EF Hult Prize 2027

The EF Hult Prize is an international social entrepreneurship competition run by the Hult Prize Foundation. It challenges university students to build and scale for-profit businesses that address major global problems through commercially viable solutions.

Teams can enter with an early-stage idea or an existing startup. The business must be for-profit and directly support at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. Existing ventures are allowed to compete, including those that have previously raised capital or secured grants.

The competition runs across five stages: Qualifiers, Nationals, Digital Incubator, Global Accelerator and Global Finals. During the process, teams develop their business models, validate ideas, receive mentoring, strengthen their pitch and compete for advancement.

Most teams enter through a university-based Hult Prize competition. Where a local competition is unavailable, teams may use the Open Application route.

At the Global Finals, one of the top finalists can secure US$1 million in seed investment to develop and scale the winning startup. The Hult Prize Foundation receives an equity stake in the winning company, typically around 10%.

• Teams must consist of 2–4 students.
• All team members must be enrolled in a degree-seeking programme at a university or college at the time of registration.
• Eligible students may be studying at undergraduate, graduate or PhD/DPhil level.
• All team members must be at least 18 years old by 28 February 2027, according to the live 2027 registration page.
• Applicants are welcomed from almost every country worldwide.
• The proposed startup must operate as a for-profit venture.
• The startup must directly support at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal.
• Startups at different stages of development are eligible, from ideas to existing operational ventures.
• Non-profit organisations are not eligible to compete.
• All registered team members must comply with the official competition rules and team requirements.

• Opportunity to compete for US$1 million in seed funding.
• Access to startup learning resources.
• Mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and professionals.
• Exposure to investors and investment connections.
• Opportunity to develop and validate a real startup.
• Access to a global network of student entrepreneurs.
• Digital Incubator support for advancing teams.
• Intensive mentorship for selected Global Accelerator participants.
• Opportunity to pitch to an international judging panel at the Global Finals.
• Access to additional educational, scholarship and partner opportunities within the Hult Prize ecosystem.

For the competition submission, teams are required to provide:

• A 4-minute pitch video submitted as a YouTube link.
• A pitch deck in PDF format.
• A startup one-pager in PDF format using the Hult Prize template.
• Team and startup details requested during registration.
• Student-status verification if requested by Hult Prize.
• English translations where original supporting materials are not in English.

• Team strength, organisation and leadership.
• Quality and practicality of the startup idea.
• Clear understanding of the problem being addressed.
• Alignment with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal.
• Potential for measurable social or environmental impact.
• Business-model viability and ability to generate revenue.
• Product-market fit at later competition stages.
• Go-to-market strategy at later stages.
• Evidence of traction as teams progress.
• Ability to scale the business at the final stages.

• Turn a student idea into a real startup.
• Compete for substantial seed investment.
• Gain practical entrepreneurship experience.
• Develop pitching, leadership and business-planning skills.
• Receive mentoring from experienced professionals.
• Connect with student founders from around the world.
• Build a startup around measurable social or environmental impact.
• Gain international exposure through later competition stages.
• Access a global social-entrepreneurship network.