ImperialEntrepreneurshipCompetition 2026
For Middle and High School Students
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Step into:
This competition is for you if you're interested in:
- Using entrepreneurial thinking to tackle global challenges
- Turning bold ideas into real-world ventures
- Building startup, pitching and business skills
About Imperial Entrepreneurs
Imperial Entrepreneurs (IE) fosters innovation and entrepreneurship at Imperial College London. This 20+ year old society has led to the creation of $1B+ valuated companies. Through several high-profile partnerships with Y Combinator, Antler, Entrepreneur First, and EWOR, Imperial Entrepreneurs gives its 1,500+ members direct access to the same networks and capital that back the world’s fastest-growing startups.
Countless Imperial Entrepreneurs alumni have gone on to found and scale companies across deep tech, healthtech, and consumer sectors, with the society’s flagship IdeaForge incubator continuing to turn early-stage ideas into venture-ready startups.
Calling All Aspiring Young Leaders!
The Imperial Entrepreneurship Competition is designed to empower bold, original thinkers with a passion for solving real-world problems.
Whether you're focused on space, health-tech, med-tech, or AI & consumer, this is your chance to showcase a high-impact venture idea. We're not looking for perfectly polished startups — what matters is your entrepreneurial mindset, your clarity of vision, and your ability to pitch an idea that could shape the future. No technical background required — just ambition, creativity, and the drive to turn insights into action. Join us and bring your startup story to life on a global stage!
Why Join the Imperial Entrepreneurship Competition?
Stand out in university and internship applications with real entrepreneurial experience.
Work on solutions for global issues and tackle real challenges.
Learn how to craft a business model, pitch driven ideas, and think like an entrepreneur — skills that set you apart and go beyond the classroom.
How Does the Competition Work?
Team Size
2-5 students per team (all team members must be from the same school).
Can't find teammates at your school?
Email [email protected] to apply for an exception to create multi-school teams.
Age Categories
Grade: 6 - 8 (Year 7 - 9)
Grade 9 - 12 (Year 10 - 13)
What do teams need to do?
Challenge areas: Space, HealthTech / MedTech, or AI & Consumer (Open track)
Task: Pick a prompt and develop your own solution
Format: Pitch deck (written submission)
The top 8 teams from each of the Middle School and High School categories present their solution live to a judging panel of entrepreneurs and investors.
Format: Live Zoom presentation + Q&A
Competition Format
Preliminary Round
The preliminary round is open to all registered teams worldwide.
Pitch Deck Submission
Choose one prompt from the options below that interests your team the most.
Explain what your product does, and describe how the technology works. Then build a business case by identifying your target customers, estimating the potential market size, and explaining how your product would generate revenue.
Pitch a venture built on space technology, perhaps using satellite data (farming, climate, navigation), or supporting missions and astronauts.
From wearables to smart diagnostics, technology is transforming how we stay healthy. Pitch a venture (a device, app, or service) that diagnoses, treats, monitors, or prevents a health problem.
Pitch a venture that uses technology to solve an everyday problem: an AI tool, a smarter service, a product for your school or city.
Final Round
The top 8 teams from the preliminary round in each of the Middle School and High School categories are invited to the global final round.
Live Zoom presentation
Grade 6-8 (Year 7-9)
Grade 9-12 (Year 10-13)
Finalist teams present their solution live on Zoom to a judging panel composed of entrepreneurs and investors.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Registration Deadlines and Participation Fees
Deadline: July 30, 2026
Fees: US$ 55/student
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Fees: US$ 65/student
Deadline: October 30, 2026
Fees: US$ 75/student
Recognition
All participants will be awarded a certificate of participation.
Awards for Individuals
HonorTop 25%
MeritTop 50%
Global Awards
Global Champion
Global 1st Runner Up
Global 2nd Runner Up
Join the Challenge
Don’t miss this chance to make a difference and leave your mark. Register now to begin your journey to shaping a brighter future!
Fee Waiver Policy
Fee waiver is available for individual low-income students. Please ask your principal (or school counsellor - only eligible for US schools) to send an email titled 'Fee Waiver Request' to [email protected] from their official school email with your email address and confirm you need a waiver.
US public schools where 90%+ of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch may also apply for school-wide waivers for all competitions with a quiz-based first round.
All fee waivers must be requested before the regular deadline. For the exact eligibility rules on fee waivers please refer to this article.
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