A European Commission contest for young people with a start-up idea: a short video and a business plan. A jury picks three finalists and the winner is invited to the EIC Summit 2027. The 2026 call closed on 20 September; the 2027 date is a guide.
European Commission (European SME Week)· Youth Start-Up Challenge (European Commission, European SME Week)
No cash prize: the winner gets an invitation to the EIC Summit 2027 and three finalists pitch in person at the SME & Clusters Assembly (in 2026 in Dublin, 2–4 November); finalists' travel costs are not stated in the call text
The exact date for the new cycle has not been announced yet. This is last year's deadline
One-off
Cycle: 2027
The Youth Start-Up Challenge is a start-up idea competition by the European Commission (as part of European SME Week) for people aged 18–25 living in the EU or in a country associated with the SME strand of the Single Market programme. You submit a short video (2 minutes) and a 3-page business plan; one application per person. A jury assesses the creativity of the idea, originality and clarity of presentation and picks three finalists.
The contest gives no money: the winner receives an invitation to EIC Summit 2027 and the three finalists pitch in person at the SME & Clusters Assembly (in 2026, Dublin, 2–4 November). The application gives the Commission the right to use your video and plan in its materials. The 2026 window closed on 20 September; the 2027 date is a guide.
Checking against your answers…
Where to go and what to do, step by step
Check the conditions: you are aged 18–25 inclusive and live in an EU Member State or a country associated to the SME pillar of the Single Market Programme.
Come up with an original, useful start-up idea tied to European priorities (sustainability, digital transition, inclusion, innovation, economic resilience).
Film a video of up to 2 minutes in English, in portrait: 0:00–0:20 you and the idea, 0:20–0:45 the problem, 0:45–1:35 the solution, 1:35–2:00 closing and what support you need.
Write a business plan of up to 3 pages in English: concept and approach.
If a team works on the idea, name one person: the entry is submitted under one name and only that person will go to the final.
Submit the video and plan through the link on the call page by the deadline (in 2026 20 September; the 2027 date is a guide).
If the jury picks you among the three finalists you are invited to pitch live at the SME & Clusters Assembly (in 2026 Dublin, 2–4 November); the winner gets an invitation to the EIC Summit.
Documents and materials to attach to the application.
Example (written by us): Ana and two friends invent an app that helps pupils find grants. Ana is the named representative: she films a portrait video in English following the timing, writes a 3-page business plan and submits before the deadline.
An example we wrote to illustrate: it is not an official sample, replace the details with your own.
A jury judges the idea's creativity, originality and how clearly it is presented, and picks three finalists; the winner is announced on stage after the live pitches.
There is no cash prize: the winner gets an invitation to the EIC Summit 2027. By entering you give the European Commission the right to use your video and business plan. The 2026 call closed on 20 September; 20 September 2027 is a guide.
Guide checked against the official pages: 9 October 2026. Guide written from official sources. Details may change: check them on the application page.
A letter template and a checklist to review before sending. If a local model is running on your computer, the text reads more naturally.
“To take part in the YSC 2026, you must: Be aged 18–25 (inclusive) Be resident in an EU Member State or a country associated to the SME pillar of the Single Market Programme Submit only one entry”
Experience from people who have already applied. These are user opinions and are not verified by the organiser.
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This information is for guidance only. Conditions change every year — check them on the provider's official website before applying.
European Commission
You reach the European final only by winning your national contest. There is no direct application: start with the national round.
First prize of €7,000 for each of the four best projects; second and third prizes of €5,000 and €3,500, special jury prize of €2,500. The 2027 final will be in Genoa
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