The 2025 Hult Prize Program

The Hult Prize Foundation is a start-up accelerator for budding young social entrepreneurs emerging from the world’s universities. Named as one of the top five ideas changing the world by President Bill Clinton and TIME Magazine, the annual competition for the the Hult Prize aims to identify and launch the most compelling social business ideas—start-up enterprises that tackle grave issues faced by billions of people. Winners receive USD 1 million in seed capital, as well as mentorship and advice from the international business community. 

Each year, Hult Prize empowers students around the world to create innovative startups that create real impact. Participants join an exclusive global community of student entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry experts as they work to earn a spot in our Global Finals where finalists compete for $1M in funding to bring their big ideas to life.

The 2025 Hult Prize program cycle has officially kicked off! Whether you’re looking to take your existing startup to the next level or are inspired to build a brand new business, we invite you to participate. Fill out the interest form below to get started.

Whether you’re looking to take your existing startup to the next level or are inspired to build a brand new business, we invite you to participate.

The Competition

Our year-long, global competition challenges young people to solve the world's most pressing issues by creating innovative social ventures. Learn about each stage of the competition below.

Step 1: Qualifiers

November - February

The OnCampus Program and the Open Application together serve as the first phase of the Hult Prize competition. In the OnCampus Program, student volunteers, known as Campus Directors, organize training programs and community events at their universities, focusing on that year's Challenge.

Winners of the qualifying OnCampus programs will represent their universities at our Summits. Alternatively, teams can apply directly through our Open Application.

From over 10,000 teams, less than 400 will be selected to advance to the next round.

Step 2: Summits

June

In 2025, the Hult Prize will host in-person Global Summits in seven cities worldwide. Hundreds of teams will pitch their social venture ideas to panels of experts. The winning teams from each summit, along with four other startups selected through the Second Chance Round, will earn a spot at the Global Accelerator.

Step 3: Global Accelerator

July - August

In July, our 12 semi-finalist teams will connect with Hult Prize mentors and curricula to refine their pitches and develop their businesses further. In August, they will travel to London, UK, for our Global Accelerator, where they will spend two weeks working and learning with world-class experts and coaches. At the end of the Accelerator, six teams will be chosen to participate in our Global Finals!

Step 4: Global Finals

September

At the Global Finals, six teams pitch their social ventures to a panel of distinguished judges with the hopes of being selected as the next winner of the US $1,000,000 Hult Prize.