Diamond Challenge
Created by the University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship center in 2012, the Diamond Challenge provides a unique opportunity for 10,000+ teens to learn about entrepreneurship while putting their ideas into action. This is a high school entrepreneurship competition, and high school students participate in a year-long program. They will be developing ideas to address pressing challenges they’ve identified.
Interested in the competition?
Competition Overview
High school students 14-18 years old
Eligibility
Free
Entry fee
January 16
Submission deadline
May 1-2
Diamond Challenge Summit
Competition Details
1. Competition Track
There are two tracks within the Diamond Challenge: Business Innovation and Social Innovation. Upon initial submission, each team is required to choose a competition track (business innovation or social innovation) as well as a pitch round format (live pitch event or virtual/pre-recorded). If the concept emphasizes solving a customer problem, students should choose Business Innovation track. If the idea focuses on solving a societal or environmental problem, students should choose Social Innovation.
2. Team Requirement
2-4 high school students between 14-18 years of age at the submission deadline and be enrolled in an official high school/secondary education institution or program for the duration of the competition. Businesses must not have generated more than $100,000 in total revenue before submission. Students can team up with students from other high schools.
Teams require one adult advisor (21 years of age or older) in a position to provide the opportunity to participate and are broadly available to offer support to the team.
3. Timeline
- Submission Deadline: January 16 at 5:00 pm EST
- Submission Round Result Announcement: February 18
- Pitching Round Result Announcement: March 16
- Final Round: May 1-2
4. Judging Criteria
- Business Innovation: Feasibility (the degree to which the concept can actually work as well as the team’s ability to execute the concept and establish a defensible position in the targeted market), Growth potential (the likely ease with which the business can be scaled and the ultimate size (in terms of revenue and profitability) that the business may attain), and Wow Factor (Awarded for creativity, ingenuity, persistence, passion, storytelling and any other intangibles that are deemed likely to influence the feasibility and growth potential of the business)
- Social Innovation: Feasibility & Sustainability, Social Impact, and Wow Factor
5. Prizes
1st place: $12,000
2nd place: &8,500
3rd place: $4,000
Past Finalists
Hans Kamat & Evan Kamat
Sebastien Burkhardt & Barrett Deng
Ariadne Papouli
Submission Requirements
1. Submission Round
- Written Concept Narrative: 3-5 page narrative. A persuasive concept narrative should artfully convey the problem, the affected customers, and the solution, highlighting its unique value compared to existing alternatives. It should outline the economic viability of the venture and showcase the team’s collective expertise. Additionally, it should provide evidence of positive progress or initial traction gained.
- Introductory Video to introduce about the team and the concept being submitted. Video is strictly limited to 60 seconds and must be submitted as a publicly accessible URL link.
2. Pitching Round
Students will select their pitch round format (live pitch or virtual/pre-recorded) during the initial submission.
For Live Pitch, pitch time is limited to 5 minutes, not including 3 minutes of the judge’s questions and team members’ responses. Teams are recommended to prepare a 10-slide pitch deck with no more than 15 slides.
Similar to the Live Pitch, the Pre-recoded Pitch requires students to submit a pre-recorded pitch video limited to 5 minutes. The pitch deck must be no more than 15 slides.
3. Final Round – Diamond Challenge Summit
The top-scoring teams from the Pitch Round will go on to become the Finalist and are then invited to attend the Summit. They will present their ideas to CEOs and CFOs in different industries, learn from world-class speakers, entrepreneurs, and mentors, and create lifelong connections.
