VivaTech organizes the Next Startupper Award to celebrate student entrepreneurs driving positive change through technological innovation. The competition is open to current students from any country who have founded a tech-oriented startup or project less than three years ago that demonstrates a clear social or environmental impact. Finalists receive four-day VIP speaker passes to the event in Paris and the opportunity to pitch their solutions to industry experts. The grand prize winner receives a €5,000 cash prize and a dedicated startup corner at the 2027 edition of VivaTech. The deadline for applications is 09 March 2026. More information
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World Bank Group — Youth Summit 2026
The World Bank Group hosts the Youth Summit Pitch Competition to support young innovators developing solutions for the future of work. Individuals or teams of up to five members, aged 18 to 35, from World Bank member countries are eligible to apply with projects focused on education, entrepreneurship, or agriculture. While there is no direct cash prize, finalists receive travel support to present their ideas at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., along with specialized coaching and post-summit mentoring from International Finance Corporation (IFC) experts. The deadline for applications is 11 March 2026. Know more
United Nations Environment Program — Young Champions of the Earth
The Young Champions of the Earth honors environmental entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for the planet. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 from all global regions are eligible to apply, provided they have at least six months of experience working on their environmental project. Winners receive US$10 thousand in funding, along with mentorship, workshops, and a smartphone multimedia production kit to document their progress over a one-year period. Additionally, winners may compete in a pitch competition for a Planet A grant of up to US$100 thousand. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2026. Young Champions of the Earth
Bow Seat — Ocean Awareness Contest
Bow Seat invites applications for the Ocean Awareness Contest to engage students in environmental conservation through creative expression. The program encourages participants to explore the connection between human activities and the health of the ocean through categories such as visual art, creative writing, film, interactive and multimedia, and performing arts. Eligible applicants include students worldwide between the ages of 11 and 18. The contest offers various cash awards, with gold prize winners receiving US$1,000, silver winners receiving US$750, and bronze winners receiving US$500. The contest deadline is 08 June 2026. Ocean Awareness Contest
Roots — Micro-Grants
The Roots Micro-Grants Program supports youth-led projects to empower voices from the Global South to advocate for climate justice. The program provides grants of up to US$10 thousand to initiatives that prioritize climate justice and social equity. The program will provide grants for between 10-15 grassroots youth-led initiatives, with a focus on groups in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The group/organization does not need to be legally registered in order to be eligible to apply. The application deadline is 28 February 2026. Details here
AFS Intercultural Programs — Global STEM Accelerator
The Global STEM Accelerator is a program for women and girls who desire to learn more about STEM fields that men traditionally dominate. Scholarship winners will participate in 12-week all-virtual programs focusing on emerging and critical STEM skills and fields, global competence education, and social impact. Applicants must be young women ages 15-17.5 years old. The application deadline is 15 April 2026. Global STEM Accelerator
The Earth Foundation — Earth Prize Schools Competition
The Earth Foundation invites secondary school students aged 13–19, working individually or in teams, to propose innovative solutions to environmental challenges at the local, national, or global level. Participants receive mentorship, learning resources, and expert guidance to refine their projects, with selected entries competing for cash prizes of up to US$12,500. The competition is open worldwide to eligible secondary school students. The application deadline is 30 January 2026. Earth Prize Schools Competition
Blue Ocean — Student Entrepreneur Competition
The Blue Ocean Competition is a global entrepreneurship competition for high school students aged 14–18 that challenges participants to develop innovative business ideas to address real-world problems in areas such as sustainability, social impact, and economic development. Students can compete individually or in teams, progressing through written pitches and virtual presentations, with finalists gaining access to mentorship, training, and networking opportunities. The competition awards cash prizes and scholarships, helping winners further develop or launch their ideas. It is open to students worldwide. The application deadline is 22 February 2026. Blue Ocean Competition
Climate Tracker — Climate Journalism Mentorship Program
Climate Tracker invited applications for the Climate Journalism Mentoring Program, exclusive to Latin America. Journalists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Mexico will publish stories on the impact of the climate crisis in the region, with a focus on the transition to fair energy. Journalists receive a total financial incentive of US$900 (US$$300 for each story published). The application deadline is 01 March 2026. Climate Journalism Mentorship Program
Hult Prize Foundation — Hult Prize Challenge
The Hult Prize is a start-up accelerator for social entrepreneurship which brings together college and university students to solve the world’s most pressing issues. In 2026, participants can pitch any idea for a social enterprise, as long as it is world-changing and aligned with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Hult Prize runs regional competitions around the world, campus events, a national competition, and online for the chance to join the Global Accelerator Program. The winning team will be awarded US$1 million in seed capital. Hult Prize