Deadline: January 15, 2026
Are you a high school student with a brilliant business or social innovation idea? The Diamond Challenge 2026 invites young innovators from around the world to pitch their ideas, connect with like-minded peers, and win exciting cash prizes to bring their projects to life.
The Diamond Challenge 2026 is a globally recognised entrepreneurship competition created by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware. It empowers students, educators, and youth innovators by providing the resources and platform needed to turn ideas into impact.
About the Diamond Challenge 2026
The Diamond Challenge is not just a competition — it’s a transformative learning experience. Established by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, it helps secondary school students develop entrepreneurial mindsets through experiential learning and global collaboration.
Participants create innovative business or social venture concepts and present them to judges and mentors. With access to mentoring, resources, and networking opportunities, this initiative equips young changemakers with real-world entrepreneurial skills.
Prize Pool and Awards
A total of $100,000 USD in prizes is available for the Diamond Challenge 2026. Winning teams will receive the following awards:
- 🥇 1st Place: $12,000
- 🥈 2nd Place: $8,000
- 🥉 3rd Place: $4,500
These funds can be used to launch or grow the students’ business or social venture ideas.
Eligibility Criteria
To participate in the Diamond Challenge 2026, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Teams must include 2–4 high school students, aged 14–18 at the time of submission.
- Each team must have at least one adult advisor aged 21 or older. (Multiple advisors are allowed, but only one official advisor can be listed in the submission.)
- Teams must choose one track during registration:
- Business Innovation Track – for commercially driven ideas.
- Social Innovation Track – for ideas with a social impact focus.
- Teams must also select their preferred pitch format – either live pitch or virtual/pre-recorded submission.
- Venture concepts must not have generated more than $100,000 USD in total revenue before submission.
- Projects that reached the final round in previous years cannot be resubmitted.
- Avoid including school names in submissions unless essential to the concept.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the Diamond Challenge 2026 is January 15, 2026.
Applicants are encouraged to submit early to avoid technical issues and allow adequate time for review.
Why You Should Apply
The Diamond Challenge is a unique opportunity for high school students to:
- Gain hands-on entrepreneurship experience.
- Connect with an international network of young innovators.
- Receive mentorship and feedback from industry experts.
- Access funding and recognition to scale their ideas.
- Build a strong foundation for future academic and career opportunities.
How to Apply for the Diamond Challenge 2026
Applications are submitted online through the official Diamond Challenge platform. Teams will need to:
- Form a team of 2–4 eligible students and an adult advisor.
- Choose a track (Business or Social Innovation).
- Prepare a detailed venture concept, including pitch materials.
- Submit their application before the January 15, 2026 deadline.
Important Links
👉 Click here to Apply for the Diamond Challenge 2026
👉 Read more about the Diamond Challenge 2026
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