The Hult Prize is the world’s largest student social enterprise competition.
It is focused on helping the brightest future leaders put their energy into solving the biggest issues facing the planet, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Founders is thrilled to be hosting the Australian National finals for Hult Prize in 2025, where student teams will pitch solutions to real-world problems.
The Founders team is here to help you tackle any idea you have for a social enterprise, as long as it is world-changing and aligned with at least one UN SDG.
Watch the 2025 UNSW Hult Prize information session for all the latest details on how to enter your team!
Hear from the 2024 UNSW Hult Prize finalists Jacinta May Co-Founder of Pikkl and Matt Gordon Co-Founder of Innersteps.
Key dates:
December 2024: UNSW Hult 2025 Information session. Recording available above.
*Monday 10th - Friday 14th February 2025: Competitor preparation workshops (highly recommended)
Sunday 16th February, midnight: Deadline for UNSW Hult team applications, requiring:
3 minute recorded video pitch (suggested slide template)
Idea summary (use template)
Monday 17th February: UNSW finalists notified
Compulsory UNSW finalist dates:
*Wednesday 19th February: 4.30 - 6pm Pitching with Confidence Workshop
*Thursday 20th February: 2-4pm Teams 1:1 training with Founders coach
*Friday 21st February: 2-4pm Teams 1:1 training with Founders coach
Tuesday 25th February: UNSW Finals Day
9am - Updated slides & official Hult Application form due
11am - 1pm - Dress rehearsal
5pm - Live Pitch Finals
The program will be delivered in person, mostly at the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre, Kensington campus.
*Workshops will be between 1-2 hours each. Please plan to access campus between these dates, up to 3 times per week. Specific locations, content and times will be updated on this page asap.
Frequently Asked Questions:
-
You’ll gain new skills, knowledge, ways of thinking and friends.
Plus:
The opportunity to pitch for a share in a huge AUD prize pool at the National finals.
Access to industry coaches with extensive ‘been there-done that’ experience.
Educational hands on workshops.
Access to a world-class Makerspace and startup community.
The opportunity to represent UNSW in the National finals in May 2025.
Participants retain the copyright and any other intellectual property rights in their idea and startup. Except in some cases for research-related ideas in accordance with the UNSW IP Policy.
-
Teams must comprise of at least 2 and no more than 4 members.
All team members must be current university students, and at least one must be a UNSW student.
Teams with a mix of non-UNSW students also have the option to apply directly to Hult Prize open applications.
All members of the team must be at least 18 years of age by 28th February 2025 to compete.
Your idea must create a measurable positive impact on people and the planet and support at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) by 2030.
-
See above.
-
For further information about the Hult Prize at UNSW, get in touch with gab@unsw.edu.au
-
UNSW teams wanting to take their social entrepreneurship idea to the world stage will begin with stage 1 and 2, happening between November 2024 and May 2025 on campus at UNSW Kensington.
See the ‘How It Works’ page on the Hult Prize website for full details about the exciting 5-stage process, culminating in the global finals in September 2025.
-
Visit the Hult Prize Competitor toolkit page, which includes the selection framework & criteria, top tips Q&A video and much more.
There is a world of information to polish your idea and give it the best chance to progress through the competition!
Take a look at the template Hult Score-Card. Your qualifying pitch will be judged on this.
It is advised that teams complete modules 1-8 on the Hult Prize Digital Learning Hub.
Each module contains 15 – 60 minutes of recorded content, split across several shorter videos. Each video has additional resources.
Modules:
1. Human-Centered Design & Social Entrepreneurship
2. Building effective teams
3. SDGs & Impact Measurement
4. The art of pitching
5. Project management
6. Business fundamentals
7. Marketing & go-to-market strategy
8. Scaling your business
