Hult Prize — Entrepreneurship

Hult Prize is an annual social entrepreneurship competition run by the Hult Prize Foundation. Student teams develop a for-profit startup that supports at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal, then progress through qualifiers, national selection, a digital incubator, a London accelerator and global finals.

The program combines entrepreneurship education, mentoring, pitching and access to an international founder network. The 2025–26 registration cycle is closed, and the official registration page says the next cycle starts in September.

Benefits & funding

Participants receive learning resources, mentorship, partner benefits, investment connections and access to the Hult Prize community.
One winning team receives $1 million USD in seed investment; Hult Prize states that it typically receives a 10% equity stake, and payment is tied to agreed milestones.
Entry is free, but participants are responsible for their own travel, meals and accommodation unless Hult Prize states otherwise for a specific phase.

Eligibility

Teams must have 2–4 members, and every member must be enrolled in a degree-seeking university or college program when registering.
Every member must be at least 18 years old by February 28, 2027.
The entry must be a for-profit business that directly supports at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal; ideas and operating startups may apply, but nonprofit organizations may not.
A team must designate an eligible chief executive officer, and eligible registered team members must own at least 51% of the competing company.
The official pages publish no nationality or residency requirement and describe participation from almost every country; participation remains subject to applicable law.
Submissions and official competition phases are in English.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs

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Application process

1
Form an eligible team of 2–4 students and develop a for-profit, impact-oriented business idea.
2
Register online when the next cycle opens. Teams use a local university competition where available; otherwise, they enter through the Open Application route.
3
Submit a four-minute pitch video, a pitch deck and the official startup one-page document.
4
If selected, progress through qualifiers, nationals, the digital incubator, the global accelerator and the global finals.

Program timeline

The next cycle starts; the official site has not published an exact opening date.
September
Qualifiers through campus competitions or the Open Application.
September–February
National competitions or equivalent online selection.
April–May
Digital incubator.
June–July
One-month global accelerator in London.
August
Global finals and winner selection.
September
Application deadline
The 2025–26 cycle is closed, but the official site does not publish its exact closing date.