<aside> <img src="/icons/push-pin_pink.svg" alt="/icons/push-pin_pink.svg" width="40px" />
To register for the EF Hult Prize 2027 Global Competition, click on this **🔗 Registration link on our website and kickstart your EF Hult Prize Journey today.**
</aside>
To get started at the EF Hult Prize, student teams will compete in our Qualifier Rounds through the Local Competition in their University or the Open Application. Over 400 Local Competitions are running worldwide. To find out if your university has a EF Hult Prize Local Competition, reach out to us via 📧 [email protected]
Student teams without Local Competitions can still participate by applying online through the Open Application pathway.
The winners of the Local Competitions and selected startups from the Open Application will move to the next phase, the National Competitions.
Pitch format: Local Competitions are a 4-minute live pitch followed by a 4-minute Q&A with the judges. Teams also submit an application through AcceleratorApp to advance: a 2-minute pitch video, a 1-minute about-the-team video, and a pitch deck.
<aside> <img src="/icons/push-pin_pink.svg" alt="/icons/push-pin_pink.svg" width="40px" />
Visit our 2027 Qualifiers Scorecard page to check our scoring criteria for the Qualifiers stage.
</aside>
This year, we are scaling our program to over 55+ national competitions worldwide, allowing more world-changing startups to participate. Winners from the Local Competitions and top startups from the Open Application will compete in national events against teams from their countries/territories. If there is no national competition in a country, top startups from the Open Application and Local Competitions will still be considered by undergoing a thorough online selection process, including live interviews and due diligence.
The next step is the EF Hult Prize Digital Incubator.
Up to 90 startups will qualify through the National Competitions and Online Selection. During the Digital Incubator, founders will refine their ideas, validate product-market fit, build proof of concepts and MVPs, and develop clear, actionable go-to-market strategies.
Each startup will be paired with a dedicated mentor and take part in workshops designed to sharpen their story, strengthen their pitch, and prepare them for the next stage of the competition. They’ll also have access to our global alumni network, connecting them with founders and entrepreneurs who have been through the EF Hult Prize journey themselves.
The best startups will move to the Global Accelerator Program following the incubator. Up to 25 startups will be invited to the Ashridge House in London for a month during the 2027 summer. Our Global Accelerator focuses on rapidly scaling the selected social ventures. Over this intensive program, participants receive structured education and more intensive mentorship from industry experts.
The program offers extensive networking opportunities, connecting startups with investors, potential partners, and fellow entrepreneurs. It will include multiple demo day opportunities. The goal is to help these companies bring their innovations to market as fast as possible and scale their impact.
Finally, the Global Finals, the most anticipated event of the year. Only eight startups from the Accelerator cohort will be selected to pitch live in front of a panel of judges. This is where their passion, innovation, and dedication will shine on a global stage.
<aside> <img src="/icons/verified_purple.svg" alt="/icons/verified_purple.svg" width="40px" />
To get started on your world-changing idea, visit our page How to get started on your idea? and start your journey of impact.
</aside>