Global Open Competition — 2026

Build.
Pitch.
Win.

The startup-style competition for high school and college students — and anyone who builds.

Register Free → How It Works
High School Students College Students Self-Taught Builders Ages 13+ Worldwide 100% Free
-- Days
-- Hours
-- Mins
-- Secs
Registration closes April 22, 2026 · 11:59 PM ET
Presented by SAFE Security
Why This Is Different

Not a hackathon.
A launchpad.

Every other competition ends with a certificate. We end with real opportunities.

01
Ship Real Software
Your product must be deployed and publicly accessible. Judges will actually use it — no mockups, no slide decks, no "coming soon." If it doesn't work, it doesn't score.
Others say "submit a slide deck" — we say ship live software.
02
Pitch Like a Founder
5-minute investor-style pitch video. Live demo plus business case — problem, market, solution, team, vision. Judges evaluate you as an early-stage founder, not just a developer.
Others say "present a poster" — we say pitch for a seed check.
03
Win Real Opportunities
Internship consideration at real companies. Career referrals and recognition. Winners don't get a certificate — they get doors opened that most builders never find.
Others give trophies — we open actual doors.
Competition Pathways — Presented by SAFE Security

Choose a
pathway.

Pick a domain. The idea is yours.

✦ Presenting Sponsor
Internship
Consideration

SAFE Security is an AI-powered cyber risk platform backed by $170M+ in funding. They're specifically looking for students building security solutions — threat detection, vulnerability tools, risk automation, defense solutions, and anything in between. Build something exceptional and you'll be reviewed directly by their team.

Internship
Consideration

Build any financial technology software — payments, budgeting, lending, investing, or anything in between. Top performers are reviewed for internship and career opportunities with companies actively hiring in fintech.

Internship
Consideration

Build software that improves healthcare — patient tools, clinical workflows, diagnostics, or health data. Top performers are reviewed for internship and career opportunities with healthcare technology companies.

Internship
Consideration

Build software for industrial operations, logistics, manufacturing, or supply chain. Top performers are reviewed for opportunities with companies hiring in this space.

✦ Presenting Sponsor
Partnership
Opportunity

Build software that transforms education — from test preparation tools to learning aids. Crackd SAT is partnering with us to find the best Edutech builders. Top performers are reviewed for internship and collaboration opportunities directly by their team.

Internship
Consideration

No domain required. Build software that solves any real problem — for local businesses, communities, niche industries, nonprofits, or anything else. Top builders are referred to relevant companies, accelerators, or mentors based on what they create.

Don't see your category? Build it anyway. These pathways are starting points, not limits — any software that solves a real problem is welcome.

The Process

Three steps.
Forty days.

From idea to shipped product — all within a single competition window.

01
By April 22 — Free
Register Your Team
Sign up as an independent team or through a club or organization. Teams of 1–4 from anywhere on Earth. Free and takes under five minutes.
02
April 22 – May 31
Build & Ship
Build a working product that solves a real, economically meaningful problem. Deploy it publicly. Use any tools, stack, or language. AI use is optional.
03
Due May 31 · Results July 1
Pitch & Submit
Record your 5-minute pitch video — live demo plus investor-style pitch — and submit your product link. Winners announced by July 1, 2026.
Registration

Ready to build?

Registration is completely free and takes under five minutes. Closes April 22, 2026.

Not sure which path? See full details →  ·  Questions? Read the FAQ →

Presented by SAFE Security