How to apply and compete?
COMPETITION APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION GUIDE
Step 1: Fill out the GYEC Application form and submit the application fee for the Preliminary Round.
The Preliminary Round Application fee is $100 per person, including GYEC platform usage and other competition-related materials. If you already have a team, please include your team name in the application form (the team name can be changed during the competition). Every member of your team needs to complete the GYEC Application Form.
We do offer Fee Waivers and Scholarship for our participants! Find out if you are eligible for a GYEC fee waiver or Scholarship.
All participants will receive a confirmation email after submitting the application form within 5 business days.
If you have any questions about the competition, please contact us at competition@gyezone.org.
GYEC fee waivers are available to low-income 9th and 12th-grade students in the U.S. or U.S. territories. U.S. citizens living outside the country may be able to have competition fees waived.
You’re eligible for fee waivers if you say “yes” to any of the following:
- You’re enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
- Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
- You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., Federal TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
- Your family receives public assistance.
- You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home or are homeless.
Step 2: Form a 2-4 people team to enter the GYEC Preliminary Round and Submit personal materials
If you do not have a team, the competition committee will help you form a team according to your information in the application form.
All participants will be invited to the GYEC platform, where you can find all competition-related materials to help you better prepare for the competition.
All participants need to submit personal materials:
- a short essay: Why do you want to participate in GYE Competition? (no more than 100 words)
- a profile picture
- a 30s self-introduction video
- a short bio (80-100 words)
Step 3: Submit your team project.
Format: The project should be a PDF version with a maximum of 8 slides (check the Preliminary Round Rubric). All projects must be in English.
- Round 1 Deadline: January 15, 2025
- Round 2 Deadline: March 15, 2025
- Final Round Deadline: May 01, 2025
All competition decisions are rolling basis. We recommend all teams submit team projects as early as possible.
*Note: All deadlines are in Pacific Time.
Step 4: All Semi-finalists will be announced via emails.
Our jury team will make the decision according to the Preliminary Round Rubric. After all the semi-finalists are announced, the comments and feedback from jury will be sent to each team.
Step 5: Apply for Division Final Round.
All semi-finalists who wish to continue with their entrepreneur journey can register for the Division Final Round.
All semi-finalists can apply for the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Entrepreneurship program without submitting standardized tests (such as/ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).
After completing the program, participants can achieve TWO transferrable college credits, an official transcript from UCSB, and recommendation letters from UCSB professors.
Step 6: Prepare for the Division Final Round
The Division Final Round will be from July 21, 2025 to July 31, 2025.
The US Final Round will be conducted online, the China Final Round will take place in Hangzhou and Chengdu, and the Europe Final Round will be held in Zagreb, Croatia.
All teams must submit their final presentation slides no later than July 29, 2025 11:59 PM Pacific Time (Check Final Round Rubric).
Step 7: Final Round Live Pitch on July 30, 2025
All teams will have 8 minutes to present their team projects and 5 minutes to answer questions from the jury team.
Division Final Round Winning Teams will be announced within one week. All Division Winning Teams will be invited to the Global Final Round to compete globally.
Step 8: Global Final Round will be on October 11, 2025 (Virtually)
All teams will have 5 minutes to present their team projects and 5 minutes to answer questions from the jury team.
Global Final Round Winning Teams Will be Announced within One Week. The Global Winning Team will receive a $5,000 Scholarship!
