15 Social Entrepreneurship Competitions for High School Students

If you're a high school student with an idea that could make the world a little better, social entrepreneurship competitions give you a structured way to test it. 

What do social entrepreneurship competitions involve? 

Unlike many extracurriculars, most social entrepreneurship competitions for high school students don't require expensive travel or steep entry fees, since a significant number are fully virtual. Participating in these competitions also helps you build skills you can apply directly, including pitching, market research, financial modeling, and storytelling around impact.

Why pursue a social entrepreneurship competition in high school?

Winning, placing, or even advancing to a final round can strengthen your college application and open doors to mentors, investors, and peer networks you wouldn't otherwise find. Even the in-person finals-stage events tend to reward high-performing teams with travel support or stipends.

For related opportunities, check out our guides on business competitions for high school students and startup competitions for high school students.

Quick Look

• 6 free-to-enter competitions: Diamond Challenge, Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition, FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge, and Project ECHO, among others.

• Highest prize pool: Startup World Cup Harker National Youth Qualifier, where the winning team advances toward a chance at a $1 million investment prize.

• 1 competition requiring a paid application fee: Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, at $100 per participant for the preliminary round (fee waivers available).

• 2 competitions focused on case-study style analysis rather than original pitches: CaseCatalyst and the New York Tech High School Students Business Competition.

• Prep support: Young Founders Lab helps you build the pitch, market research, and financial modeling skills these social impact competitions evaluate, with mentorship from founders at Google, Microsoft, and YC-backed companies.

15 Social Entrepreneurship Competitions for High School Students

1. Diamond Challenge

Location: Online

Cost: Free to enter; prize funding up to $12,000 for first place, $8,000 for second place, and $4,500 for third place in both business and social innovation tracks; additional topical prizes available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; advancing teams selected through submission and pitching rounds

Dates: Submission window opens September 17; submission deadline January 15; advancing teams notified February 10; finalists announced March 9; Limitless World Summit April 29 - 30

Application Deadline: January 14

Eligibility: Teams of 2 - 4 high school students ages 14- 18

The Diamond Challenge is a global entrepreneurship competition for high school students interested in developing business or social innovation ideas. You compete in teams by submitting an original venture concept, with the option to participate through live pitch events or a virtual recorded pitch. The competition includes multiple rounds, mentorship opportunities, feedback from judges, and access to entrepreneurship resources. Teams can compete for significant prize funding while gaining experience in innovation, problem-solving, and pitching. Topical prizes also recognize work in areas such as sustainability, technology, and human well-being. 

2. Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition

Location: Virtual

Stipend: 1st Place $1000; 2nd Place $750; 3rd Place $500; People's Choice $750

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed; Top 100, Top 30, and Top 10 teams advance through successive judging rounds

Dates: Registration open year-round; pitch submission deadline February 21; winners announced May 13

Application Deadline: February 21

Eligibility: High school students worldwide aged 14–18; individual participants or teams of up to five students

The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is a virtual entrepreneurship competition that challenges high school students to develop innovative business ideas using Blue Ocean Strategy principles. You can participate individually or as part of a team and are required to complete a Blue Ocean mini-course before submitting your entry. Participants create a five-minute pitch video presenting a novel solution to a real-world problem, supported by frameworks such as the Strategy Canvas, Three Tiers of Noncustomers, and the Eliminate-Reduce-Raise-Create Grid. Entries are evaluated on innovation, market potential, commercial viability, technical feasibility, and the effective use of Blue Ocean tools. Top submissions advance through multiple rounds of judging, with finalists receiving cash prizes, certificates, and international recognition. The competition provides an opportunity to strengthen entrepreneurial thinking, business strategy, and presentation skills while competing against peers from around the world.

3. Verge Challenge

Location: Virtual

Cost: No application fee stated; cash prizes include $10,000 for first place, with a total prize pool of $17,500

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; top concepts advance from Round 1 to Round 2, with three final cash prize winners selected

Dates: Applications open April 1;  competition held in multiple rounds following submission and judging

Application Deadline: Not specified

Eligibility: High school students worldwide; no prior business experience or launched product required

Verge Challenge is an online pitch competition for high school students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. You begin by submitting a 400–800-word written concept describing a problem, your proposed solution, target customer, and business model. Selected participants advance to a second round, where they record a video pitch for judges. Finalists compete for cash prizes and receive recognition for their ideas. The competition is designed for students at the idea stage, so you do not need an existing startup or prior entrepreneurial background to participate. 

4. Startup World Cup Harker National Youth Qualifier

Location: Harker School, CA

Cost: No application fee stated; winning team advances to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale for a chance to compete for a $1 million investment prize

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; seven high-school-founded startups chosen to pitch at the Silicon Valley Youth Regional

Dates: Applications due April 3; finalists notified April 6; finalist pitches held April 18

Application Deadline: April 3

Eligibility: All startup team members must currently be in high school; teams may include students from different schools; applications must be submitted in English

The Startup World Cup Harker National Youth Qualifier is a pitch competition for high school-founded startups and early-stage ventures. You apply by submitting a pitch deck and responding to required application questions, with selected finalists invited to present a four-minute pitch followed by a two-minute Q&A with judges. The competition is designed for student founders who want experience presenting startup ideas in front of investors and entrepreneurship professionals. A small number of teams advance to the Silicon Valley Youth Regional, and the winning team moves on to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale.

5. Project ECHO Teen Entrepreneurs’ Business Plan Competition

Location: California State University, Dominguez Hills, CA

Cost: No registration fee stated; cash startup funding awards ranging from $250 to $2,000 for winning teams

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: May 31

Application Deadline: Not specified (check program registration timeline for updates)

Eligibility: High school students under age 19 may participate through a school class or club 

Project ECHO’s Teen Entrepreneurs’ Business Plan Competition is a business pitch competition where high school students develop written business plans and present their ventures to a panel of judges. The competition simulates the process of seeking startup funding, combining evaluation of both the written plan and live presentation. You typically complete the Launching ECHO entrepreneurship curriculum before competing and receive guidance through onboarding and informational sessions. Teams compete across different categories and can earn seed funding to support their ventures or future education expenses. 

6. The Next Big Thing Competition

Location: Virtual first round; final competition at TRC Companies, Santa Monica, CA

Cost/Stipend: No application fee stated; winners receive seed funding grants (amount not specified)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; selected teams advance from video submissions to the in-person final round

Dates: Applications open January 15; submissions close March 22; finalists notified April 1; final competition April 18

Application Deadline: March 22

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; teams of 1–5 students; students may collaborate across schools

The Next Big Thing is a two-round entrepreneurship competition for high school students with innovative business ideas. You begin by submitting a 3 - 4 minute video explaining your concept, problem, and solution, with selected teams advancing to an in-person final pitch round. Finalists deliver a 5–7 minute presentation to entrepreneurs and business professionals, followed by judge questions. Winning teams receive seed funding intended to support development of their business ideas and provide follow-up on how the funds are used. The competition can help you gain experience in pitching, business ideation, and responding to investor-style questions in a judged setting. 

7. INNOSpark Competition

Location: Virtual (open worldwide), with a live online pitch event for finalists

Cost/Stipend: No entry fee stated; $11,600 in total prizes, including $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; top 15 finalists selected from applicants; competition notes participation of 800 entrepreneurs and students

Dates: Applications open March 1; submission deadline April 4; finalists announced April 11; live pitch event April 18

Application Deadline: April 4

Eligibility: High school students worldwide; open to pitches for businesses, nonprofits, or passion projects

INNOSpark is a virtual pitch competition for high school students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. You apply by developing and pitching a business, nonprofit, or impact-focused project, with selected applicants advancing to a live final pitch event. Finalists present to compete for cash prizes and additional company perks such as tool access or subscriptions. The competition provides an opportunity to practice pitching, refine an idea, and receive exposure in a global student entrepreneurship setting. It can help you build experience in communicating venture ideas and competing in a structured pitch competition.

8. Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (CEC)

Location: Virtual (global online competition)

Cost/Stipend: Free to participate; prize amounts not specified

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; top 10 submissions by public vote advance to finals for jury evaluation

Dates: March 2 - June 5; submissions open March 2, submission deadline May 4, voting phase May 5–June 5, winners announced June 23

Application Deadline: May 4

Eligibility: Open to students and other participants worldwide, including high school students; submissions must be original idea-stage ventures aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and not already established startups

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition is a global online idea competition where you submit an entrepreneurial concept focused on solving challenges connected to the Sustainable Development Goals. You complete required entrepreneurship courses and an Entrepreneurial Design Canvas before entering the public voting stage. Submissions that meet the requirements move into a voting phase, and the top 10 ideas advance to final evaluation by an expert jury. Ideas are judged on factors such as innovation, feasibility, leadership, social impact, and sustainability. 

9. Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC)

Location: Virtual competition with multi-round participation; final round may include global-level presentations (check current cycle for format details)

Cost/Stipend: $100 preliminary round application fee per participant; fee waivers and scholarships available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; participants advance through preliminary, semifinal, division final, and global final rounds

Dates: Multi-round annual competition; specific competition timeline varies by cycle

Application Deadline: Not specified (check current competition cycle for updates)

Eligibility: High school students and other eligible youth participants; individuals may apply with a team or be matched into a team through the program

The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is a multi-round entrepreneurship competition where you develop and refine a venture idea connected to innovation and, in some cases, the Sustainable Development Goals. You begin by applying individually or with a team, then submit preliminary round materials before advancing through semifinal, division final, and global final stages. You receive access to a competition platform with preparation resources and support throughout the process. The competition can help you build experience in venture ideation, teamwork, and pitching while progressing through several judged rounds. 

10. CaseCatalyst Case Competition

Location: Virtual (global online competition)

Cost/Stipend: Registration fee ranges from $120–$200 per student depending on deadline; no stipend stated

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; finalists selected to present on Pitch Day; 200+ schools and participants from 45+ countries represented

Dates: Competition launch July 19; teamwork and mentorship July 19–August 9; submission deadline August 10; finalists announced August 15; Pitch Day August 23

Application Deadline: Early Bird I: April 26; Early Bird II: May 31; Regular Registration: July 5

Eligibility: High school students worldwide; teams of 3–4 students, or you may apply individually and be matched with a team

CaseCatalyst is a virtual case competition where high school students work in teams to solve real-world challenges faced by innovative startups. Over several weeks, you analyze a case, develop recommendations, and create a strategy presentation, report, or prototype before submitting your solution. You attend mentorship sessions and workshops, then selected finalists pitch their solutions to judges connected to the featured startup. The competition focuses more on consulting-style problem-solving than traditional startup pitching, making it useful if you want exposure to business strategy and case analysis. 

11. FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge

Location: Virtual (online simulation competition)

Cost/Stipend: Free to participate; National Championship awards include $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; qualifying teams advance to the National Championship Round

Dates: Registration begins September 30; Round One runs October 14 - November 7; Round Two runs February 2 - 27; National Championship Round runs March 30 - April 3

Application Deadline: Registration opens September 30; each competition round has separate submission deadlines

Eligibility: FCCLA members in high school; teams may participate in one or both rounds and compete in Personal Finance or Fashion simulations

The FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge is an online competition where you use business simulation software to make decisions and manage scenarios in areas such as personal finance or fashion management. Teams compete in timed rounds by optimizing their performance within the simulation, with top-performing teams eligible to advance to a National Championship Round. Because teams can submit multiple scores and improve based on their best results, the competition emphasizes strategy, iteration, and decision-making. You build experience with business concepts while practicing analytical thinking and problem-solving in a competitive format. 

12. St. John’s Tobin College of Business High School Pitch Competition

Location: St. John's University, Queens, NY

Prizes: 1st place: $2,500; 2nd place: $1,500; 3rd place: $1,000

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Top 5 teams advance to final round (overall acceptance rate not published)

Dates: March 16

Application Deadline: February 2

Eligibility: Open to currently enrolled high school students; you may apply individually or as a team of up to three students. No prior business experience is required.

The St. John’s Tobin College of Business High School Pitch Competition is a one-day entrepreneurship competition where you can present an original business idea in a two-round, Shark Tank-style format. In the first round, you deliver a three-minute elevator pitch and receive feedback from attendees, with the top five teams advancing to present before judges in the final round. You can pitch ideas ranging from startups and products to social enterprises, supported by mentorship from current university business students before the event. The competition also gives you experience developing a business concept, practicing public speaking, and responding to judge questions on topics like market potential and growth strategy.

13. INCubatoredu National Student Pitch Event

Location: Virtual

Prizes: Up to $20,000 in startup funding

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly reported

Dates: Varies annually

Application Deadline: Varies by program and nomination timeline

Eligibility: Recommended for high school students in grades 10–12 who have completed or are participating in the INCubatoredu program

The INCubatoredu National Student Pitch Event is a national entrepreneurship competition where you can present a business idea through multiple stages, including recorded pitch submissions, promotional videos, and a live virtual Q&A with entrepreneurs and investors. The competition emphasizes skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and business development, while giving you experience refining and defending a venture idea. Teams present in front of judges and a live virtual audience, with evaluation based on the strength of the business concept and pitch execution.

14. New York Tech High School Students Business Competition

Location: New York Institute of Technology, New York, NY

Stipend/Prizes: Certificates for participants; some competitions may include cash prizes and/or internship opportunities (amount varies)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly reported

Dates: Varies; competition runs over 4 weeks

Application Deadline: Varies by participating high school and competition cycle

Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors participating through their high school, typically in teams

The New York Tech High School Students Business Competition is a case competition where you work in a team to analyze a real business challenge presented by a partner company over four weeks. You develop recommendations, prepare a case-based solution, and present your findings to faculty judges and company leaders. The program focuses on problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and exposure to business decision-making through applied case work. You engage directly with company representatives, ask questions about business operations, and receive feedback on your ideas. Top teams may be recognized with prizes or internship opportunities, depending on the sponsoring company.

15. Stevens High School Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Video Pitch Competition

Location: Online

Stipend/Prizes: 1st place: $500; 2nd place: $250; 3rd place: $100

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly reported

Dates: Video submissions due January 15; finalists announced February 15

Application Deadline: January 7

Eligibility: Open to current high school students in grades 9–11, including public, private, and homeschool students; individual submissions only

The Stevens High School Entrepreneurship and AI Video Pitch Competition is a virtual competition where you develop a two-minute video pitch presenting a problem, an AI-powered solution, and the business case behind your idea. Your submission is evaluated on innovation, application of AI, business impact, feasibility, and presentation quality. The competition gives you experience thinking through entrepreneurship concepts such as market need, scalability, and value proposition while also explaining how artificial intelligence fits into a product or service. 

If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build entrepreneurship skills, consider the Young Founders Lab!

If you want mentorship from successful entrepreneurs in building your business and learning entrepreneurship skills, the Young Founders Lab is one of the strongest programs you can join in high school. It’s a 100% virtual start-up boot camp run by Harvard entrepreneurs, designed specifically for students who want to launch a company or non-profit.

In this program, you’ll get hands-on mentorship from founders and professionals from Google, Microsoft, McKinsey, and YC-backed companies, while building a venture that solves a real-world problem. You will gain hands-on experience with concepts such as pricing, market research, unit economics, and financial decision-making, skills that directly connect economics to entrepreneurship.

Multiple cohorts run throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring, so you can join whenever it fits your schedule. Financial aid is available, and the program is open to all high school students, with no prior experience required.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are there free social entrepreneurship competitions for high school students?

Yes. The Diamond Challenge, Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition, and FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge are all free to enter, with the Diamond Challenge offering prizes up to $12,000 for first place.

2. How can I prepare for a social entrepreneurship competition?

Ground your idea in a real, well-researched problem and be ready to explain both its social impact and how it would work as a sustainable venture. Young Founders Lab gives you hands-on practice with market research, pricing, and unit economics, skills that translate directly to how these competitions are judged.

3. Is there a competition focused on case-study analysis rather than pitching an original idea?

Yes. CaseCatalyst and the New York Tech High School Students Business Competition both have you analyze a real business challenge from a partner company and present recommendations, rather than pitching your own original venture.