Applications are open for the Syracuse University Hult Prize, the campus qualifier for a $1 million global competition considered “The Nobel Prize” of student impact entrepreneurship. Sponsored through the Hult Foundation with the United Nations, The Hult Prize focuses on sustainable solutions to pressing global problems. Each year, the Hult Prize Foundation chooses a pressing social problem. The challenge this year is Food for Good – a timely theme, especially as the United Nations World Food Programme was just named the Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
The Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at SU Libraries coordinates the Syracuse campus competition which is the qualifier for the global competition. Applications are open through November 22 for the campus competition which will be held virtually on the afternoon of December 4. Apply here and load your application materials. You’ll hear back from our Syracuse University Hult Prize ambassador Claire Howard ’23 with competition details and logistics.
Winners of the campus challenges go on to regional competitions across the world and those winners participate in a global accelerator with the opportunity to pitch their ideas at the United Nations in 2021 for a chance at the $1 million grand prize. Past LaunchPad Syracuse teams have gone on to global regionals in Boston, Toronto and San Francisco which are typically held in the spring.
This year’s challenge, Food for Good, encourages students to tackle a global food-related problem. Examples could range from global food supply chain or distribution, ethical farming practices or access to nutritious food. These issues are especially challenging in the current pandemic. Solutions can be products, services or technology platforms, but the challenge is solving the problem on a global level that can scale to help ten million people.
This year’s Syracuse’s campus competition will be held virtually with students pitching to judges who are experienced food entrepreneurs, innovative business professionals, civic leaders and food policy experts. Learn more about the campus competition at this special Syracuse University Hult Prize webpage here.
Teams must apply as opposed to individuals. The LaunchPad can help match teams with mentors who can assist with taking ideas from concept to implementation and crafting an effective pitch presentation. Join the LaunchPad here to take advantage of these free services.
For additional information, please reach out to our LaunchPad Global Fellow Claire Howard who is this year’s Syracuse University Hult Prize campus ambassador: clhoward@syr.edu.