(YFL) 10 International Entrepreneurship Competitions for High School Students
Discover 10 prestigious international entrepreneurship competitions for high school students. Ignite your passion for innovation and showcase your skills globally!
If you're planning a career in business or want to explore it more seriously, international entrepreneurship competitions are one of the best ways to start. Unlike local or classroom-based activities, international entrepreneurship competitions expose you to complex global challenges, diverse teams, and real-time decision-making.
These competitions often include multiple rounds, written submissions, video presentations, and live pitching events. Some require you to build a business from scratch. Others focus on addressing social or environmental problems using entrepreneurial thinking. Participation in these competitions will also strengthen your college SOP or research applications, especially if you’re applying to programs in business, economics, or entrepreneurship.
To help you explore the best options, here are 10 international entrepreneurship competitions for high school students!
10 International Entrepreneurship Competitions for High School Students
Conrad Challenge
Location: Virtual + In-person Power Pitch Summit (U.S.)
Participation Fee: $499 fee for the Innovation Stage and the summit
Dates: August – April; Power Pitch Summit: April 22–25
Application Deadline: August–October
Eligibility: Open to students ages 13–18 working in teams of 2–5 from any country
The Conrad Challenge is a multi-phase competition where you work in a team to build a business idea in categories like Aerospace, Cyber Technology, Energy, or Health. You will use the Lean Canvas model, write an Innovation Brief, design a simple marketing site, and make a video pitch to explain your solution. If your team qualifies, you will be invited to the Power Pitch Summit to present your idea to a panel of experts. Top teams receive scholarships and the title of Pete Conrad Scholar. The challenge gives you access to mentors and step-by-step guidance.
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition
Location: Virtual
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: Top 100 Announcement – April 6; Winners – May 13
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Open to high school students, national and international (ages 14–18); solo or team entries allowed
The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition asks you to pitch a business idea for a new market instead of entering an existing one. You start by taking a short online course, then submit a five-minute video pitch using a set template. Judges look for creative ideas, market potential, and long-term strategy. There are awards based on expert review and public votes. You do not need business experience to enter.
Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC)
Location: Virtual
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: Preliminary Round – April 12; Final Round – May 17
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 14–18 working in teams of 3–8
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is a one-day competition where you and your team have 12 hours to build a business idea in response to a surprise global problem. You will submit a two-page plan and a three-minute video pitch. Your idea must include a scientific or tech-based solution and focus on sustainability.
Topics often include education, environment, or social issues. You will need to combine innovation with marketing and basic financial planning. Winners from each country move on to the global finals, and all teams get feedback and a certificate.
World Series of Innovation (WSI)
Location: Virtual
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: September 9 – December 15
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Open to individuals or teams (up to 3 members) worldwide, ages 13–24
The World Series of Innovation is run by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. You will pick one prompt linked to a UN Sustainable Development Goal, such as climate action, health equity, or digital finance. Then you will submit a short proposal or slide deck that explains your idea, the problem it solves, who it serves, and the impact it can have. You can join on your own or in a team and will be judged based on your idea’s clarity, creativity, and relevance. Top entries can win up to Rs 1,25,000 in prize money. This is a good way to explore business with a focus on social and global challenges.
GENIUS Olympiad
Location: Virtual, final round held in person
Participation Fee: $50 per project
Dates: Finals held June 9- 13
Application Deadline: October 10 – March 10
Eligibility: Open to U.S. and international high school students in grades 9–12
The GENIUS Olympiad is a global competition where you solve environmental problems using business ideas. In the entrepreneurship and social responsibility tracks, you will propose a product or technology that reduces environmental harm and build a business model to support it. You will need to submit a detailed plan and a go-to-market strategy. Your idea should combine environmental science, tech, and business. Winners get certificates and may qualify for scholarships worth up to Rs 16 lakh.
Diamond Challenge
Location: Virtual or in-person at global pitch sites + Final Round at Limitless World Summit (U.S.)
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: Submission window opens September 18; Final Summit – May 1–2
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Teams of 2–4 high school students (ages 14–18) worldwide; one adult advisor (21+) required
The Diamond Challenge is a global competition where you build a business or social venture. You will choose a track: Business Innovation or Social Innovation, and submit your idea through a pitch deck and video. You can pitch at a live event or online. The process has three stages: concept building, submission, and final pitching at the Limitless World Summit.
You get access to the Diamond Challenge curriculum, feedback, and a global network of student teams. Finalists present at the summit and compete for a share of Rs 83 lakh in prize money. You must submit an original idea that has not reached the finals before and has not earned over Rs 83 lakh in revenue.
SAGE World Cup
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia (in-person)
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: September
Application Deadline: May 2 (for SAGE USA Nationals); global finals date TBD
Eligibility: Open to high school student teams (ages 13–19) who have created real businesses with measurable impact
The SAGE World Cup is a global competition where you present a real student-run business that solves a social, economic, or environmental problem. You must show what your business has done and what results it has achieved. Teams present in front of international judges and get feedback. The program also includes mentorship, networking, and cultural exchange. If you are based in the U.S., you must first qualify through the SAGE USA National Competition.
Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Virtual + In-person Global Finale at the Wharton School, Philadelphia, U.S.
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: September 29 – December 8; Global Finale – April 24–25
Application Deadline: June 30 - September 12
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9–12 worldwide; teams of 4–7 with one teacher-advisor
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a 10-week finance competition where you and your team manage a virtual portfolio of Rs 2 crore 8 lakh using the Wharton Investment Simulator. You will study a real-world client case, build an investment strategy, and make trades based on your plan.
Your team will submit two written reports. The top 50 teams pitch online to expert judges, and the best 10 go to the Global Finale at the Wharton School. The competition helps you build skills in market research, risk analysis, communication, and teamwork through a structured process.
The Paradigm Challenge
Location: virtual entry; finalists win trip to Los Angeles
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: Various rounds
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students aged 4–18 worldwide (at the time of entry), individually or in teams; parental consent required for minors
The Paradigm Challenge invites you to become a real-world problem solver by addressing pressing global issues such as home fires, waste reduction, personal health, food security, and biodiversity loss. You’ll use creativity, kindness, and collaboration to design a solution. Past entries have included posters, videos, inventions, mobile apps, public campaigns, and community events.
As a participant, you’ll brainstorm ideas, develop a project that demonstrates its impact or feasibility, and submit it for judging. Top entries are selected based on originality, effectiveness, practicality, presentation, and teamwork. If you advance as a finalist, you could win up to $100,000 and a trip to Los Angeles for a red carpet awards ceremony that includes Disneyland and a professional video showcase of your project.
Enactus World Cup
Location: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand
Participation Fee: Free
Dates: September 25–28
Application Deadline: Tentatively August
Eligibility: Open to high school and college teams affiliated with Enactus chapters presenting operational entrepreneurial projects
The Enactus World Cup is a global showcase of youth-led entrepreneurial action, where teams from across the world present real businesses and social ventures designed to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. If your team is part of an official Enactus chapter, you will present a venture that has achieved measurable social, economic, or environmental impact.
Held in a different country each year, the 2025 World Cup will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, with the theme “Generation: Re,” focusing on regeneration, restoration, and reimagining the future. Finalist teams present their projects to panels of international judges, alongside workshops, networking, and the Sustainability Expo.
One more option - Young Founders Lab
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build a startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!