The World Series of Innovation (WSI) Impact League is a free, online global competition from NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) for young people aged 13-24. Teams and solo entrants design solutions to real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the submission deadline is 13 December 2026, 11:59 PM EST. At Youth Works Hub, we read the organiser's official pages and set out every challenge, date and condition below. This is a competition run by NFTE: it is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), and it is listed in the Others category.
What the World Series of Innovation Is
🌍 Concept: a free, online global competition that challenges young people to design bold solutions to today's biggest issues
🎯 SDG link: each challenge is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and sponsored by leading companies committed to a more sustainable and equitable world
🧪 Method: participants use the design thinking process: empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test
👥 Entry: solo or in a team with friends; students can create teams, explore challenge briefs and submit solutions through the online submission platform
🏢 Organiser: NFTE, based in New York
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Impact League for Ages 13-24
The wider World Series of Innovation challenges young people aged 5-24. The Impact League is the track for ages 13-24: if you are in that age range, you are eligible to compete, whether you go solo or team up. You can take on one challenge or two.
The Five Impact League Challenges
🤖 SDG 16, EY Responsible AI Challenge: how might you harness artificial intelligence (AI) and the power of entrepreneurship to design solutions that make communities more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful
🩺 SDG 3, MetLife Foundation Good Health and Well-Being Challenge: create opportunities that make healthy living easier, accessible and more joyful for all members of your community
🛠️ SDG 4, Fifth Third Bank Skills for Success Challenge: develop platforms or initiatives that teach essential industry skills, enabling youth to participate fully in the economy
📒 SDG 4, EverBank Smart Hustle Challenge: design a solution that equips youth with the financial literacy, planning and decision-making skills needed to manage income from entrepreneurship, freelancing, gig work or other nontraditional sources of earnings
🚚 SDG 8, Intuit Food Truck Challenge: design solutions that help food truck businesses run efficiently, stay financially healthy and operate sustainably and safely, creating stronger jobs and steadier growth for the people who run them
What Participants Do and Gain
The organisers list what participants will do:
🧠 Develop skills: entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills
🌐 Tackle real issues: work on real-world problems in creative ways
🏅 Compete: for prizes and recognition
🔁 Use design thinking: shape and refine ideas through each step of the process
🤝 Join a community: a global community of changemakers
Every participant also walks away with new connections, thoughtful feedback and the spark to fuel their future.
How Entries Are Judged
Each submission is assessed on three things:
💡 Creativity
🎯 Connection to advancing the relevant SDG
🌱 Potential impact
First-round judging in January 2027 looks at creativity, impact, feasibility and presentation.
Challenge Timeline
🚀 9 September 2026: new challenges launch
⏳ 13 December 2026: submission deadline, 11:59 PM EST; all entries must be submitted through the entry platform
🧑⚖️ January 2027: first-round judging
🔟 8 February 2027: top 10 finalists announced
🎬 2 March 2027: finalist pitch videos due
🏆 21 April 2027: top 3 winners announced live in each challenge category
Prizes
The page says top ideas each year receive prize funding to fuel new ventures or educational dreams. Prizes are awarded to team members and to their supporting teachers or mentors. The pages do not state prize amounts.
Cost
💵 Participation: the World Series of Innovation is described as a free, online global competition; no entry fee is listed
How to Apply
Entries are submitted through the online entry platform at innovation.nfte.com. Students form a team or enter solo, choose a challenge brief and upload their solution before the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the World Series of Innovation Impact League free?
Yes. NFTE describes the World Series of Innovation as a free, online global competition, and no entry fee is listed.
Who can enter the Impact League?
Young people aged 13-24 can enter, solo or as a team. The wider World Series of Innovation covers ages 5-24, and the Impact League is the track for ages 13-24.
Can I enter more than one challenge?
The page invites participants to take on a challenge "or two," so you can work on more than one.
How are the winners chosen?
Submissions are assessed on creativity, connection to advancing the relevant SDG and potential impact. First-round judging in January 2027 also considers feasibility and presentation, then the top 10 finalists are announced on 8 February 2027 and submit pitch videos by 2 March 2027.
What do the winners receive?
The top 3 winners in each challenge category are announced live on 21 April 2027, and prize funding goes to team members and supporting teachers or mentors. The pages do not list prize amounts.
Is this an Erasmus+ or ESC project?
No. It is a competition run by NFTE and is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps.
Deadline
⏳ 13 December 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Links
🔗 Impact League challenges and entry: https://innovation.nfte.com/impact-challenges
🔗 Competition page: https://nfte.com/events/2026-27-world-series-of-innovation-new-challenges-launch-sept-9/
✉️ Contact: wsi@nfte.com
