MIT Climate & Energy Prize Competition 2026 For Student-led Climate & Energy Startups ($100,000+ in prize money & Mentorship)

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Applications are open for MIT Climate & Energy Prize Competition 2026. The MIT Climate & Energy Prize competition seeks to move the world closer to net zero carbon emissions by empowering ambitious entrepreneurs to solve the world’s most difficult climate-related challenges.

The MIT Climate & Energy Prize competition is the largest and longest-running competition for student-led climate & energy startups in the world. Since its founding in 2007, the MIT Climate & Energy Prize has received more than 1000 applications, offered world-class mentoring to over 315 teams, and granted more than $3.4M in non-dilutive cash prizes. Teams compete for $100,000+ in prize money and have access to mentoring and other resources. Since 2008, CEP alumni have raised over $4.6 billion in capital invested (as defined by PitchBook based on 170 companies identified to date).

MIT Climate & Energy Prize Competition Benefits

Teams participating in the competition compete for over $100,000 in prize money, while also gaining access to industry experts, investors, climate leaders, and an international network of innovators.

Eligibility Criteria

TEAMS

A team must be comprised of at least two individuals.
At least 50% of formal team members must (1) be enrolled as a part-time or full-time student, or (2) be a postdoctoral fellow at a college or university.
⁠All student or postdoctoral team members counted toward eligibility must have been enrolled since the beginning of the Fall 2025 academic term or earlier. Individuals who enrolled after this period will not qualify toward eligibility, with graduation in December 2025 or later.
Startup must have raised less than $100K in dilutive funding.
Only Student Members can present the team’s business plan, but all team members (student and non-student) are allowed to answer questions from the judging panels.
The Managing Directors from the MIT Climate and Energy Prize (MIT CEP) may not enter the competition. There are no restrictions for any other members of the MIT CEP Leadership Team, as they will not have access to confidential information regarding the competition or be in a position to influence the judges or judging process.

COMPANY

Only new ventures are eligible to compete in the MIT CEP. Projects within existing businesses are not eligible for entry.
Teams must be incorporated or otherwise organized as a legal business entity, either in the U.S. or abroad, to be eligible to receive awards from the MIT CEP. All prize money (including travel reimbursement) can only be given to incorporated teams. Teams do not need to be incorporated to submit an application. Teams are advised that, in general, the earlier they incorporate or otherwise form their legal entities (e.g., LLCs, partnerships, 501(c)3), the greater the tax benefits. Winning teams may experience delays in receiving award payments if they are not incorporated at the time of award. Prize-winning teams organized as legal business entities outside of the U.S. may be subject to fees when they receive their prizes.
In the case of a for-profit business: (a) for a corporation, Student Members must collectively control at least 50% of the team’s company equity and voting interests upon incorporation; and (b) for other forms of for-profit business entities (e.g., LLCs, partnerships), Student Members must collectively control at least 50% of the voting rights (e.g., to elect the board of directors or other governing body) of the team’s company upon formation of the business entity.
In the case of not-for-profit business entities: (e.g., 501(c)3) Student Members must collectively control at least 50% of the voting rights to elect the board of directors or another governing body of the team’s business entity upon formation of that business entity.
All formal team members must demonstrate ownership by way of right to participate in the election of management in the legal business entity and an equity interest in the case of a for-profit business.