The Hult Prize is the world’s largest student startup competition — and it comes with a $1 million seed investment for the winning team. Open to university students worldwide, the competition challenges teams of 2–4 to build a for-profit startup that addresses a UN Sustainable Development Goal. There’s no prescribed theme and no IELTS requirement. It’s completely free to enter.
Qualifier rounds run from September 2026 through February 2027, giving teams time to refine their idea and pitch before nationals and the global finals.
Quick Facts
- Program: Hult Prize 2027 Global Student Startup Competition
- Prize: $1 million seed investment (note: the Hult Prize Foundation retains approximately 10% equity in the winning startup)
- Who can apply: Teams of 2–4 currently enrolled university students; all team members must be 18+ by February 28, 2027
- Age: Min 19
- Location: Global
- Timeline: Qualifiers September 2026 – February 2027 — Nationals April–May 2027 — Global Finals September 2027
- Deadline: February 28, 2027
- Application fee: Free
What Is This Opportunity?
The Hult Prize is an annual global startup competition that has been running since 2010, partnering with the United Nations to challenge students to build businesses that tackle the world’s biggest social and environmental problems. The prize fund of $1 million in seed investment goes to the team with the strongest, most viable for-profit startup addressing a UN Sustainable Development Goal. The Hult Prize Foundation retains approximately 10% equity in the winning startup.
Who Can Apply?
Any team of 2–4 currently enrolled university students may apply. All team members must be at least 18 years old by February 28, 2027. Submissions are in English but there is no IELTS or language score requirement. Students from all countries and all degree programmes are eligible — your startup idea does not need to match your field of study.
What Do You Get?
The winning team at the global finals receives a $1 million seed investment to launch and scale their startup. The Hult Prize Foundation retains approximately 10% equity in return. Beyond the prize, all participants gain real startup experience, mentorship, global exposure, and access to a network of thousands of social entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
What Will You Do?
Your team will develop a for-profit startup concept addressing any UN SDG, then pitch it in rounds from campus qualifiers through to national competitions and the global finals. You’ll prepare a 4-minute pitch video, a pitch deck, and a startup one-pager — and refine your idea at each stage based on mentor and judge feedback.
Fields / Areas
Any field — technology, health, education, environment, agriculture, fintech, climate, social enterprise — as long as the startup addresses a UN Sustainable Development Goal and is designed as a for-profit business.
How to Apply
- Visit the official application page: hultprize.org/apply-now
- Register your team of 2–4 enrolled university students.
- Prepare your pitch video (4 minutes), pitch deck, and startup one-pager.
- Enter via your university campus route or the open application — qualifier rounds are rolling through February 2027.
Important Deadline
Qualifier rounds close February 2027. Applications are rolling — the earlier you submit, the more time you have to receive feedback and strengthen your pitch before the next round.
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