2025-26 Global Sustainability Challenge Program Guide
Learn about the Global Sustainability Challenge — the eligibility criteria, challenge phases, team deliverables, judging and key dates.
Registration for the 2025-26 challenge is now closed. Stay updated on future opportunities and program announcements.
Overview
The Global Sustainability Challenge is an annual competition where students from all around the world design, implement, and showcase real-world sustainability solutions—supported by a Stanford-led collective of leading educational institutions and experts worldwide.
Key Highlights
Our Mission
Our mission is to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth worldwide for sustainability action
Students worldwide collaborate to develop real-world sustainability solutions
Themes (2025–26)
Choose one of two focus areas to develop your sustainability solution
Sustainable Energy
Develop scalable and impactful solutions that reduce emissions while improving affordability and reliability in the energy sector. Solutions may address clean energy solutions covering generation, transmission, distribution, or storage.
Example Focus Areas:
- Clean energy access
- Transmission & storage innovation
- Community-based energy models
Adaptation & Resilience
Develop a solution that enhances the resilience and ability of people, infrastructure, or natural systems to withstand and adapt to the intensifying impacts of climate change. Solutions may address disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture, water security, or other critical adaptation needs.
Example Focus Areas:
- Disaster preparedness
- Water security
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Resilient infrastructure
Eligibility & Teams
Who can join and what you'll gain
Who can join
Interdisciplinary teams of 1–6 university students from anywhere in the world can participate. At least one team member must be 18 or older by Jan 1, 2026.
Disciplines
What you will gain
Mentorship from leading experts
Access to industry professionals and academic leaders
Skill-building through workshops and showcases
Hands-on learning opportunities and presentation experience
Connections to global funders, partners, and changemakers
Network with sustainability leaders worldwide
Join a Global Network
When you join, you step into a worldwide network of mentors, partners, and peers; all committed to shaping real, lasting sustainability solutions. From campus labs to global showcases, the Global Sustainability Challenge turns your ideas into tested, scalable solutions.
Phases & Timeline
Three phases guide you from idea to global showcase
Phase 1: Ignite — Team Up, Tune In, Design Forward Closed
🎯 Goal: Explore problems, define your solution idea, and build a concept
Activities
- Form your team and choose a theme
- Identify a problem through research and stakeholder engagement
- Brainstorm and refine solution ideas
- Create a concept note and early mockup
- Submit your team application
Deliverables
- Team registration
- Document outlining problem statement & context, research & findings, solution concept (can include a sketch, mock-up, or video of the idea), feasibility and impact. Document should be in PDF format (max file size 10MB)
- 2-minute project overview video
Support
- Resource libraries
- Design thinking workshops
- Webinars with theme experts
🔓 Stage Gate: Teams meeting minimum thresholds progress to Phase 2 (Regionals)
Phase 2: Build — Build, Test, and Showcase
🎯 Goal: Develop a prototype or testable version of your idea and pitch it regionally
Activities
- Build working prototypes or test campaigns
- Conduct user testing and gather feedback
- Refine your solution
- Prepare materials for regional showcase
Deliverables
- Documented solution and testing process
- Implementation plan
- 10-minute live presentation + demo
Support
- Mentorship and office hours
- Storytelling and pitching workshops
- Peer learning opportunities
🔓 Stage Gate: Top teams from each region advance to the Global Finale
Phase 3: Shine — Refine and Present at the Global Finale
🎯 Goal: Refine your solution and pitch and present at the Global Finale
Activities
- Incorporate feedback from regional rounds
- Improve solution, storytelling, and scalability
- Pitch to a global jury and audience
Deliverables
- Final presentation and demo (10–15 minutes)
- Supporting materials and implementation plan
Support
- One-on-one mentorship
- Exposure to funders and incubators
- Media coverage
- Alumni network and post-challenge support
🏆 Awards: Top 3 teams + special recognitions
Outstanding teams earn meaningful recognition
At every stage of the Challenge, outstanding teams will earn recognition and rewards celebrating their innovation, impact, and collaboration — supported by Stanford University and partners driving sustainability action worldwide.
Total Prize Pool
$35,000
1st Place
$10,000
First place winners in each category
2nd Place
$5,000
Second place winners in each category
3rd Place
$2,500
Third place winners in each category
Two Challenge Categories
Each category awards prizes to the top three teams
Beyond Monetary Prizes
- •Global recognition and visibility
- •Networking opportunities with industry leaders
- •Mentorship and guidance for implementation
Stanford EcoGlobal Program
6 GSC winners (3 from each theme) will gain exclusive access to Stanford's EcoGlobal program, designed to equip ecopreneurs to scale sustainability ventures worldwide.
Interactive Workshop Series (Summer 2026)
Led by Stanford faculty and practitioners, equipping participants with knowledge and tools to discover opportunities, design and build ecoventures, and lead in complex social and environmental systems.
Global Community Events
Foster connection and peer learning with fellow ecopreneurs and sustainability leaders worldwide.
Demo Day (Fall 2026)
Pitch your venture to investors, mentors, and the broader ecopreneurial ecosystem.
Additional recognition awards and opportunities will be announced throughout the challenge
Join the Challenge
Join the Global Sustainability Challenge and help create solutions for a more sustainable future. Registration are now open.
Registration for the 2025-26 challenge is now closed
Subscribe for future opportunities →Questions? Get in touch with our team.