The Hult Prize has been around since 2010, and students from all over the world can apply with their startup projects until February 15. To participate, the business model must address at least one of the United Nations' sustainability goals. Not least because of the 1 million US dollars prize money, the competition is also known as the “Nobel Prize for Students.”
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February 10, 2026
1 million US dollars in prize money at the “Nobel Prize for Students”
© Hult Prize: Stick'Em, the winning team of 2025
Hult Prize – procedure and conditions of participation
The selection process for the Hult Prize consists of five phases. The first qualifying round takes place via live pitches or an online application. This is followed in April and May by national and online events, respectively, where the field of participants is further narrowed down. The remaining candidates undergo a digital accelerator program in June and July to develop their products and business ideas. The top 20 teams will then receive four weeks of intensive coaching in August at Ashridge House, a magnificent country estate near London. The top 8 will eventually compete in the final pitch in September. Last year, the venue was the Tate Modern museum in London, but the location for 2026 has not yet been officially confirmed.
The conditions for participation are straightforward. Teams of two to four students can participate, all of whom must be at least 18 years old at the time of registration and enrolled in a degree program leading to an academic qualification. Their for-profit company must support at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but does not need to be founded or on the market yet. The following criteria will be evaluated in the first round:
Team – diversity in terms of composition and skills
Idea – problem and its solution in relation to the SDGs
Business model – evidence of market and scaling potential
