We have compiled a fresh list of business plan competitions for you to choose from.

Are you not sure if this is for you? Check if you tick any of the following:

• do you have an idea and don’t know how to put it into action?
• you’re lacking funds to move your venture forward?
• your business is at the beginning of its road and needs an additional push?

Find your solution in the form of cash prizes, expert mentorship and media exposure in competitions listed below. There is plenty to choose from, depending on your needs and eligibility.

We have sorted the business plan competitions of 2024 chronologically, placing those with the longest deadlines at the end of the list.

Global Student Entrepreneur Awards 2024

Deadline: depending on location | Apply here
Prize: total package of US$100,000
Eligibility: no more than 30 years of age, currently enrolled student, business owner for at least 6 months

GSEA has various locations available for applicants.

To apply you must be currently enrolled for the academic year, part-time enrollment is also acceptable.

You also need to be an owner of a student business for at least six months before the competition.

In the Global Finals stage of the competition, you will be eligible to fight for up to a US$50,000 prize.

Check GSEA’s website for more information, locations, and their respective deadlines.

The Innovation World Cup®

Deadline: February 8, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: cash prize of 10.000 Euro
Eligibility: Companies, researchers, developers, and other individuals who are legally adults

Join the Innovation World Cup for IoT, Wearables, and DeepTech start-ups & scale-ups with your solution. Gain international exposure and a chance to present at prestigious events such as:

• HANNOVER MESSE – April 24, 2024
• WT | Wearable Technologies Conferences – April 16-17, 2024
• BIM World MUNICH – November 26-27, 2024

The 2024 Tuscaloosa Innovation Community Business Plan Competition

Deadline: February 12, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: $10,000
Eligibility: at least one member of the team resides in West Alabama

Join this competition with a 10-minute presentation of a business plan.

You have to submit a draft proposal and once you are accepted the event will be held on February 22.

During the competition you are required to present your business idea with a PowerPoint presentation after which you will have 15 minutes to answer questions from judges.

The Grand prize is $10,000, with First Prize $5,000, Second Prize $3,000, Third Prize $2,000

The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC)

Deadline: February 19, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: to be announced
Eligibility: anyone above 18 years of age is welcome

This particular competition invites anyone with innovative solutions to educational inequity.

Whether your focus is on childhood education, corporate, or adult learning you can describe a particular problem and its solution.

Once you are chosen as one of the finalists you will compete in person with other finalists to win cash and prizes.

Even though this year’s prizes are not yet announced, you are welcome to check their website for info on previous winners.

EU-Startups Summit – Pitch Competiton

Deadline: February 19, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: Prize Package worth €385k
Eligibility: Startups in pre-seed or seed stage, less than 3 years old, with no or less than €750K venture capital raised, based in Europe

Finalists of the competition will be invited on a stage at the EU-Startups Summit on May 9-10 in Malta and present their pitch for about 3 minutes. This will not only be a time for the jury to judge competitors but also a great opportunity for you to be approached by interested investors. On stage or not this still is a great event to grow your network of like-minded entrepreneurs

Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

Deadline: February 21, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: $100,000 between winners
Eligibility: Utah college or university student

Are you a Utah-based student?

Come up with a business model and have a chance to win prizes, not only cash but also advice from legal, accounting, and stuffing experts.

The top 20 videos will be eligible for the People’s Choice Award.

In the final round 20 top teams will be making presentations between judges, where final prizes will be awarded.

START SUMMITEER

Deadline: February 29, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: 10.000 CHF
Eligibility: independent legal entity, founded in 2021 or later, received less than 500.000 CHF in funding, you have to purchase minimum one startup or scale up ticket for START Summit

Become the source of inspiration for the new generation of innovators.

This startup competition gives you a chance to grow your business as well as gain media exposure and the ability to grow your network during START Summit events.

The AIHM Business Plan Competition 2024

Deadline: March 1, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: up to THB 40,000
Eligibility: Teams of 3-4 students in their final three years of high school in Thailand

This competition challenges you to find a new venture opportunity in the field of hospitality.

It can be anything in the Food and Beverage industry, events, hostels, pop-up restaurants, and so on.

Your business idea needs to be original and feasible. You are required to make a video presentation for the submission.

Once a you’re a finalist, your team will present the business idea to the team of judges on 23rd of March.

Check the website for more information.

Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge

Deadline: March 21, 2024 | Apply here
Prize:
Eligibility: age between 14 and 19

To apply for the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge you must gather a team of 3 to 8 high school students.

You do not need to be in the same school together. Each country can only have 3 teams.

Your team needs to provide two team photos, a 2-page business plan, a YouTube link for the presentation video, and a post-competition questionnaire.

Fifty Founders Battle

Deadline: March 4, 2024 | Apply here
Prize: prize pot of 10,000 EUR, 250k syndicate investment
Eligibility: open to anyone as long as you can attend the event for in-person presentation

TechChill’s Fifty Founders Battle is an annual competition for early-stage startups.

Get ready to pitch your business ideas in front of a large audience of investors and stakeholders.

Any industry is welcome on this year’s stage, check out the TechChill website for more information.

Startup Battlefield 200

Deadline: will be announced along with applications opening
Prize: a chance to win $100K
Eligibility: companies at early stage of development from around the globe, existing companies with new ideas do not qualify

Startup Battlefield 200 by TechCrunch is a great chance for you to showcase your startup with 10,000 other attendees.

Amongst them, there are plenty of potential investors that could gain interest in your idea.

In that sense, even if you do not win the cash prize there is still plenty to gain via this exposure and the possibility to expand your network.

Did we miss any of the business plan competitions that you think we should include to our list? Let us know by filling in our contact form.

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