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The International AI Startup Challenge 2026–27 is a free online competition for students aged 13 to 18 anywhere in the world. You get seven weeks to turn a problem into an AI-powered startup and present it to an international judging panel.
There is no entry fee and no coding experience is required. The inaugural competition offers feedback, digital certificates and badges rather than cash prizes.
| Format | Worldwide and online |
|---|---|
| Age | 13–18 |
| Cost | Free |
| Build period | 2 November to 20 December 2026 |
| Registration deadline | 1 November 2026 |
| Finals | 22 January to 14 February 2027 |
What is this opportunity?
The challenge is for students who want to test an idea in areas such as health, education, finance, climate, accessibility, robotics, research, safety or agriculture. Judges score the importance of the problem, originality, use of AI, product quality, business potential and presentation.
What you get
- Seven weeks to build and test an AI startup
- A published judging rubric
- Written scoring and feedback for teams that submit
- Digital certificates and shareable badges
- A place in the first international cohort
Who can apply?
- You are between 13 and 18 years old.
- You can enter alone or with a team.
- You can participate from any country.
- You register before the deadline and submit during the build period.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. The official page says no coding experience is required. You can use no-code and AI tools, but you still need to understand the problem and explain what your product does.
Is there a cash prize?
No cash prize is promised for the first year. The organisers are clear about this. Enter for the building experience, judge feedback, certificate and badge.
How to apply
- Register through the official competition page.
- Choose a problem that matters and define the people you want to help.
- Plan how AI adds real value to the product.
- Build during the seven-week submission window.
- Prepare your product and pitch using the published scorecard.
Deadline
Registration closes on 1 November 2026. The build and submission period runs from 2 November to 20 December 2026.
A useful small product is stronger than an oversized idea you cannot demonstrate.
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