Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Deadline
- 5/1/2027
In short
The Entrepreneurship World Cup is a global pitch competition for startups from 200 countries, offering a share of $1 million in cash prizes and millions more in investment, support, and publicity.
Entrepreneurship World Cup
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 5/1/2027274 days left
$1 Million USD
Total cash prizes
$250 Million+ USD
In-kind support & services
200+
Participating countries
3
Startup stages (Idea, Early, Growth)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Global Finals location
AI Sector
Dedicated prize focus
Overview
The Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) is a global competition and support program designed to help entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses. Each year, tens of thousands of founders from over 200 countries participate, vying for a share of US$1 million in cash prizes, significant investment opportunities, and extensive publicity. Beyond the prizes, participants gain access to valuable resources, mentorship, and a global network of investors and startup champions. Since its inception in 2019, EWC has distributed over US$4 million in cash prizes and more than US$250 million worth of in-kind perks, alongside free support services. The competition fosters an environment where founders can refine their business models, develop their pitch, and connect with key stakeholders in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program includes virtual bootcamps and training sessions tailored to different stages of startup development. The EWC is structured to support a wide range of ventures, from idea-stage concepts to growth-stage companies, and includes sector-specific prizes, such as a dedicated focus on innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the 2026 cycle. The Global Finals event, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, brings together the top 100 startups for a multi-day event featuring pitches, expo booths, and networking opportunities with investors and industry leaders. The competition is presented by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and Monsha'at, with Misk Foundation as a founding partner. It serves as a significant platform for entrepreneurs worldwide to accelerate their growth, gain visibility, and contribute innovative solutions to global challenges.
What to build
Participants must develop and present a startup business, product, or service that fits into one of three categories: Idea Stage, Early Stage, or Growth Stage. These ventures should demonstrate innovation and potential for impact, with a specific focus in 2026 on innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for a sector-specific prize.
Prizes
Global Winners
Total non-dilutive, cash prizes shared among winners. Specific prize allotment for each stage (Idea, Early, Growth) and the AI sector to be announced.
USD $1,000,000
Top 100 Global Finalists (EWC 100)
Complimentary travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for Global Finals, in-kind support (services from AWS, Freshworks, Oracle, Hubspot, Stripe, Segment), and automatic entry into the GEN Starters Club.
Included
Top 250 Contestants (EWC 250)
Invitation to the EWC Virtual Bootcamp and access to free virtual training services.
Included
National Finals Winners (example from Qatar)
Prizes from national organizers for top winners, access to free virtual training services and up to $25,000 in perks.
$100,000
Key dates
- Application Portal Opens2026 dates coming soon
- Application Deadline2026 dates coming soon
- EWC 250 Selections2026 dates coming soon
- EWC Virtual Bootcamp2026 dates coming soon
- EWC 100 Selections2026 dates coming soon
- EWC Global FinalsNovember 2026 (exact date TBD)
Eligibility
There is no entry fee. Any startup from around the world is welcome to apply, provided they are legally registered or planning to register in their country of residence. Applicant startups must be ten years or less old by the date of the Global Finals, with company age determined by registration date, not idea conception. Employees of the organizers, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotional agencies, suppliers, and their immediate family members are not eligible. Previous EWC Global Winners who won cash prizes in earlier editions (2019-2025) are eligible to participate again, but only for different prize categories than what they previously earned. EWC Growth Stage winners from previous editions are ineligible to participate as applicant candidates for EWC 2026. Applicants must be 18 years old at the time of submission; however, aspiring applicants under 18 with an idea or registered company can apply if a parent or legal guardian acts as a co-applicant and consents to all participation and provisions, including travel to the Global Finals (travel and hospitality costs for the parent/guardian are not covered).
How to enter
- Submit an application on the official application platform at entrepreneurshipworldcup.com.
- Ensure the application includes a minimum of one executive-level representative authorized to act on behalf of the organization.
- Complete the application and all required sections in English.
- Utilize EWC Accelerates resources available on the platform to strengthen the application.
- Review all application questions before starting and strategize how to provide clear, substantive answers.
- Consider submitting optional materials like a pitch deck or pitch video to provide a multidimensional perspective.
- Adhere strictly to application deadlines, completing submission several days in advance to avoid technical issues.
Submission requirements
- Application entered on the official platform entrepreneurshipworldcup.com.
- Minimum of one executive-level representative authorized to act on behalf of the applicant organization.
- Submitted application considered a 'team', regardless of company size.
- Applicant team member representing the company must be 18 years old at submission (unless a minor with a parent/guardian co-applicant).
- Application submissions must be the original work solely of the participating company.
- Completed applications meeting competition deadlines.
- Applications completed and submitted in English (if not, disclose an English-speaking team member for global level).
- Applicants must take necessary steps to ensure adequate protection of any intellectual property described in their submission.
- Applicants must fit one of the three categories: Idea Stage, Early Stage, or Growth Stage.
- Commitment to participate in media and press opportunities if selected.
Judging criteria
- Initial assessment to identify most-promising startups among each stage category.
- Evaluation based on results of due diligence and other factors tied to the EWC Virtual Bootcamp.
- Consideration for regional and geographic distribution, balance among stage categories, and industry range during selection of EWC 100.
- Fair and true assessment of the current status of the company (unethical activities, misrepresentation, or non-disclosure will lead to disqualification).
- Clarity of communication, comprehensiveness of answers, and completion of optional questions (pitch deck, video) are valued.
Sponsors & partners
Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)Monsha'atMisk FoundationOne ValleyThe Global Education and Leadership Foundation (tGELF)Entrepreneurs’ OrganizationKAUSTStartup GenomeAWSFreshworksOracleHubspotStripeSegment
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What types of startups/companies are able to enter the EWC?
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The Entrepreneurship World Cup is open to creative and innovative individuals anywhere on the entrepreneurship spectrum. With categories and prizes for idea-stage, early-stage, and growth-stage ventures, the EWC customizes the resources available and ensures that competitions are conducted on equal footing and for all industries. Startups must be less than 10 years old at the date of the Global Finals.
Can social entrepreneurs participate?
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The EWC is open to all entrepreneurs – including those focused on starting and scaling social ventures.
Is there a fee to apply to participate in EWC?
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No. There is no fee to apply.
Will there be prizes? If so, how much?
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EWC is more than just a global pitch competition but it's still a competition, and yes, there are life-changing prizes. More than USD $1 million total in prizes, in addition to investment opportunities, visibility, network, access to markets and in-kind services for the top EWC100.
How do I register? And which country should I list?
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All startups must apply from the country where their headquarters are based. Even if your team is based in multiple countries, you must register from the country where the business's executive management and key managerial and support staff are located. If idea stage, you must apply from the country where you are planning to set up your business.
What is the official language of the EWC?
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English is the official language of the EWC at the global level. Applications must be completed in English whenever possible, but National Organizers reserve the right to accept applications in their country's official language and even conduct their National Finals in that same language. However, all Global Finalists will be competing in English, and the EWC Global Finals will be conducted exclusively in English.
Is there a minimum age to participate?
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Team members must be at least 18 years old except if applying to the Idea Stage category. There is no age restriction for the Idea Stage category.
When is the application deadline?
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Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. So we encourage participants to complete and submit their applications as early as possible. The final deadline date has yet to be determined – but will be communicated soon.
What are important milestones and dates for EWC 2026?
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Application Portal Opens: 2026 dates coming soon; Application Deadline: 2026 dates coming soon; EWC 250 Selections: 2026 dates coming soon; EWC Virtual Bootcamp: 2026 dates coming soon; EWC 100 Selections: 2026 dates coming soon; EWC Global Finals: 2026 dates coming soon.
How do I get selected to participate in the Global Finals?
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All contestants will enter the EWC Global Pool for review and assessment. The top 250 highest-scoring contestants will be announced as the EWC 250 and invited to participate in the EWC Virtual Bootcamp. It is possible that in some countries, based on the number of applicants and other factors, more than one applicant will be selected to advance. In addition to those winners, the global judges will select high-scoring startups from around the world to join them in the EWC Group Stage and bootcamp. All Global Finalists will be reviewed and assessed based on due diligence. The top 100 startups from all stages will be announced as the EWC 100 and will pitch at the EWC Global Finals.
Where will the EWC Global Finals be held?
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The global finals will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Biban Global Forum. The exact date has yet to be determined but is likely to be in November 2026.
If selected, what should I expect from the EWC Global Finals in Riyadh?
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The EWC Global Finals in Riyadh is a culmination of a year-long search to find some of the most promising entrepreneurs all over the world. The Finals is a multi-day event that features a series of pitches, expo booths and other opportunities to meet investors and other startup champions from all over the world.