Your role as a Campus Organizer is crucial in setting the stage for students from your university to compete for the Hult Prize's $1 million!
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September - February
To get started in Hult Prize, students will compete in our Qualifier Rounds either through the Campus Program or the Open Application. As a Campus Organizer, you will help organize a Local Competition on your university campus. We are running hundreds of these worldwide. University students without Campus Programs can still participate by applying online through the Open Application.
The winners of the Local Competitions and selected startups from the Open Application will move to the next phase, the National Competitions.
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March - May
We are scaling our program to over 20 National Competitions worldwide, allowing more world-changing startups to participate. National Competitions will be held between March and May, 2026. Winners of Campus Programs and top startups from the Open Application will compete in national events against teams from their countries/territories. The winning teams from these Nationals will earn a spot in the Digital Incubator. If there is no national competition in a country/territory, top startups from the Open Application and Campus Local Competitions will still be considered by undergoing a thorough online selection process, including live interviews and due diligence.
Note: The countries/territories hosting National Competitions will be announced in December. Please keep an eye on our socials and check your inbox for this exciting news.
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June - July
The next step is our newest program: the Hult Prize Digital Incubator in June - July 2026. Up to 60 startups will qualify from the Nationals and the Online Selection. In the Digital Incubator, our startups will refine their ideas, validate their product-market fit, create proof of concepts, develop MVPs, and set up actionable go-to-market strategies. We will provide our entrepreneurs with world-class resources, including online workshops and personalized mentorship from social entrepreneurs and industry experts.
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August
After completing the incubator, the top startups from the Digital Incubator will move on to the Global Accelerator Program in August 2026. Up to 25 startups will be invited to Ashridge House in Berkhamsted, United Kingdom, for a month-long program during the summer. This intensive accelerator focuses on scaling social ventures through structured education, expert mentorship, and networking opportunities. Startups will connect with investors, potential partners, and peers, with multiple demo days to showcase their innovations. The goal is to help semi-finalist, startups competing at the stage, bring their solutions to market and scale their impact quickly. Startups will also have the chance to submit a $1 million funding proposal, with six finalists advancing to pitch at the Global Finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhACAxYuCk4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4BZsCQQpLQ
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September
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 for a chance to win the $1 million. This is where their passion, innovation, and dedication will shine on a global stage. Learn more about our previous Hult Prize Winners and their stories here. The Hult Prize 2026 Global Finals will be hosted in London in September, 2026. The date and the location will be announced at a later stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRqFcVpqt80
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqjTIJzWju2qS8bCLmTb_4C0r89kidviC
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