2019 has been a blast! Millions of young people have been connected with the right opportunities and have skyrocketed their careers.
Are you among the lucky ones or are you still looking for your opportunity match?
If you are a student hungry for professional development and willing to take up a challenge that may change your whole life, keep reading because for you we prepared a list of the best competitions to join by the end of 2019. You’re welcome!
The best competitions for students to apply for by the end of the year
1. Stanford Design Challenge 2019
Deadline: December 6, 2019 00:00 (CET)| Apply here
Eligibility: All university students around the world
The Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge offers cash prizes and free entrepreneur mentorship in a competition open to all university students around the world who want to design products and services which optimize long life for us all.
This year’s challenge focuses on building longevity solutions with cross-generational teams. $17,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, and finalists will receive paid travel to Stanford, where they will present their designs to renowned industry, academic, and government leaders.
2. Moontrip Competition 2019
Deadline: December 15, 2019 00:00 (CET)| Apply here
Eligibility: Minimum eligible age for participation is 18 years. There is no restriction to the degree or design disciplines to participate in the challenge.
The moontrip dream has only escalated over time with more than 18,300 people applying for fewer than 14 spots in NASA’s astronaut class in 2016, which is nearly triple of applications in 2012. At such pace, there might be a time when every household would have an astronaut.
Challenge is to design a space center to enlighten young generation about the moontrip, the role of different people and other advancements in space explorations.
3. Microsoft Imagine Cup 2020
Deadline: January 1, 2020 00:00 (CET)| Apply here
Eligibility: Students aged 16+
Bring your tech idea to life with the 2020 Imagine Cup and make a difference through creativity, collaboration, and competition.
Imagine Cup is a chance to work with friends, network with professionals, gain new skills, showcases your work on a global stage, and meet other students who want to make a difference.
4. Diamond Challenge 2020
Deadline: January 8, 2020 23:59 (EST)| Register here
Eligibility: The competition is open to any high school student around the world. It invites teams comprised of two to four high school students typically between 14-18 years of age at the time of the submission deadline, enrolled in an official high school/secondary education institution for the duration of the competition. Team members do NOT need to be based in the same school or area.
The Diamond Challenge provides a unique opportunity for teens from around the globe to learn about entrepreneurship while putting their ideas into action.
Through the world’s top-rated entrepreneurship competition for high school students, you can win tens of thousands in prizes to fund your idea or education.
5. Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2020
Deadline: January 17, 2020 00:00 (CET)| Apply here
Eligibility: For participants to be eligible, at least half of the team’s members must be students currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution or have received a degree after March 1, 2018. If entering as a business entity, at least 25% of the business must be owned by individuals that meet the above qualifications. Individual students and recent grads may also apply.
The fourth annual Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge aims to recognize new business ideas that leverage technology for social impact from student entrepreneurs around the world. The Challenge is open to students and recent alumni from any college or university.
$350,000 USD in prize money will help accelerate the adoption of breakthrough technology, products, and services that drive economic development and/or solve social or environmental problems.
SXSW PitchTexas Student Startup Pitch Competition 2020
Deadline: Applications are open to the first 200 applicants | Apply here
Date: March 13, 2020
Eligibility: For a team to be eligible to compete, at least one current founder who is a current student (two maximum) must be present in Austin for the competition on March 13, 2020, during SXSW. We accept early-stage ideas from all categories. Startups with more than $500,000 in previous funding or over $100,000 in monthly recurring revenue will not be considered for this competition.
Location: Austin, the United States
The University of Texas at Austin is proud to present the 7th Annual 2020 SXSW Student Startup PitchTexas Competition—with prize money of $50,000.
In an opportunity of a lifetime, startups led by university students from across the country will compete to impress and win over the savvy entrepreneur and venture-capitalist judges for up to $50,000 in cash prizes, bragging rights, and a chance to inspire the SXSW crowd.
New Venture Championship 2020
Deadline: February 12, 2020 00:00 (CET)| Apply here
Dates: April 16-18, 2020
Eligibility: The competition is for student-created, managed, and owned ventures. Teams of 2-5 students of which least one member of the team is required to be enrolled in a graduate program are encouraged to apply
Location: Portland, the United States
Presented by the University of Oregon’s Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship, the New Venture Championship (NVC) is the Pacific Northwest’s original six-round business competition, setting the standard followed by others.
Teams from elite universities come to Portland every year to pitch their venture plans and vie for more than $50,000 in total cash awards.
Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition 2020
Deadline: February 13, 2020 00:00 (CET)| Apply here
Eligibility: The competition is open to any individual above 18 years old who currently generate revenue, grants, customers, or investors, as well as those with well-conceived plans to do so
The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC) is open to applicants worldwide and offers a tremendous opportunity to entrepreneurs and investors alike.
With a rich history of success, the EBPC has awarded over $1,000,000 in cash prizes since 2010, and winners and finalists have gone on to raise more than $135 million in additional funding.
Are you planning to join any of the competitions above? Are there any other competitions that we should add? Let us know in the comments below or fill in our contract form.
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