GLOBAL
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CHALLENGE
2025-2026
An in-school, team-based innovation experience for high school students and educators
An initiative by Scarsdale High School Design Lab, the Global Entrepreneurship Challenge invites high school teams from around the world to work on real human-centered challenges that matter. Students are guided by educators and Hudson Lab Ventures entrepreneurs, supported by a global innovation network, and grounded in empathy, research, and clear thinking.
Sponsors & Organizers:
What Is the Global Entrepreneurship Challenge?
The Global Entrepreneurship Challenge (GEC) is a free, multi-month innovation program open to qualifying schools from October to May with an optional in-person 2-day sprint in Lisbon, Portugal and culminating in a global summit in Scarsdale, New York.
Each year students focus on a local problem related to a specified United National Sustainable Development Goal.
Student Teams:
Identify meaningful, real-world problems
Conduct interviews and stakeholder research
Generate, test, and refine solutions
Communicate their thinking clearly through pitches, vlogs, and presentations
Educators:
Mentor student team(s) at their school
Learn and apply a structured innovation process
Join a global community of forward-thinking teachers and school leaders
Who Participates
Students
High school students
Teams of 2–6 students
Curious, motivated, and willing to work with others
No prior business or entrepreneurship experience required
Student Benefits
Confidence earned through real responsibility
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
Experience working in teams with real expectations
A repeatable framework for tackling complex problems
A clearer sense of how they think and contribute
High School Educators
1+ faculty mentor per team
Open to educators in any subject area
Ideal for teachers interested in project-based learning and real-world application
Schools may enter multiple teams.
Educator Benefits
A classroom-ready innovation framework
Structured curriculum, tools, and timelines
Ongoing support from the GEC team
Access to a global educator network
A practical model for high-quality project-based learning
OCT 2025
Challenge Brief
Have you ever felt like you didn’t quite belong?
You’re not alone. This year, you’ll take on one of the most important innovation challenges out there: How can you help more people feel seen, supported, and connected in real life?
The first step? Pay attention. Where do people in your school feel invisible? What do students wish they could say out loud? What small change might make someone feel they matter?
Here are suggested tracks for you to choose from:
How the Challenge Works
The GEC follows a clear, educator-supported innovation arc.
AUTUMN
Discovery and Problem Identification
Students learn how entrepreneurs notice problems worth solving.
Observation and empathy
Stakeholder mapping
Interviews for insight
Problem framing
Vlog 1: Identified Problems
WINTER
Ideas and Validation
Students explore solutions and test assumptions.
Idea generation
Opportunity selection
Individual and team pitches
Lean Canvas thinking
Vlog 2: Lean Canvas
SPRING
Building and Communicating
Students refine ideas and clarify their thinking.
Lean Product Plan
Iteration and feedback
Final pitch preparation
Final pitch submission
Time Commitment
Attend Zoom meetings and submit deliverables by the stated dates
Student teams should meet approximately one hour per week with educators and it is advisable to also meet independently outside of class time
Attend the GEC Summit at Scarsdale High School (Scarsdale, NY) either in person or on Zoom
Summer 2026
Educator Innovation Program
July 2026
Educators may apply to join a one-week summer innovation program in Lisbon, hosted in collaboration with Unicorn Factory Lisboa. You’ll be able to dive into the GEC innovation process as a learner and collaborate with educators from around the world.
Join the GEC
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