Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2026 in Germany (Fully Funded)

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (CEC) is an international startup competition aimed at young entrepreneurs, empowering them to develop ideas for a more peaceful and sustainable world. It encourages participants to create ideas with social impact and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The competition is open to startups worldwide, including early-stage and growth-stage startups, founders with innovative business ideas, technology-driven or scalable business models, and entrepreneurs aiming to expand internationally. Entrepreneurs from age 13 and up are invited to submit their ideas.

Participants receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, access to international investors, business development and scaling support, networking with the global startup ecosystem, visibility and recognition in Europe, participation in pitch events, and integration into the European startup ecosystem.

The CEC 2026 runs from March 2 to June 5, 2026. The last day for submissions, editing, and course completion is May 4, 2026, with the final phase ending on June 5, 2026.

The competition runs in three phases: Idea Submission & Entrepreneurial Design, where participants submit a pitch and complete courses; Voting, where ideas are published and gather votes; and Jury Decision, where the top submissions are evaluated by an expert jury to select winners.

Participation in the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition and the use of all campus materials is completely free. By registering on the Entrepreneurship Campus, participants automatically agree to the Community Guidelines.

The competition provides a global community, valuable knowledge, targeted networking, mentorship from global experts, access to investors and funding opportunities, and professional input from an international jury in the final round.

The competition supports startups across various sectors, including Technology and AI, FinTech and digital innovation, Sustainability and climate tech, HealthTech and life sciences, and Industry 4.0 and smart solutions.

To apply, register on the Entrepreneurship Campus, submit a short pitch, have it reviewed against competition criteria, complete the required courses, fill out the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas, and participate in the voting and jury phases as outlined.

The competition is organized by German Entrepreneurship GmbH, a leading innovation and startup support organization based in Germany, in partnership with organizations like the Goi Peace Foundation and endorsed by UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development framework.