Deadline: May 4, 2026
Stiftung Entrepreneurship is now accepting entries for the 2026 Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition. The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (CEC) is aimed especially at young entrepreneurs and empowers them to develop ideas for a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Participants are encouraged to create ideas with social impact and to actively contribute to one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , which address the key social, economic, environmental, and health challenges of our time. Entrepreneurs from age 13 and up are invited to submit their ideas and become part of an international community.
Join a global community for entrepreneurship and innovation. Develop ideas and solutions for today’s challenges together with like-minded people. The Entrepreneurship Campus now connects members from 141 nations, encouraging discussion, networking, feedback, and peer support. The CEC has been held annually since 2014.
Benefits
There are no cash prizes, scholarships or other financial resources in the CEC.
- You gain knowledge, contacts, a business plan in the form of our Entrepreneurial Design (as long as you complete it conscientiously)
- You receive an official certificate from Stiftung Entrepreneurship (Foundation Entrepreneurship) on the completion of the Entrepreneurship courses and the placement in the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition.
Eligibility
- Open to young entrepreneurs around the world from age 13 and up.
- To participate in the CEC, you must submit an idea that addresses one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- All entries must include an innovative solution or proposal for a business that addresses the Sustainable Development Goals. It may be in the conception, planning, or start-up phase, but must not yet have resulted in a start-up.
- The CEC will be held in English. Therefore, only submissions in English can be considered.
Criteria
The jury will assess each finalist based on a structured evaluation questionnaire, awarding points in key categories such as:
🌿 Entrepreneurial vision
🍃 Feasibility
🌱 Innovation
🌍 Leadership
💚 Social impact
♻️ Sustainability
Application
The competition runs in three phases:
- Idea Submission & Entrepreneurial Design: Submit a short pitch, have it reviewed against the competition criteria , complete the courses, and fill out the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas (EDC).
- Voting: All ideas are published, and participants can gather votes while supporting each other.
- Jury Decision: The ten submissions with the most votes are evaluated by an expert jury and the winners are selected.
For more information, visit Stiftung Entrepreneurship.
