Build a startup, beat peers from 4 countries, compete for EUR 6,000
The biggest business competition for secondary school students in Central and Eastern Europe is starting. You will solve real market challenges, learn from practitioners, and the best will face off in the final in Warsaw in March 2027. Registration is open until 30 November 2026 and is free of charge. 🎯
🌍 What is High School Business Challenge?
It is a competition for secondary school students from Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary. Instead of theory, you get the kind of tasks real companies face: from an idea for your own startup to analysing advanced case studies. After the success of the previous edition, we are back with new features.
🗺️ How does the competition work?
- Stage one: an online test that checks your business knowledge and your ability to find solutions.
- Stage two: you become the founders of a startup that solves a real social problem. A report and a pitch in English in front of an international jury.
- Final in Warsaw: the top 2 teams from each country compete for prizes in the main case.
What do you get?
💡 Practical business tasks. Your own startup, case studies, decisions you have to defend in front of the jury.
📚 Free workshops. A series of themed sessions, including one on ESG, i.e. what the market expects from companies today.
🤝 Experts at the final (new!). During the final case, experts will advise you and help you tackle complex tasks.
🎓 Post-final mentoring programme (new!). Finalists join international groups of four, and each group gets a mentor, an experienced business professional. You can look forward to 3 online sessions: the mentor’s story, a workshop on a real case and a Hot Seat with individual feedback.
✈️ Final in Warsaw. In March 2027, the top 2 teams from each country will meet in the capital of Poland. We cover travel and accommodation costs.
🏆 Prizes worth EUR 6,000 in total. 🥇 EUR 3,000 for 1st place, 🥈 EUR 2,000 for 2nd place and 🥉 EUR 1,000 for 3rd place.
📝 How to take part?
Build a team of 3 to 5 people and sign up by 30 November 2026. No team? Register individually and the organisers will help you find a team among other applicants. The whole project is free at every stage.
The event is co-financed by the International Visegrad Fund and held under the Honorary Patronage of the Polish Minister of National Education.