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Startup competitions

Startup competitions award prizes, investment and exposure through rounds of written applications and live pitches. Judges score against published criteria, so the scoring rubric is the best guide to what to write.

18 open listings, each checked against its official page.

  1. Apply by 30 November 2026Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge (12th edition)Hello TomorrowGlobal deep-tech startup competition whose finals take place at the Hello Tomorrow Summit in Amsterdam (June 2-3, 2027); selected Deep Tech Pioneers get investor and…€200,000 in prizesAmsterdam, Netherlands · open to applicants worldwideDetails and how to apply
  2. Apply by 1 December 2026European Prize for Women Innovators 2027European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)EU prize for women who founded innovative companies in the EU or a Horizon Europe associated country, in three categories: Women Innovators (up to EUR 100,000), Rising…€100,000 in prizesAustria, Belgium, BulgariaDetails and how to apply
  3. Apply by 14 January 2027Diamond Challenge 2027Horn Entrepreneurship, University of DelawareA global business and social innovation competition for high-school teams (ages 14–18): submit a concept and pitch deck, advance through a pitching round, and finalists…$100,000 in prizesOpen worldwideDetails and how to apply
  4. Apply by 31 May 2027Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC)Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and partnersGlobal startup competition with Idea, Early, Growth and AI tracks; top 250 applicants join a virtual bootcamp and the top 100 compete at the Global Finals in Riyadh for…$1,000,000 in prizesOpen worldwideDetails and how to apply
  5. See cycle“创客中国”中小企业创新创业大赛 (Maker China SME Innovation Competition)Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT)National innovation and entrepreneurship competition for Chinese SMEs and maker teams with provincial/municipal rounds and national finals, connecting winners with…regional and national finals · investor and enterprise matchmakingChinaAnnual (11th edition in 2026, including the Beijing regional contest).Details and how to apply
  6. See cycleAfrica's Business HeroesJack Ma FoundationAnnual pan-African entrepreneurship prize where ten finalists from any industry share grant funding after training and pitching rounds, culminating in a televised Grand…$1,500,000 in prizesAnnual competition; applications typically open in the first half of the year.Details and how to apply
  7. See cycleCartier Women's InitiativeCartierAnnual international entrepreneurship programme that selects women-run impact businesses from any country and sector as fellows, with regional and thematic awards…regional and thematic award grants · coaching and trainingOpen worldwideAnnual; 2026 fellows announced March 26, 2026; next cycle's application window to be announced.Details and how to apply
  8. See cycleClimateLaunchpadClimateLaunchpadWorld's largest green business ideas competition: free national boot camps and coaching help climate-idea teams shape a venture, with national finals feeding regional…free boot camps and coaching · national, regional and global finalsOpen worldwideAnnual: applications in spring, boot camps May-July, regional finals Aug-Sep, global final in October.Details and how to apply
  9. See cycleEF Hult PrizeHult Prize FoundationWorld's largest student social-impact startup competition: university teams build ventures tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and compete through campus and…$1,000,000 in prizesOpen worldwideAnnual competition; registration for the 2026-27 cycle is open.Details and how to apply
  10. See cycleEIT JumpstarterEuropean Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT)EIT pre-acceleration programme and competition for early innovators in eligible European countries, offering training, mentoring and cash prizes to turn research or…€2,500 in prizesBulgaria, Croatia, CyprusAnnual; 2026 applications closed (deadline was May 17, 2026).Details and how to apply
  11. See cycleExtreme Tech Challenge (XTC) AI:360 Global Startup CompetitionExtreme Tech ChallengeGlobal competition for startups applying AI and deep tech to big societal and environmental problems, with partner events worldwide and a live showcase at the AI:360…pitch at AI:360 Summit and Startup Showcase · evaluator and investor exposureUnited States · open to applicants worldwideAnnual; 2026 competition culminates at the AI:360 Summit in California in November 2026.Details and how to apply
  12. See cycleFalling Walls VentureFalling Walls FoundationInternational competition for science-based startups: universities and institutions nominate young research-driven companies, and selected finalists pitch at Falling…pitch at Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin · Top 100 science start-up shortlistBerlin, Germany · open to applicants worldwideAnnual; next nominations and applications open February 2027.Details and how to apply
  13. See cycleGlobal Startup Awards — Edition 12Global Startup AwardsInvestor-judged startup awards run as nine regional competitions (Nordics, Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Oceania, Africa) across 12 categories such as…winners announced publicly and given stage and speaking slots before investors · GSA community membership and partner Welcome Offer for every applicantDenmark, Estonia, FinlandAnnual editions; Edition 12 applications are open — no closing date stated on the page.Details and how to apply
  14. See cycleMicrosoft Imagine CupMicrosoftMicrosoft's global startup competition for student founders building with Microsoft AI and cloud tools, with mentoring, resources and a showcase for the top student…mentors and founder advice series · Microsoft for Startups and Azure resourcesRemote · open worldwideAnnual; Imagine Cup 2027 announced as coming soon.Details and how to apply
  15. See cycleRice Business Plan CompetitionRice University, Jones Graduate School of BusinessLarge graduate-student startup competition in Houston where collegiate teams pitch to investors and judges for over $1 million in cash, investment and in-kind prizes.$1,000,000 in prizesHouston, United States · open to applicants worldwideAnnual; applications open November 9, 2026 for the April 8-10, 2027 competition.Details and how to apply
  16. See cycleStartup World CupPegasus Tech VenturesGlobal startup competition with 100+ regional qualifiers across six continents; regional winners advance to a San Francisco Grand Finale where the champion is eligible…$1,000,000 in prizesOpen worldwideAnnual cycle of regional competitions leading to a Grand Finale (2026 finale on November 6, 2026).Details and how to apply
  17. See cycle中国创新创业大赛 (China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition)Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Torch Center)National startup and SME competition run by China's science ministry system with regional, industry and national rounds; winners gain prize funding, policy support and…regional and national finals · investor and bank matchmakingChinaAnnual; local registration typically runs in spring-summer, national industry finals in autumn.Details and how to apply
  18. See cycle中国国际大学生创新大赛 (China International College Students' Innovation Competition)Ministry of Education of ChinaMassive annual innovation and startup competition for university students organised by China's Ministry of Education, with campus, provincial and national rounds and an…national finals exposure · investor and industry resource matchingChina · open to applicants worldwideAnnual (2026 edition finals under way; 2027 edition expected to open in spring).Details and how to apply

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