Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2026 for Young Entrepreneurs

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Applications are open for Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2026. Join a global community for entrepreneurship and innovation. Develop ideas and solutions for today’s challenges together with like-minded people.
The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (CEC) is aimed especially at young entrepreneurs and empowers them to develop ideas for a more peaceful and sustainable world. Participants are encouraged to create ideas with social impact and to actively contribute to one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which address the key social, economic, environmental, and health challenges of our time. Entrepreneurs from age 13 and up are invited to submit their ideas and become part of an international community.

The competition runs in three phases:

Idea Submission & Entrepreneurial Design: Submit a short pitch, have it reviewed against the competition criteria, complete the courses, and fill out the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas (EDC).
Voting: All ideas are published, and participants can gather votes while supporting each other.
Jury Decision: The ten submissions with the most votes are evaluated by an expert jury and the winners are selected.

The Entrepreneurship Campus now connects members from 141 nations, encouraging discussion, networking, feedback, and peer support. The CEC has been held annually since 2014.

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition bridges this gap by providing tools, training, and visibility to young innovators. It not only helps participants refine their ideas but also connects them with a global audience, fostering collaboration and shared learning.

For entrepreneurs, especially those in emerging markets, this competition offers a chance to turn ideas into scalable solutions while gaining recognition on an international stage.

Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition Benefits

Participants in the competition will gain:

Access to free entrepreneurial training, including the “Brains versus Capital” and “Sustainable Entrepreneurship” courses
The opportunity to develop and refine their ideas using the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas (EDC)
Global exposure by showcasing their ideas on a public platform
The chance to connect with a diverse, international community of innovators and changemakers
Recognition and credibility through participation in a globally recognized competition
An opportunity to advance to the finals and be evaluated by an expert jury

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be 13 years or older
Have an innovative idea or project that contributes to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Be willing to submit a pitch and complete the required learning components
Be ready to engage actively throughout the competition phases, including the voting stage
Participants from all countries, backgrounds, and disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition Program Timeline

March 2, 2026
- Applications open and idea submissions begin
May 4, 2026
- Deadline for submissions and completion of required courses and the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas
May 5, 2026
- Voting phase begins, and qualified ideas are published publicly
June 5, 2026
- Voting phase ends
June 6 – June 22, 2026
- Evaluation of top ideas and jury assessment
June 23, 2026
- Announcement of winners

Important Note: Participants are expected to follow fair voting practices. Any form of manipulation or fraudulent voting may lead to disqualification.