XPRIZE CONNECT 2026

GLOBAL PITCH COMPETITION

WHO

All qualifying teams and individuals who have completed the XPRIZE Connect DEFINE Experience from schools and institutions are eligible to compete in the Global Pitch Competition.

WHEN

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 5 JUNE 2026 @ 11:59PM PT

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: AUGUST 2026

WHERE

Jugding will take place online on XPConnect.

Three winning teams (two students and one adult chaperone) will be heading to XPRIZE Global Visioneering Summit in California, USA 15-17 October 2026.

Time left to upload your entry:

RULES + REGULATIONS

WHO CAN SUBMIT?

All qualifying individuals or teams aged 13-18 with parental consent who have completed the XPRIZE Connect DEFINE Experience and have been down-selected by their schools or institutions are eligible to submit their entries into the Global Pitch Competition.

KEY DATES

Submission Deadline: 5 June 2026 @11:59pm PT
Winners Announced: August 2026

WHAT DO WINNERS RECEIVE?

Three teams will be selected as winners of our Global Pitch Competition. Teams* will win flights, hotel stays, and entry tickets to the Global Visioneering Summit in Malibu California, USA 15-17 October 2026.
Winning individuals/teams will be expected to present on stage during the event. XPRIZE staff will provide coaching sessions in preparation for this.
All student winners need to be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 who will take legal responsibility for the young person/people under their care. Legal forms for particiapation and media release will need to be completed in advance of the trip. More details will be provided to winners.

*This covers costs for a maximum of two students and one chaperone for the length of the GV Summit only.

GLOBAL VISIONEERING SUMMIT

JUDGING CRITERIA

Judges will use the following criteria to vote on each submission. The top 3 individuals/teams with the highest cumulative scores will be selected as the 2026 XPRIZE DEFINE Experience winners.

01 IS THERE A NEED?

Is there a clear need for this competition? Is the field stuck or not moving fast enough? Is there a market failure such that the normal forces of capitalism will not solve the problem? Will this prize address the underlying market failure?

Point Value	Description
1	No clear need for the competition Field not stuck or moving too slowly
2	Some need for the competition Field not completely stuck Normal forces of capitalism may solve the problem
3	Moderate need for the competition Field somewhat stuck or moving too slowly Market failure not fully addressed by the prize
4	Strong need for the competition Field significantly stuck or moving too slowly Market failure partly addressed by the prize
5	Critical need for the competition Field completely stuck or moving too slowly Market failure fully addressed by the prize

02 ARE THE PRIZE RULES CLEAR & MEASURABLE?

Does the prize pitch make it crystal clear what a team needs to do to win the prize? Will it be clear to the public what a team has achieved if/when they are deemed the winner? Are objectives expressed in measurable terms?

Point Value	Description
1	Prize rules are unclear Difficult to understand what team needs to do to win Objectives not expressed in measurable terms It may be unclear what a team has achieved if/when they win
2	Prize rules are somewhat unclear Some understanding of what team needs to do to win Some ambiguity in objectives Objectives are expressed in measurable terms, but not immediately clear to the public what team has achieve
3	Prize rules are moderately clear Generally understood what team needs to do to win Objectives expressed in measurable terms Somewhat clear to the public what team has achieved if/when they win
4	Prize rules are very clear Easy to understand what team needs to do to win Objectives expressed in highly measurable terms Clear to the public what team has achieved if/when they win
5	Prize rules are extremely clear Crystal clear what team needs to do to win Objectives expressed in highly specific and measurable terms Immediately clear to the public what team has achieved if/when they win

03 IS THE PRIZE AUDACIOUS & ACHIEVABLE?

Is your goal bold, visionary, emotionally charged, inspirational… but still achievable? Can you “dial” the competition parameters to make it audacious but achievable?

Point Value	Description
1	Prize goal not audacious, visionary, emotionally charged, or inspirational Goal may not be achievable even with significant advancements in the field
2	Prize goal somewhat audacious, visionary, emotionally charged, or inspirational Goal may not be achievable without significant advances in the field or significant dialing down of competition parameters
3	Prize goal moderately audacious, visionary, emotionally charged, or inspirational Goal may be achievable with significant advances in the field or some dialing down of competition parameters
4	Prize goal very audacious, visionary, emotionally charged, or inspirational Goal may be achievable with some advances in the field or minimal dialing down of competition parameters
5	Prize goal extremely audacious, visionary, emotionally charged, or inspirational Goal may be achievable with minimal advances in the field or no dialing down of competition parameters

04 IS IT EASY TO JUDGE?

Can you design it so that the fashion in which a team demonstrates their winning solution is obvious and non-controversial, and therefore easy to judge? If possible, can you remove a “cost-parameter” which might be debatable?

Point Value	Description
1	Winning solution difficult to demonstrate Controversial or difficult to judge Cost-parameters unclear or debatable Difficult to evaluate solutions
2	Winning solution somewhat difficult to demonstrate Some controversy or debate around judging it Cost-parameters somewhat unclear or debatable Somewhat difficult to evaluate solution
3	Winning solution moderately easy to demonstrate Some clarity around how it will be judged Cost-parameters relatively clear Some debate around evaluating solutions
4	Clear how it will be judged Cost-parameters well-defined Little room for debate around evaluating solutions
5	Winning solution extremely easy to demonstrate No controversy around how it will be judged Cost-parameters not debatable Crystal clear how solutions will be evaluated

05 IS THERE A TELEGENIC FINISH?

Does the prize have a telegenic finish that will attract the global media (and public) and help change the paradigm of what is possible?

Point Value	Description
1	Prize does not have a telegenic finish Unlikely to attract global media attention Unlikely to change the paradigm of what is possible
2	Prize has somewhat telegenic finish May not be enough to attract significant global media attention May not change the paradigm of what is possible
3	Prize has moderately telegenic finish Could attract some global media attention Potentially change the paradigm of what is possible
4	Prize has very telegenic finish Likely to attract significant global media attention Likely to change the paradigm of what is possible
5	Prize has extremely telegenic finish Guaranteed to attract substantial global media attention Guaranteed to change the paradigm of what is possible