[INFO Session 1] Global Innovation Challenge 2026

​​Wanna find out more about ​​The Global Innovation Challenge 2026?

​​Join our Free Info Session Today with the link above.

​Do note that registrations for the competition is at: luma.com/globalinnovationchallenge. Acceptance to this event does not constitute an acceptance into the Global Innovation Challenge 2026.

​About Event

​The Global Innovation Challenge 2026 is a fully virtual business, entrepreneurship and social impact competition for high school students worldwide.

​Students will develop, test and pitch an original business, startup or social enterprise idea, with one winning project receiving a US$1,500 Seed Award from the Global Builders’ Seed Fund.

​Students can sign up individually or as a team of 2–3. Those who sign up individually will be matched with other participants to form a team. No technical, coding, business or research experience is required — workshops, resources and guidance are provided throughout the programme.

​Applications close 30 November 2026.

​Check out our event brochure here.

​Quick Facts

​Eligibility: High school students worldwide
Format: Fully virtual
Team size: Teams of 2–3
Focus: Business, entrepreneurship, innovation & social impact
Experience required: None
Seed Award: US$1,500
Application deadline: 30 November 2026
Programme: 11 December 2026 – 16 January 2027
Participation fee: US$250/student
Financial aid: Available

​Key Dates:

​Program Launch & Prototyping: 11 December 2026, 09:30AM - 11:00AM Eastern Time (ET)

​Research Workshop Option 1: 12 December 2026, 02:30AM - 04:00AM Eastern Time (ET)

​Research Workshop Option 2: 12 December 2026, 09:30AM - 11:00AM Eastern Time (ET)

​Submission: 9 Jan 2027, 11:59PM Eastern Time (ET)

​Seed Fund Pitch: 16 Jan 2027, 09:30AM - 11:00AM Eastern Time (ET)

​What Ideas can you Submit?

​Students can develop and pitch:

• ​A business or startup idea

• ​A social enterprise or social impact initiative

• ​A digital product, app or software idea

• ​A community-based project

​You do not need to arrive with a fully formed business. The programme will take you from idea → research → prototype → pitch.

​Who Can Participate?

​The Global Innovation Challenge is designed for high school students from around the world.

​No previous experience in:

• ​Entrepreneurship

• ​Business

• ​Coding

• ​Product development

• ​Research

​is required.

​We are looking for students who are curious about problems and willing to build.

​Global Builders’ Seed Fund & Opportunities

• ​One winning innovation will receive a US$1,500 Seed Award to continue developing, testing or launching their projects.

• ​Participants may also receive opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs, venture builders and investors and have selected work featured on Global Archives.

• ​Projects and results featured on: globalarchives.org

​Confirmed Speakers & Mentors

​Arthur de Napoleao — Lecturer at Link school, Brazil; President / Co-Founder at Legado UER

​Jin Yi Chua — Senior Venture Architect, Wright Partners; former Innovation Consultant working with companies including Samsung, Google and ByteDance

​Ash Ang — Founding Mentor, Stanford University Accelerator for Learning AI Tinkery Lab; Innovation Associate, Kinaya Ventures

​Rodney Chan — Manager, Temasek Foundation; Ex-Senior Assistant Director, Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore)

​Frequently Asked Questions:

​Who can participate in the Global Innovation Challenge 2026?
The Global Innovation Challenge 2026 is open to high school students worldwide. Students can sign up individually or as a team of 2–3. Those who sign up individually will be matched with other participants to form a team.

​Is the Global Innovation Challenge online?
Yes. The entire competition is conducted virtually, so students can participate from anywhere in the world.

​Do I need business or coding experience?
No. No technical, coding, business or research experience is required. Participants receive training and resources to develop their ideas.

​What can I build for the competition?
Students can develop business ideas, startups, social enterprises, digital products, software ideas or community initiatives addressing a problem they care about.

​Is there a prize for the Global Innovation Challenge?
One winning innovation will receive a US$1,500 Seed Award from the Global Builders’ Seed Fund to support the continued development of the project.

​How much does the Global Innovation Challenge cost?
The participation fee is US$250 per student. Financial aid is available. The US$250 participation fee gives students access to the full Global Innovation Challenge programme, including live workshops, prototyping and research resources, guidance throughout the challenge, and opportunities to present and receive feedback on their ideas.

​Is the US$1,500 Seed Award an investment?
No. The US$1,500 Seed Award is a cash grant to support the continued development of the winning project. Build Learning does not take equity in the project.

​When is the application deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026, with places offered on a rolling basis.

​When does the competition take place?
The programme begins on 11 December 2026, submissions are due on 9 January 2027, and the Seed Fund Pitch takes place on 16 January 2027.

​​​About Build Learning:

​At Build Learning, students explore their passions, embark on self-initiated projects, and solve real-world problems with industry mentors using Design Thinking and new technologies.

​We are proud to have successfully organised the following full-house events, in collaboration and with support from organisations from Big Tech (OpenAI, Lovable, Cloudflare, Google, AWS, Kakao Corp, Coupang), higher educational institutes (Stanford University Institute for Human Centered AI, Singapore Institute of Technology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), as well as the Singapore Government (Singapore Global Network, AI Singapore, SGInnovate, Infocomm Media Development Authority):

• ​2026: Build for Impact Hackathon, Seoul 2026

• ​2026: Global Impact Competition (Virtual)

• ​2026: Global Cultures Hackathon (Virtual)

• ​2026: National Build for Impact Hackathon, Singapore AI Research Week 2026

• ​2025: Global Winter Case Competition & Product Innovation for Kinaya Ventures, in collaboration with CaseCatalyst

• ​2025: Build a World of Joy & Wellness, Providence Christian Academy, Seoul

• ​2025: Supercharge your CoHASS Advantage, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

• ​2025: Design Thinking is Evolving, Are You? Stanford University

​Follow us on Instagram: @buildlearning.co | Build Learning's website | Event brochure here | Register above. Spots are limited!