The BizWorld Innovation Sprint is a hackathon-style, hands-on innovation challenge where participants identify a real issue in their community and design a business solution to address it. Whether it’s a physical product, digital tool, or service, teams will bring their ideas to life through creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking. Open to participants aged 16-22. Free to participate. Space limited. Registration required.
Who Should Participate:
Students, young entrepreneurs, and community innovators who are passionate about making a difference and bringing ideas to life(15-22 years). Registration required. Space limited.
Deliverables:
- Business Outline or Concept Plan
- Prototype/MVP (for product-based ideas)
- 1-Minute Power Pitch Video or Live Presentation
Schedule
Friday May 1 – 5:30-7:30pm
Welcome social + team meet-up/ideation
Saturday May 2- 8:30am – 6:30pm
Build session, pitch prep, presentations + awards
Prizes:
🥇 1st Place: $1000 + Invitation to the YES! Accelerator
🥈 2nd Place: $500
🥉 3rd Place: $250
YES! 2026 Global Demo Day
During the Innovation Sprint, you’ll cheer on the finalists from BizWorld’s YES! global cohorts as they pitch for up to $30,000 in seed funding for their ventures. See what a winning pitch looks like! The team who takes first place in the BizWorld Innovation Sprint will secure a place in a future YES! cohort and could see themselves at Demo Day 2027!
Demo Day is the culmination of our 2025 U.S. and International YES! Cohorts. In addition to the finalists, all cohort participants have the opportunity to be selected as a WildCard based on popular vote. The young entrepreneurs and their dedicated mentors have worked hard to prepare them for this exciting moment. We know you will be inspired by them as much as we are.
Demo Day Pitches
Saturday May 2: 3pm – 5pm PT (live and online)
Registraton link for YES! Demo Day (live and online) coming soon!
