10 Tips to Win the Conrad Challenge as a High School Student
If you are a high school student trying to strengthen your college application while also exploring what it feels like to build something from scratch, entrepreneurship competitions are a great option to consider. They let you turn an idea into a project with structure, evidence, and a story behind it. Colleges notice this work as it shows how you think when you’re not following a template.
You’ll pick up the habits real founders use. You test your assumptions, talk to potential users, build a simple version of your idea, and revise it when something doesn’t work. You get a small taste of the messy part of innovation, where progress often comes from the questions you ask yourself rather than the answers you already know.
The Conrad Challenge is one of the better-known contests designed for students who want this kind of experience. It brings together mentors, judges, and teams from around the world, all working on ideas that touch science, design, and business. This guide breaks down how the challenge works and how you can prepare for it.
If you’re also interested in looking at other entrepreneurship challenges you could participate in, go here.
What is the Conrad Challenge?
The Conrad Challenge gives you a structured place to think like an early-stage founder. It brings together students between 13 and 18 years old and asks them to work on a problem that exists somewhere in the world right now. The challenge was created by the Conrad Foundation, in honor of a late NASA astronaut, Charles "Pete" Conrad, the third person to walk on the moon.
You form a small team and work with a coach who stays in the background while you handle the decisions. The process moves through three stages. First, you lay out your idea on a Lean Canvas to see if it holds together. Then you write an Innovation Brief, record a short video explaining your concept, and build a simple website that shows the public what you are proposing. If your work stands out, you are invited to the Innovation Summit at NASA’s Space Center Houston, where you present to a panel that includes scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors.
You choose from five categories, ranging from aerospace to nutrition, each focusing on a different type of global problem. The thinking is the same across categories: aim for something that is scientifically sound and could matter to people outside the competition. As you move through the process, you learn how to test assumptions, work with teammates, and explain your choices in a way that makes sense to someone who wasn’t part of your brainstorming.
What are the Rules of the Challenge?
The Conrad Challenge uses a step-by-step structure that takes you from an early idea to a full presentation. You work in a team of two to five students, all between 13 and 18 years old. A coach supports your team, and that person can be a teacher, a parent, or anyone over eighteen who understands the subject well enough to guide you without taking over the project. Teams do not need to come from the same school or even the same country, which makes the challenge genuinely international.
The competition is divided into three key stages:
Activation Stage (August 28 – October 30): Teams register on the Conrad Portal, assemble their team and coach, and submit a Lean Canvas outlining their idea. There is no entry fee at this stage.
Innovation Stage (Deadline: January 8): Selected teams submit an Innovation Brief, a 3–5 minute video, and a website describing their solution. This stage includes a $499 USD entry fee, though financial aid is available for teams with demonstrated need.
Innovation Summit (April 22–25): Finalist teams are invited to present their ideas in person at Space Center Houston. They pitch to judges, network with peers, attend workshops, and compete for scholarships and the title of Pete Conrad Scholar.
The rules exist to keep you close to the habits real founders use. You have to work with peers, think on your own, and build something that could function outside the competition. It is a small version of taking a project from a thought to an early prototype, with all the uncertainty that comes with it.
What are the Prizes of the Contest?
The Conrad Challenge rewards top-performing teams with a combination of scholarships, entrepreneurial support, and global recognition. If your team makes it to the finals, you get to present your project at Space Center Houston during the Innovation Summit. You share your work with judges who work in fields like science, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, and you get honest feedback from people who see early ideas every day.
Each category chooses one team as the Pete Conrad Scholar. It is the highest award, but what really matters is the support that comes with it. Scholar teams stay connected to mentors and the wider Conrad network, which can be helpful if you want to keep developing your idea.
Finalists also get access to scholarships, workshops, and conversations with experts from NASA and other institutions. Even teams that don’t win the top prize gain a lot from the experience. Many students leave with stronger ideas, better skills, and a sense of where they want to take their work next.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
The Conrad Challenge is open to students aged 13 to 18, no matter where you live. You enter as part of a small team, usually two to five students, and you work with a coach who is over eighteen. That coach can be a parent, a teacher, or any adult who can guide the team and help with communication during the competition.
Your teammates do not have to be from the same school or even the same country. Many teams are created across cities and time zones, which is part of what makes the challenge feel global. Before you start, every team member and their legal guardian have to read and agree to the rules in the Conrad Portal.
You can enter even if you’ve participated in past years, as long as you still fall within the age range. The format is designed to be open and flexible, so students with different backgrounds and interests can work together and learn how to build something as a team.
How Much Does Participating in the Conrad Challenge Cost?
The total cost of the Conrad Challenge is $499 per team. If you make it to the final stage, then your team is responsible for your own travel and lodging. Financial aid based on demonstrated need is provided for the total cost. Further, finalist teams typically secure school funding/sponsorships for their costs.
Is the Conrad Challenge Prestigious?
Yes, the Conrad Challenge has grown into a competitive international contest. In the most recent cycle, close to 2000 teams took part in this challenge. That adds up to roughly 5000 students from more than 80 countries. Only 31 teams from 11 different countries and 7 U.S. states made it to the Innovation Summit at NASA’s Space Center Houston. This shows how sharp the competition becomes once the first round is over.
The top teams earn the Pete Conrad Scholar title. They also get scholarships, mentorship, and a place inside the wider Conrad network. Even reaching the finals carries weight because the acceptance rate is low and the judges come from fields that shape real innovation.
Who is the Conrad Challenge Right For?
The Conrad Challenge makes sense for a student who likes working on real problems instead of classroom hypotheticals. It fits anyone who wants to build something with a small team and see how an idea changes once you start testing it. The workflow mirrors what happens in early startups. You spend time on research, basic design work, planning, and explaining your choices to people who were not in the room when you came up with the idea.
High school students with an interest in STEM, design, or public speaking usually find the pace comfortable. The process also lines up well with careers in engineering, business, and technology, because you are moving through the same early steps that labs and companies follow. At its core, the challenge is for someone who has an idea sitting in a notebook and wants to see it become something another person can actually use.
What Skills Does the Conrad Challenge Assess?
The Conrad Challenge looks at how you think through a problem from the ground up. You use analytical skills to break the problem apart, creativity to imagine a solution, and teamwork to shape it with your group. You also bring in pieces of STEM, business planning, and clear communication as you build and explain your idea. The challenge ends up testing the same skills real founders rely on when they try to move an idea from a rough sketch to something workable.
10 Tips to Win the Conrad Challenge
Winning the Conrad Challenge requires a combination of strategic planning, teamwork, and entrepreneurial thinking. Here are ten actionable tips that can help your team stand out through every stage of the competition:
1. Start Early and Research Deeply
The most successful teams start months before the registration window closes. Spend time researching your category, identifying a problem, and understanding your target users before brainstorming solutions. Early preparation gives you more bandwidth to refine your idea and develop a compelling Innovation Brief later on.
2. Choose a Category That Matches Your Strengths
Select a challenge category that genuinely excites your team, whether it’s Aerospace & Aviation or Energy & Environment. Picking a field you already know something about allows you to apply prior knowledge and think creatively within a familiar context. Judges can easily tell when a team is personally invested in its topic.
3. Build a Balanced and Committed Team
Your team composition can make or break your project. Choose members who bring complementary skills like research, technical design, business modeling, and presentation. Make sure every member has clear responsibilities and a shared timeline, so no one scrambles as deadlines approach.
4. Use the Lean Canvas Strategically
The Lean Canvas isn’t just a formality; it’s the foundation of your innovation. Treat it like a living document that captures your value proposition, key metrics, customer segments, and revenue streams. Revisiting it as your project evolves will help ensure your solution remains practical and aligned with your goals.
5. Develop a Prototype or Visual Model
A working prototype, storyboard, or 3D rendering makes your innovation tangible. Even a basic model demonstrates that your idea can exist beyond theory. Teams that provide clear visuals of how their solution works tend to earn higher scores during judging, especially in the Innovation and Practicality criteria.
6. Gain Entrepreneurial Experience via a Startup Incubator
Getting some experience with entrepreneurship before you start the Conrad Challenge can make the whole process feel more familiar. When you work inside a startup incubator, you see how ideas are tested, how assumptions fall apart, and how a simple model can turn into something workable with the right feedback. It is the same kind of thinking the Conrad Challenge asks for, just in a more hands-on setting.
The Young Founder’s Lab (YFL) is a good example. It is run by Harvard entrepreneurs and gives students a chance to build small ventures that aim to solve real problems. You get support from mentors at places like Google, Microsoft, and X, and you learn the basics of market research, financial decisions, and product planning. These skills show up again when you start shaping your Conrad project.
You can access the application link here.
7. Strengthen Your Business Plan and Financial Model
Beyond innovation, the Challenge rewards projects that are financially and operationally sound. Include realistic cost estimates, clear pricing strategies, and well-thought-out revenue streams. Demonstrate that you understand how your solution would function as a business, not just as an invention.
8. Refine and Rehearse Your Pitch
Your Innovation Video and live presentation are where you communicate your vision. Practice your delivery, anticipate tough questions, and polish your slides and visuals. Confidence, clarity, and structure can help transform a good idea into a winning presentation.
9. Run your presentation by a teacher.
Run your Innovation Video and live pitch by a teacher or coach early. They’ll spot structural gaps, timing problems, and claims that need evidence; use their feedback to tighten language and slides. Rehearse under real-time limits and incorporate the notes at least one week before submission.
10. Tell a Realistic and Inspiring Story
The best teams balance ambition with credibility. Your narrative should explain why your idea matters, how it can be implemented, and what makes it unique. Avoid exaggerated claims and instead, focus on clarity, measurable impact, and your team’s learning journey. A well-grounded story builds trust and leaves a lasting impression on judges.
Image Source - Conrad Challenge logo