funding: Up to $1,000,000 (prize for winner)
location: Global (campus + regional + global finals)
eligibility: Current university students worldwide
host: Hult Prize Foundation
duration: Full academic year competition
apply-url: https://www.hultprize.org/
The Hult Prize is the world's largest student competition for social good, often described as the "Nobel Prize for students." Each year, a global challenge is announced — drawn from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — and student teams from universities worldwide compete to build a social enterprise that addresses it. The winning team receives up to $1 million USD in seed funding to launch their venture.
Competition Structure
The competition runs in three phases. First, Campus Rounds: teams of 3–4 students compete at their university to win the right to advance. Next, Regional Summits: campus winners compete against top teams from their region in cities including London, Boston, Dubai, Singapore, and Cairo. Finally, the Global Final: five finalist teams pitch to a panel of world-class judges — business leaders, social innovators, and heads of state — for the $1 million prize.
The 2026 Challenge
Each year's challenge is unique and announced in the autumn of the preceding year. Past challenges have focused on food security, mental health, climate action, refugee empowerment, and ethical consumerism. The 2026 challenge pushes teams to develop scalable, market-driven solutions rather than charitable models — Hult Prize funds businesses, not nonprofits.
Who Can Apply
The Hult Prize is open to all full-time university students worldwide — undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree students. Teams must include 3–4 members. You do not need a business background; many winning teams come from medicine, law, engineering, and the social sciences. What you need is a bold idea, strong execution, and genuine commitment to social impact.
How to Enter
Start by finding or organising a Hult Prize campus programme at your university through hultprize.org. If your campus does not have a programme, you can apply online directly through the Hult Prize Online Challenge portal. The campus application typically involves a business concept pitch and an online assessment. Check hultprize.org for the 2026 application opening dates.
Beyond the Prize
Even teams that do not win the $1 million leave the Hult Prize with a business-ready prototype, a global network of mentors and peers, and credibility that opens doors to investors, accelerators, and employment. The programme has launched dozens of ventures that are now operating across multiple countries.