concepts must have under $100,000 in prior revenue
Run by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, the Diamond Challenge asks teams to choose a Business Innovation or Social Innovation track and build an original venture concept. The first round is a 3 to 5 page written concept narrative plus a 60-second introductory video, and teams that clear it give a 5-minute pitch with 3 minutes of judges' questions, live or pre-recorded. Topical prizes for sustainability, technology and human well-being sit on top of the grand prizes. For a closer look, see our guide to winning the Diamond Challenge.
Who it's best for: A team of two to four that wants a free, well-structured first competition and is willing to write a full concept narrative before anyone pitches.
2. Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition
Location: Fully virtual
Cost/Stipend: No entry fee listed (estimate); cash prizes for top pitches, plus prizes for schools and teachers (amounts not on the official homepage, estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: More than 23,000 students competed in 2026; open entry, judged in elimination rounds (round structure estimate)
Dates: Registration open now for the 2027 cycle; winners typically announced in May (estimate based on past cycles)
Application deadline: February 21, 2027 (pitch submission)
Eligibility: High school students worldwide (ages 14 to 18, estimate), solo or in teams of up to five; an idea is enough, no running startup required
This competition is built on Blue Ocean Strategy, the framework from Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, so your business has to create new market space rather than fight over an existing one. You record a 5-minute video pitch, upload it to YouTube and submit the link, using the official pitch template and scoring criteria to shape it. With more than 23,000 participants in 2026, it is one of the largest virtual pitch contests for teens. Read our tips for the Blue Ocean Competition before you start filming.
Who it's best for: A student, solo or with up to four friends, who wants a fully online pitch with no travel and is comfortable presenting on camera.
3. Conrad Challenge
Location: Online through the Innovation Stage; finals at Space Center Houston and NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
Cost/Stipend: Activation Stage is free; $499 per team for the Innovation Stage, with need-based financial aid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Teams of 2 to 5; top Innovation Stage teams are named Finalists, with no fixed number published
Dates: Activation Stage August 27 to October 29, 2026; Innovation Stage October 30, 2026 to January 7, 2027; Innovation Summit April 21 to 24, 2027
Application deadline: October 29, 2026 (Lean Canvas, 11:59 p.m. CT); January 7, 2027 (Innovation Stage)
Eligibility: Students ages 13 to 18 anywhere in the world, in teams of 2 to 5 with a coach over 18
Presented by Equinor and hosted by Space Center Houston, the Conrad Challenge has teams design an innovation in one of five categories: Aerospace and Aviation, Cyber-Technology and Security, Energy and Environment, Health and Nutrition, or the Water Challenge. The Innovation Stage requires a brief of up to 3,000 words, a 3 to 5 minute video and a public website, scored on innovation, storytelling, practicality, marketing strategy and finances. Finalists give Power Pitches at the Summit and compete for scholarships and the title of Pete Conrad Scholar. Our Conrad Challenge guide walks through each stage.
Who it's best for: A STEM-minded team that wants to pair a technical build with a real business model and can manage a three-part submission.
4. Technovation Girls
Location: Online, with support from local chapters; top teams advance to semifinals and a global final (per an official chapter page)
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate (estimate: the official site blocks automated access, so this could not be fetched directly)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open entry; teams of 1 to 5, with divisions set by the oldest team member
Dates: 2027 season; registration opens in October 2026, and team work runs through spring 2027 (per an official chapter page)
Application deadline: Project submission due May 5, 2027 (estimate, from the Toronto chapter's published timeline)
Eligibility: Girls and nonbinary students ages 8 to 18 as of August 1, 2027 (Senior division 16 to 18); a separate coed stream is being piloted for 2027
Technovation Girls has teams spot a problem in their community and spend a full season building a technology solution for it, with curriculum support and mentors along the way. For the 2027 season, Technovation is piloting a separate coed stream, while the core competition stays open to girls and nonbinary students. Top teams advance through semifinals to a global final. Read our complete guide to Technovation for the full season timeline.
Who it's best for: A girl or nonbinary student who wants to build a working app or AI tool over several months instead of pitching an idea in one round.
5. GENIUS Olympiad (Entrepreneurship)
Location: In person at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York (finals)
Cost/Stipend: Application and registration fees apply; amounts are not listed on the fetched official page (estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 27% in 2026 (75 of 283 Entrepreneurship projects accepted)
Dates: Finals held in early summer each year (estimate based on past cycles); 2027 dates not on the fetched page
Application deadline: General application deadline usually around March 1; projects from affiliated U.S. regional fairs usually by around April 15
Eligibility: Secondary school students worldwide; students in countries with a National GENIUS Olympiad apply through it first
GENIUS Olympiad is an international project competition on environmental issues run by Terra Science and Education, and its Entrepreneurship category is where business ideas compete. The Olympiad moved to a new host, St. John Fisher University, in 2026, the same year it added an AI category. Entrepreneurship drew 283 submissions in 2026, so even reaching the finals means clearing a selective review. See our GENIUS Olympiad guide for preparation tips.
Who it's best for: A student whose business idea is built around an environmental or sustainability problem and who wants an in-person international finals week.
6. NFTE World Series of Innovation (Impact League)
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free; cash prizes from $300 to $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open entry for individuals or teams, with no cap published
Dates: 2026-27 challenges launched September 9, 2026; winners announced in spring 2027
Application deadline: December 13, 2026
Eligibility: Ages 13 to 24 worldwide for the Impact League; submissions accepted in English, Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, and Hindi
NFTE's free online challenge gives you a sponsored problem tied to a UN Sustainable Development Goal and asks for an entrepreneurial solution. The 2026-27 Impact League offers five challenges, including the EY Responsible AI Challenge and the Intuit Food Truck Innovation Challenge. Free learning resources walk you through identifying the problem, generating ideas, and strengthening your submission.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a free first entry with a ready-made prompt instead of starting from a blank page.
Pitch Competitions Through School Clubs and Programs
These are open only to students already in a specific organization or course, such as a DECA or FBLA chapter, an NFTE program, or an INCubatoredu class. If your school offers one, it is often the most structured path from idea to judged pitch.
7. DECA Start-Up Business Plan
Location: School, district and state levels, with finals at DECA's International Career Development Conference (ICDC)
Cost/Stipend: DECA membership dues and conference costs, set by chapter and state (estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Advancement by placing at each level up to ICDC; no published rate
Dates: Runs through the school year; the ICDC-qualifying prepared entry portal opens March 23, 2027
Application deadline: Set by your chapter and state association; ICDC qualifiers upload prepared entries in spring (the 2026 upload window closed April 8, 2026)
Eligibility: High school DECA members; teams of 1 to 3 (estimate, based on DECA's entrepreneurship prepared events)
Start-Up Business Plan is one of DECA's entrepreneurship prepared events, where you develop a proposal for a brand-new business and present it to a judge. Students who qualify for ICDC must upload their prepared entry through DECA's portal before the conference, so the written plan has to be finished well before finals. It sits alongside related events like the Innovation Plan and Franchise Business Plan.
Who it's best for: A DECA member who wants to take a business all the way from concept to full plan and present it under formal competition rules.
8. DECA Innovation Plan
Location: School, district, and state levels, with finals at ICDC
Cost/Stipend: DECA membership dues and conference costs, set by chapter and state (estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Teams of 1 to 3; advancement by placing at each level
Dates: Runs through the school year, with ICDC in spring (estimate)
Application deadline: Set by your chapter and state association; prepared entries are due before ICDC (estimate)
Eligibility: High school DECA members
Innovation Plan focuses on recognizing a market opportunity and introducing a new business, product or service to take advantage of it. Your prepared entry is capped at 20 slides, and you present the plan to a judge in a 15-minute session. It is a lighter lift than a full business plan, which makes it a good first DECA entrepreneurship event.
Who it's best for: A DECA member with a strong product or service idea who would rather pitch the opportunity than build a full financial model.
9. FBLA Business Plan
Location: State Leadership Conferences, with finals at the FBLA National Leadership Conference
Cost/Stipend: FBLA membership dues and conference costs, set by chapter and state (estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Teams of 1 to 3; finalists advance from state qualifying rounds (estimate, from the 2026-27 guideline summary)
Dates: 2026-27 competitive event guidelines were due out by September 1, 2026; national finals at NLC in summer (estimate)
Application deadline: Pre-judged plan deadlines set by your state chapter (estimate)
Eligibility: High school FBLA members
FBLA's Business Plan event treats planning as the core entrepreneurial skill: you write a plan for a new venture, it is judged before the conference, and then you present it live. The written plan and the presentation are scored as separate elements, so a strong document alone will not carry you. Check the 2026-27 guidelines and rating sheet before you start writing.
Who it's best for: An FBLA member who writes well and wants a competition where the written plan matters as much as the pitch.
10. NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase
Location: New York City (U.S. National Challenge at the New York Marriott Marquis; World Challenge Finals at 787 Seventh Ave)
Cost/Stipend: Free public registration for attendees; competitor costs depend on your NFTE program (estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Top finalists from U.S. regional showcases and NFTE's Global Innovation Network
Dates: U.S. National Challenge Finals November 18, 2026; World Challenge Finals November 19, 2026
Application deadline: Qualification runs through local and regional NFTE pitch events earlier in the year (estimate)
Eligibility: Student entrepreneurs ages 13 to 22 in NFTE programs in the U.S. and its Global Innovation Network
The Showcase combines NFTE's national and world youth entrepreneurship challenges into one event in New York. It runs over four days of coaching and global connection before a multi-stage final pitch competition, with the U.S. finals on November 18 and the world finals the next day. You get there by winning through NFTE's classroom, regional, and national rounds.
Who it's best for: A student already in an NFTE class who wants their venture judged on a national, then global, stage.
11. INCubatoredu National Student Pitch
Location: Chicago, Illinois (National Pitch awards)
Cost/Stipend: No separate fee published; access comes through your school's INCubatoredu course (estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: School-nominated teams compete, narrowing to quarterfinalists and then finalists (no official numbers available)
Dates: National Pitch awards held each July in Chicago (July 8 in the latest school-district announcement)
Application deadline: Set by your school's nomination process (estimate)
Eligibility: Students who have completed the INCubatoredu course and been nominated by their school
INCubatoredu is a year-long high school course run by the nonprofit Uncharted Learning, in which student teams build a real product or service with help from volunteer mentors. Each school nominates its strongest team to submit to the National Pitch, where a national panel looks for business thinking, customer understanding, and evidence of learning. Teams compete for real funding from startup investors.
Who it's best for: A student at a school that offers INCubatoredu who wants their class startup to face investors beyond their own district.
12. TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Global
Location: Local TiE chapters worldwide, many with hybrid or virtual sessions; TYE Global Finals location changes each year
Cost/Stipend: Set by chapter; TiE Seattle charges $499 for the full year, with $100 off for teams and fee waivers on request
Acceptance rate/cohort size: TiE Seattle admits about 50 students, first come, first served, in teams of about four (chapter-specific)
Dates: Chapter programs run roughly October to April, with chapter finals in spring and TYE Global Finals in June (TiE Seattle schedule)
Application deadline: Set by chapter; TiE Seattle applications are due in September
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12 who join a local TYE chapter program
TiE Young Entrepreneurs is a school-year program from TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) that teaches design thinking, customer validation and lean business models before ending in chapter and global pitch competitions. Finalists give a 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of judges' Q&A, and the goal is a serious investor pitch that ends with a clear ask. Chapter winners advance to the TYE Global Finals.
Who it's best for: A student who wants months of mentored startup training before pitching, and who can join a local TiE chapter.
Regional and State Pitch Competitions
These are limited to students in a specific state or region, which usually means a smaller field and a better chance of placing. Check the eligibility line before anything else.
13. tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition
Location: Northeastern Pennsylvania; awards event at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre
Cost/Stipend: No entry fee listed (estimate); prize money funded by more than 30 sponsoring organizations
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 33 high school students took part in the most recent competition
Dates: Fall through spring, ending with the annual Awards Event in April
Application deadline: Spring submission; tecBRIDGE recommends starting ideation and research before the end-of-year holidays (estimate)
Eligibility: High school students in northeastern Pennsylvania (estimate; tecBRIDGE serves the greater NEPA region)
tecBRIDGE is a regional economic development nonprofit, and its business plan competitions have run for 24 years, with a high school division alongside collegiate and community divisions. Most competitive ventures start ideation and research before the winter holidays, so plan to begin in the fall. Some students carry their concepts into tecBRIDGE's paid summer internship program afterward.
Who it's best for: A northeastern Pennsylvania student who wants a small local field and a possible path into a paid summer internship.
14. Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge
Location: Online application and judging; final event run by the University of Utah's Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute in Salt Lake City (estimate)
Cost/Stipend: $30,000 in cash and scholarships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Top 20 teams selected after online judging
Dates: Online judging January 11 to 16, 2027; Top 20 announced January 20; public voting February 1 to 19; final event February 20, 2027
Application deadline: January 9, 2027
Eligibility: Utah high school students ages 14 to 18; students who have graduated or are enrolled full-time in college are not eligible
Managed by the University of Utah's Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and sponsored by venture capitalist Tim Draper, this is the high school version of the statewide Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. The Top 20 submit a video and then face a public online vote before the final event, so it rewards ideas a general audience can understand. Online information sessions run monthly from September through January.
Who it's best for: A Utah student who wants a statewide competition with real prize money and is comfortable promoting their idea for public votes.
15. YEScarolina State Business Plan Competition
Location: Columbia, South Carolina (state finals)
Cost/Stipend: Seed money from $100 to $3,000; 2026 winners received $3,000, $2,000, $1,000, and $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 to 60 students at the state competition, across three rounds
Dates: Class and school competitions during the year, with state finals in spring (2026 winners announced in May)
Application deadline: Set through your YEScarolina entrepreneurship teacher (estimate)
Eligibility: South Carolina middle and high school students in a YEScarolina entrepreneurship class who place first or second in a class competition
Run by the Charleston nonprofit Engaging Creative Minds, YEScarolina makes the business plan competition the capstone of a certified entrepreneurship class. Only first- and second-place finishers from class competitions advance to the state event, where students present to local business judges over three rounds for seed money to launch their ventures.
Who it's best for: A South Carolina student in a YEScarolina class who wants seed money to actually launch the business they planned.
16. Project ECHO National Teen Entrepreneurs' Business Plan Competition
Location: Southern California (estimate; Project ECHO is based in Santa Monica)
Cost/Stipend: Startup funding and scholarship awards for winners; amounts not on the fetched page (estimate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open only to students pre-enrolled in Project ECHO's program
Dates: Annual competition at the end of the program year, typically in spring (estimate)
Application deadline: Set by Project ECHO; teams register through the official competition portal
Eligibility: High school students pre-enrolled in Project ECHO's program
Project ECHO's competition is the final step of its hands-on entrepreneurship program, which has run for more than 25 years. Participants develop a startup idea and pitch it to a panel of judges, competing against other student teams and getting feedback that sharpens their business strategy.
Who it's best for: A student at a school partnered with Project ECHO who wants a full curriculum before pitching.
Frequently asked questions: pitch competitions for high school students
1. What are the best pitch competitions for high school students in 2026-27?
The Diamond Challenge, Blue Ocean, and the Conrad Challenge are the strongest open-entry options, since all three accept students from around the world. Diamond awards grand prizes of up to $12,000 per track [confirm before publishing], Blue Ocean drew more than 23,000 students in 2026, and Conrad finalists pitch at Space Center Houston. If you’re a DECA or FBLA member, their business plan events give you a structured path from your school chapter to a national or international final.
2. What are some free pitch competitions for high school students?
Several competitions on this list cost nothing to enter. NFTE’s World Series of Innovation is free and fully online, with cash prizes from $300 to $1,500. The Conrad Challenge’s Activation Stage has no entry fee, though teams pay $499 for the Innovation Stage, with need-based aid available. Check the costs of later rounds before you commit, as finals can add fees and travel.
3. Do you need a team to enter a pitch competition?
It depends on the competition. Blue Ocean accepts solo entries or teams of up to five, and NFTE’s World Series of Innovation takes individuals or teams. The Diamond Challenge requires a team of two to four with an adult advisor, and the Conrad Challenge needs two to five students plus a coach over 18. If you’re entering alone, filter for solo-friendly competitions before you start planning.
4. Do you need a running business to enter a pitch competition?
No, most competitions here judge your idea and plan rather than your revenue. Blue Ocean says an idea is enough, and the Diamond Challenge accepts concepts with under $100,000 in prior revenue. What you do need is evidence that the problem exists and a plan you can defend under questioning. If you’d like to build and launch a venture before you pitch it, Young Founders Lab pairs you with a mentor to take an idea through to a Demo Day pitch in front of investors.
5. Are there online pitch competitions for high school students?
Yes, several run entirely online. Blue Ocean is fully virtual: you record a five-minute video pitch, upload it to YouTube, and submit the link. NFTE’s World Series of Innovation also runs online and accepts submissions in five languages. The Diamond Challenge lets you pitch by pre-recorded video in its pitching round, though its finals are held in person in Wilmington, Delaware.
6. When are pitch competition deadlines for 2026-27?
Most 2026-27 deadlines fall between late October and February. The earliest is the Conrad Challenge’s Lean Canvas, due October 29, 2026, so it’s the most urgent on this list. NFTE’s World Series of Innovation closes December 13, 2026, the Tim Draper Utah challenge on January 9, 2027 [confirm before publishing], and the Diamond Challenge on January 14, 2027. Blue Ocean pitch submissions are due February 21, 2027, while DECA and FBLA set deadlines through your chapter, so ask your adviser early.
If you’re getting ready for one of the competitions on this list, Young Founders Lab’s program is built for that. It’s designed for high school students preparing for named business-plan and pitch competitions. YFL’s mentors come from places like Harvard Business School, McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft, so your pitch gets pressure-tested by people who know what a strong one looks like, long before a panel of strangers sees it.