The Diamond Challenge 2026, organised by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, is now open for applications from high school students around the world.
This global initiative offers young innovators a platform to transform their original business or social venture ideas into real-world solutions.
Benefits
Participants in the Diamond Challenge will compete for a $100,000 prize pool and gain access to free educational resources designed for students, educators and entrepreneurship practitioners.
The competition provides opportunities for concept development, pitching and networking—guiding students through every stage of refining their ideas and receiving expert feedback.
Winners receive substantial cash prizes, including:
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$12,000 for first place
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$8,000 for second place
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$4,500 for third place
Additional topical prizes recognise excellence in areas such as:
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Waste and recycling innovation
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Technological applications
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Community resource access
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Global entrepreneurship leadership
Beyond funding, participants gain creativity, problem-solving and leadership skills, along with exposure to a global network and potential future collaborations.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants must:
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Be high school students aged 14–18.
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Compete individually or in teams of 2–4 members.
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Have at least one adult advisor.
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Submit an original concept that has not generated more than $100,000 in revenue.
Requirements
Applicants must choose one of two competition tracks:
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Business Innovation Track—for ventures aimed at solving customer problems for revenue and profit.
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Social Innovation Track—for initiatives addressing social or environmental challenges.
Submissions should include:
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A 3–5 page written concept narrative
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A 60-second introductory video presenting the team and idea
Teams must also indicate their preferred pitch format—live or virtual—at the time of submission.
Timeline
The Diamond Challenge process begins with the submission of both the written narrative and introductory video, guiding participants step-by-step toward bringing their ideas to life.
The application deadline for the 2026 edition is January 15, 2025.
How to apply
Interested students can visit the Diamond Challenge website to learn more and submit their applications.
Explore more scholarship calls on our Opportunities page.
Summary not available at this time.
