Oxford Founders SocietyEntrepreneurshipCompetition 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 Oxford Founders Society
The Oxford Founders Society Entrepreneurship Competition is run in collaboration with Oxford Founders Society — a student society at the University of Oxford and the launchpad for the next generation of disruptive founders. No matter your background, if you have an idea and the drive to make it real, this is your community. Oxford Founders Society helps students understand the journey every founder takes to turn an idea into reality, through incubator programmes, startup fairs, panels and networking events that bring together ambitious people building what's next.
Calling All Aspiring Young Leaders!
The Oxford Founders Society Entrepreneurship Competition is designed to empower bold, original thinkers with a passion for solving real-world problems.
Whether you're focused on AI and creativity, digital safety, or climate change, 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 Oxford Founders Society 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.
Behind the Scenes of the Oxford Founders Society Entrepreneurship Competiton
Hear from the students who took part in the competition and the skills and experiences they gained along the way.
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: AI and Creativity, Digital Safety, or Climate Change
Task: Pick one challenge 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
Your team will receive prompts across three focus areas: AI & Creativity, Digital Safety, and Climate Change. Pick one prompt that interests your team the most, and then come up with your own creative solution. At the end, you’ll submit your ideas in writing.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how people create, communicate, and learn in 2026. As more and more people start to use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini in their daily lives, there is a growing concern that people are getting less creative and losing their critical thinking ability because they rely on AI to make decisions for them. Design a solution that still keeps the time saving and productivity benefits of AI while pushing people to think on their own and be creative.
People spend more time online than ever: using social media, playing games, reading online news, watching videos, etc. This also exposes people to scams, fake news, and privacy risks. Design a solution that makes the online space safer for all, without cutting people off from the internet.
Climate Change is one of the biggest issues facing our generation, with its effects such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers, droughts, and wildlife destruction. While companies and governments can play a large role in reversing the effects of climate change, there are still many actions that individuals and communities can take to make a real difference. Design a solution that would help individuals, local communities or schools reduce their impact on the environment or adapt to a changing environment.
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: August 6, 2026
Fees: US$ 55/student
Deadline: October 6, 2026
Fees: US$ 65/student
Deadline: November 6, 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.
AlgoEd is a platform that hosts curated competitions for K-12 students.
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