Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition

The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is the largest and most prestigious virtual pitch competition for high school students worldwide. Designed to prepare students for the real world of entrepreneurship, the competition challenges young innovators to think beyond crowded markets and create bold, original business ideas—true “blue ocean” opportunities.

Students can register and submit their video pitches before February 22, 2026, making this an ideal platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to test their ideas on a global stage.

What Makes the Competition Unique?

Unlike traditional business contests that often reward incremental improvements, this competition emphasizes creating entirely new market spaces. Participants are encouraged to identify unsolved problems or unmet needs and propose solutions the world has not seen before. The focus is on innovation, value creation, and strategic thinking rather than competing head-to-head in existing markets.

Each year, thousands of high school students from diverse backgrounds come together to:

• Pitch innovative business concepts

• Receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders

• Connect with a global community of like-minded peers

• Compete for thousands of dollars in cash prizes

Who Can Participate?

Participation is open to high school students from around the world. Students may:

• Compete individually, or

• Form a team of up to four friends

This flexibility allows students to work independently or collaborate, reflecting real-world entrepreneurial environments where teamwork and leadership both matter.

How to Participate: Step-by-Step

Participating in the competition is straightforward and student-friendly:

1. Register for the competition as an individual or team.

2. Identify a pressing problem facing the world, or discover a completely new market space that has not yet been explored.

3. Design a novel solution and build a business idea around it—something innovative, distinctive, and valuable.

4. Review the scoring criteria to ensure your idea truly qualifies as a blue ocean business.

5. Use the official blue ocean pitch template to structure your presentation clearly and strategically.

6. Record a five-minute video pitch, upload it to YouTube, and submit both the link and the video file as instructed.

Why Students Should Take Part

The competition offers far more than prizes. Students gain:

• Real-world exposure to entrepreneurial thinking

• Experience in pitching ideas clearly and persuasively

• Constructive feedback from professionals

• Confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills essential for future careers

For students interested in business, innovation, leadership, or social impact, this experience can be transformative.

A Launchpad for Future Entrepreneurs

The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is more than a contest—it is a learning journey that equips students with the mindset and skills needed to shape the future. By encouraging original thinking and bold ideas, it empowers young people to imagine and build solutions that matter.

High school students with big ideas and a passion for innovation should not miss this opportunity to step into the world of entrepreneurship and make their mark on a global platform.

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