UpStart Youth Pitch Competition 2026
A free, fully virtual pitch competition for high school students ages 14 to 18, anywhere in the world. Hosted by HSEC, the High School Entrepreneurship Coalition.
The submission deadline has moved to October 5. Winners will now be announced on October 12. Registration stays open until the deadline.
- Format
- Fully virtual
- Submissions due
- October 5
- Who
- Ages 14 to 18
- Entry fee
- Free
Compete from anywhere in the world.
11:59 PM ET. Registration open until then.
Solo or teams of up to four.
No fees, ever.
About the competition
The UpStart Pitch Competition is built for high school students ages 14 to 18. Bring an innovative business idea, record a five-minute video, and submit it. Industry professional judges score every entry, and top pitches win prizes and recognition.
This competition is a popular alternative to the Blue Ocean Competition: fully virtual and accessible, so any high schooler can compete from anywhere.
It is hosted by HSEC, the High School Entrepreneurship Coalition, a network of entrepreneurial students and clubs around the world.
Help us fund prizes and reach more student founders. Our sponsor one-pager has the details.
2026 competition dates
The 2026 competition runs August 1 through October 12. Registration stays open until the October 5 submission deadline. All times are Eastern Time (ET).
How the competition works
- 01 Register Fill out the registration form, solo or as a team of up to four.
- 02 Record your pitch Record a pitch video of five minutes or less. You can also add a one-page summary or slide deck as a PDF.
- 03 Submit Upload everything through the submission form by October 5 at 11:59 PM ET.
- 04 Judging Multiple judges score every submission against the published rubric. Scores are averaged.
- 05 Results Winners are announced on October 12th and updates will be sent to each participant!
Judging rubric and submission format
Every pitch is scored independently by multiple judges against the same rubric, and the scores are averaged. The PDF lists each scoring category, its weight, and the required submission format.
View the rubric and format (PDF)- Judging criteria
- 6 weighted categories
- Pitch video
- 5 min max
- Summary or slide deck
- Optional PDF
- Language
- English
Prizes and awards
Every participant receives feedback and recognition. Even if you are not awarded prizes, this competition is an amazing opportunity for you to develop your skills!
More prizes may be available beyond the top five places.
There are guaranteed monetary prizes, though the specifics are being finalized. In addition to cash prizes, additional prizes & perks are also being finalized.
Eligibility and rules
Any high school student, anywhere in the world, can apply. All entries compete for the same prizes.
Frequently asked questions
The High School Entrepreneurship Coalition
HSEC is a student-led network of high school entrepreneurship clubs. It helps students start clubs at their schools, share resources, and develop business ideas.
Interested in sponsoring or partnering? Contact us- Student-led chapters
- Clubs founded and run by high schoolers at schools around the world.
- Resources
- Club starter kits, pitch guides, and entrepreneurship materials.
- International network
- Student founders connecting across countries.
Meet the founders
Help us fund prizes and reach more student founders. Our sponsor one-pager has the details.
Register and submit
Registration is open. Submissions are due October 5 at 11:59 PM ET. Winners are announced October 12.