Diamond Challenge

Ages:High School

Types:Submission, Presentation

Categories:Business, Entrepreneurship

Scope:International

Registration

Entry Fee: $

Contact


info@diamondchallenge.org
302-831-4393

An innovative entrepreneurship competition offering $100,000 in prizes and resources to take student ideas to the next level

The Diamond Challenge provides a unique opportunity for teens to learn about entrepreneurship while putting their ideas into action. While many entrepreneurship programs focus on principles of small business management, the Diamond Challenge focuses on unleashing creativity, encouraging a mindset of abundance and self-determination, and promoting purposeful entrepreneurial action.

Created by University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship in 2012, the Diamond Challenge is backed by academic grounding in state-of-the-art entrepreneurship education methodologies.

We empower the next generation to adapt and thrive in our rapidly changing world. The Diamond Challenge is the catalyst that propels high school entrepreneurs to the next level through transformative feedback, meaningful connections and resources. Through the world’s top-rated entrepreneurship competition for high school students, you can win tens of thousands in prizes to fund your idea or education. The Diamond Challenge is for any teen from any location with any idea.

Create entrepreneurial pitches in one of two categories: business innovation, or social innovation. Semifinalists receive an invitation to travel to the University of Delaware to compete in the semifinal round.   For detailed steps on the registration process, go to: http://horn.udel.edu/2021-registration-and-submission-guide The competition have have several phases.   After initial submissions are received and reviewed by the judging panel, some teams will be asked to them submit a pitch video and pitch deck, then participate in a live pitch event. Another round of semifinalists submissions will take place in March, and the Diamond Challenge Summit will be held in April for finalists, when the winners will be announced.

  • Judging Criteria: Business Innovation
All written concept narratives, pitch decks, and presentations (including responses to question(s)) will be judged based on an equal weighting of perceived feasibility and growth potential as well as taking “wow factor” into consideration. Pitching Round, Semifinalist and Finalist teams will be determined by averaging judges’ scores and equally weighting these criteria.
  • Judging Criteria: Social Innovation
All written concept narratives, pitch decks, and presentations (including responses to question(s)) will be judged based on an equal weighting of perceived feasibility, sustainability, social impact and taking “wow factor” into consideration. Pitching Round, Semifinalist and Finalist teams will be determined by averaging judges’ scores and equally weighting these criteria.
Diamond Challenge Award

Individual Award.

  • 1st place: $8,000 plus access to Diamond challenge Summit Experience, summer accelerator, and access to accelerator scholarships.
  • 2nd Place: $4,000 plus access to Diamond challenge Summit Experience, summer accelerator, and access to accelerator scholarships.
  • 3rd Place: $2,000 plus access to Diamond challenge Summit Experience, summer accelerator, and access to accelerator scholarships.
  • Topical Prize Awards: Established in 2019, topical prize awards recognize Diamond Challenge semifinalist teams that have shown significant promise and excellence in a particular field of entrepreneurial capacity. All topical prize awards are sponsored by innovative companies investing in the next generation. This is a $1,500 cash prize.

Website: https://diamondchallenge.org

Managing Organization: University of Delaware

Contact:

info@diamondchallenge.org
302-831-4393

Eligibility:
<ul> <li>Teams must be comprised of 2-4 high school students typically between 14-18 years of age at the time of the submission deadline, and must be enrolled in an official high school/secondary education institution for the duration of the Diamond Challenge.</li> <li>Teams require one adult advisor (21 years of age or older) who is in a position to provide the opportunity to participate and broadly available to offer support to the team.</li> </ul>

Registration Opens: September 10, 2021

Registration Closes: January 8, 2022

Overview

An innovative entrepreneurship competition offering $100,000 in prizes and resources to take student ideas to the next level

The Diamond Challenge provides a unique opportunity for teens to learn about entrepreneurship while putting their ideas into action. While many entrepreneurship programs focus on principles of small business management, the Diamond Challenge focuses on unleashing creativity, encouraging a mindset of abundance and self-determination, and promoting purposeful entrepreneurial action.

Created by University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship in 2012, the Diamond Challenge is backed by academic grounding in state-of-the-art entrepreneurship education methodologies.

We empower the next generation to adapt and thrive in our rapidly changing world. The Diamond Challenge is the catalyst that propels high school entrepreneurs to the next level through transformative feedback, meaningful connections and resources. Through the world’s top-rated entrepreneurship competition for high school students, you can win tens of thousands in prizes to fund your idea or education. The Diamond Challenge is for any teen from any location with any idea.

Process

Create entrepreneurial pitches in one of two categories: business innovation, or social innovation. Semifinalists receive an invitation to travel to the University of Delaware to compete in the semifinal round.   For detailed steps on the registration process, go to: http://horn.udel.edu/2021-registration-and-submission-guide The competition have have several phases.   After initial submissions are received and reviewed by the judging panel, some teams will be asked to them submit a pitch video and pitch deck, then participate in a live pitch event. Another round of semifinalists submissions will take place in March, and the Diamond Challenge Summit will be held in April for finalists, when the winners will be announced.

Criteria

  • Judging Criteria: Business Innovation
All written concept narratives, pitch decks, and presentations (including responses to question(s)) will be judged based on an equal weighting of perceived feasibility and growth potential as well as taking “wow factor” into consideration. Pitching Round, Semifinalist and Finalist teams will be determined by averaging judges’ scores and equally weighting these criteria.
  • Judging Criteria: Social Innovation
All written concept narratives, pitch decks, and presentations (including responses to question(s)) will be judged based on an equal weighting of perceived feasibility, sustainability, social impact and taking “wow factor” into consideration. Pitching Round, Semifinalist and Finalist teams will be determined by averaging judges’ scores and equally weighting these criteria.

Awards

Diamond Challenge Award

Individual Award.

  • 1st place: $8,000 plus access to Diamond challenge Summit Experience, summer accelerator, and access to accelerator scholarships.
  • 2nd Place: $4,000 plus access to Diamond challenge Summit Experience, summer accelerator, and access to accelerator scholarships.
  • 3rd Place: $2,000 plus access to Diamond challenge Summit Experience, summer accelerator, and access to accelerator scholarships.
  • Topical Prize Awards: Established in 2019, topical prize awards recognize Diamond Challenge semifinalist teams that have shown significant promise and excellence in a particular field of entrepreneurial capacity. All topical prize awards are sponsored by innovative companies investing in the next generation. This is a $1,500 cash prize.

Participate

Website: https://diamondchallenge.org

Managing Organization: University of Delaware

Contact:

info@diamondchallenge.org
302-831-4393

Entry Fee:

Eligibility:
<ul> <li>Teams must be comprised of 2-4 high school students typically between 14-18 years of age at the time of the submission deadline, and must be enrolled in an official high school/secondary education institution for the duration of the Diamond Challenge.</li> <li>Teams require one adult advisor (21 years of age or older) who is in a position to provide the opportunity to participate and broadly available to offer support to the team.</li> </ul>

Deadlines

Registration Opens: September 10, 2021

Registration Closes: January 8, 2022