DACH Innovation Challenge

Unleash your boldest ideas at the DACH Innovate: Hult Business Challenge 2025

Are you ready to reshape the future of AI? DACH Innovate is calling on teams of ambitious university students from across the DACH region to pitch their most forward-thinking business ideas.

Register now to bring your vision to life, compete for exclusive prizes—including a fully funded Summer Bootcamp in Boston—and showcase your creativity to top judges.

Challenge Details

Dream big. Think bold. This is your moment to shine.

  • Registration opens: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 4pm CET

  • Deadline to submit: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

  • Finalists announced: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

DACH Innovate: Hult Business Challenge 2025

Objective, theme & judging criteria

Objective – To inspire innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among university students in the DACH region by challenging them to craft a bold, impactful business pitch.

2025 Challenge Theme“How can we innovate with AI?”
This is your chance to think outside the box and propose an idea that could change the world. Let your creativity and storytelling skills shine—dreaming big is the only requirement.

Judging Criteria – Your submission will be evaluated based on the following:

Innovation – Originality and creativity (25%)

Feasibility – Practicality and scalability (25%)

Impact – Social, environmental, and economic impact (25%)

Presentation – Clarity, persuasiveness, and professionalism (25%)


How to participate?

The challenge is open to second-to-last-year university students in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Teams of 1 to 3 members are welcome.

How to participate:

• Register to join by submitting an online form above.

• After registering, your team will receive guidance from our competition advisors on the requirements and how to submit your pitch document and/or video.


Competition stages

The challenge competition runs over a period of 21 days.

Phase 1: Registration & submission

Submit your online registration form above to receive instructions from our advisors on how to prepare and submit your pitch.

Submission deadline: April 29, 2025

____

Phase 2: Finalist selection

Three finalist teams will be selected based on their pitches.

Finalists announced: April 30, 2025

____

Phase 3: Finalist presentation

All finalists will be invited to present at Hult’s Düsseldorf Centre.


Prizes

🥇 1st Place: Free Summer Business Bootcamp in Boston for up to three participants + 40% Master’s Scholarship to study at Hult.

🥈 2nd Place: 50% grant toward the 2025 Boston Summer Bootcamp.

🥉 3rd Place: Free accommodation for the 2025 Boston Bootcamp.