The short answer: the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) gives teams of three to eight high school students one surprise problem at 8:00 AM and 12 hours to answer it with a two-page business plan and a three-minute video. You cannot prepare the idea in advance, so the best preparation is a practised team process: clear roles, a timed plan for the day, and a lot of short rehearsals on real problems. This guide explains how the day works, what the judges look for, and a preparation plan for the 2027 edition.
If you want the facts about the competition itself (who runs it, eligibility, fees and the official links), start with our GYEC championship guide. This article is about getting ready.
What is GYEC, in one minute?
GYEC is an online, 12-hour business idea competition for high school students. The organisers describe it as a challenge to propose science- and technology-based business solutions to global social issues. It is run by the GYEC Steering Committee, with the Center of Entrepreneurship Development (CED) in Japan listed as host on the official GYEC website.
There are two stages. Most countries take part in a Preliminary Round, which selects up to three teams per country for the Final Round. Japan and Indonesia run their own national selections instead. Both stages follow the same format: the challenge arrives by email on the morning of competition day, and teams have 12 hours to submit.
When is GYEC 2027?
At the time of writing (13 November 2026), the organisers have not published dates for 2027. The most useful guide is the 2026 timetable on the official site:
Applications closed at 17:00 on 20 April 2026, Japan time.
Registration fees had to be confirmed by 23 April 2026, Japan time.
The Preliminary Round took place on 16 May 2026.
The Final Round took place on 20 June 2026.
If 2027 follows a similar pattern, registration would close in April and the preliminary would take place in May. Please treat that as a planning assumption, not a confirmed date, and check the official site before you register. We will update our competition calendar as soon as 2027 dates are announced.
Who can enter?
According to the official rules, every team member must be enrolled in high school and aged between 14 and 18 on the day of the competition. Teams have between three and eight students. Members can come from different schools but must all live in the same country. Students who graduate in May or June of the competition year are still eligible.
There are also limits per school and per country. Each country can send a maximum of three teams to the Final Round, and only one team per high school can represent a country. If several teams from one school apply, they are narrowed down during the preliminary stage.
What does it cost?
For the 2026 edition, the registration fee was 10,000 yen per team. The organisers strongly recommend paying by PayPal, because bank transfers can carry high charges and must arrive in full. Split across a team of five, that is a modest cost compared with many international competitions, and there is no travel, because the competition is online.
How does the 12-hour day actually work?
On competition day, the challenge is emailed to the team leader. In 2026 it was released at 8:00 AM, and teams started between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM local time depending on their assigned time zone. From that moment, the team works together, in person or over a video call, until the submission deadline.
By the deadline, teams submit:
a two-page business plan, single-spaced, in at least 11-point type, in English;
a link to a three-minute presentation video on YouTube, which must show a 3D prototype of the idea;
two team photos showing every member (a screenshot of the video call is accepted if the team works online).
After the competition, every member completes a short questionnaire. All work must be the team's own and original.
Notice how much of the day is production, not thinking. A three-minute video with a physical or digital 3D prototype takes far longer to make than most teams expect, especially when it needs to be filmed, edited and uploaded before a hard deadline.
What are the judges looking for?
The official rules list four judging criteria:
Creativity and innovation: is the idea genuinely new, and does it use science or technology in a smart way?
Finance and production: could it actually be built and paid for? Are the numbers sensible?
Marketing and market research: who is the customer, how big is the need, and how will you reach them?
Communication: are the plan and the video clear, persuasive and easy to follow?
A helpful way to read these is as four questions a sceptical investor would ask: is it new, will it work, will anyone want it, and can you explain it? A team that answers all four in plain language, with a few well-chosen numbers, will usually beat a team with a cleverer idea that it cannot explain.
Can you prepare for a problem you have not seen yet?
Yes. You cannot prepare the answer, but you can prepare almost everything else. In our experience coaching teams for timed business competitions, the teams that do well are rarely the ones with the most brilliant idea in the first hour. They are the ones who already know who does what, who stop debating at the right moment, and who protect enough time for the video.
That means preparation should focus on three things: the team, the process and practice.
How should a team prepare in the months before?
Here is a simple plan you can start now and run through to the competition. Adjust the timing once 2027 dates are confirmed.
Months 1 to 2: build the team and the basic skills
Agree a team of four to six. Smaller teams move faster; larger teams can split production work. Make sure everyone can commit to the full day.
Learn the building blocks of a business plan: the problem, the customer, the solution, how it makes money, what it costs to start, and the main risks.
Read and discuss short business cases together. Our free case studies are a good starting point, because each one asks you to make a decision from real facts and explain it in two minutes.
Months 2 to 3: agree roles and a timed plan
Give every member a clear role for the day. A common split for a team of five is:
Team lead and timekeeper: runs the schedule, makes the final call when the team is stuck.
Research lead: finds facts and numbers about the problem and the customer, with sources.
Finance lead: builds the simple cost and revenue estimates.
Writer: owns the two-page plan and keeps it within the page limit.
Producer: designs the 3D prototype and owns the video, from script to upload.
Then write your own timed plan for the 12 hours (there is an example below), and stick to it in practice.
Months 3 and beyond: practise under time pressure
Run at least three full mock days using a problem you have not seen before. Ask a teacher, parent or mentor to set it and hold you to the clock.
In between, run shorter 90-minute drills: one problem, one idea, a one-page summary and a 60-second spoken pitch.
After each practice, write down what slowed you down. Fix one thing at a time.
What does a good 12-hour plan look like?
Every team will adapt this, but a balanced plan for a day that starts at 8:00 AM might look like this:
8:00 to 8:30: everyone reads the challenge twice. Underline the exact question, any constraints and the deadline.
8:30 to 10:00: brainstorm widely, then choose one problem and one customer. Set a firm decision time and keep to it.
10:00 to 12:00: research and shape the idea. The research lead gathers facts, the finance lead drafts rough numbers, the producer starts sketching the prototype.
12:00 to 12:30: break and check-in. Is the idea still the right one? This is the last sensible moment to change direction.
12:30 to 15:30: build. The writer drafts the two pages, the producer builds the 3D prototype (physical or digital), the finance lead finishes the numbers.
15:30 to 17:30: script and film the video. Keep it to three minutes, show the prototype clearly, and make sure every member is comfortable with their part.
17:30 to 19:00: edit, upload to YouTube and check the link works when you are signed out.
19:00 onwards: final read of the plan, check the formatting rules, take the team photos and submit well before the deadline.
The most important line in that plan is the decision time at 10:00. Teams that keep debating ideas until lunchtime almost always run out of time for the video.
What mistakes cost teams the most?
Answering a different question. Under pressure, teams drift towards an idea they like rather than the problem they were given. Re-read the challenge at every check-in.
Ignoring the format rules. Two pages means two pages. Check spacing, font size and language before you submit.
Leaving the video too late. Filming, editing and uploading always take longer than planned. Start the script by mid-afternoon at the latest.
Numbers with no logic. Judges do not expect a perfect forecast, but they do expect you to show how you got your figures.
One person doing everything. If one member writes, edits and presents, the team is fragile. Clear roles make the day calmer and the work better.
What should parents know?
GYEC is a good first international competition for many teenagers. It is online, the fee is low, and it rewards teamwork and clear thinking rather than polished, months-long preparation. It is also a long day, so it helps to agree practical things in advance: a quiet room with reliable internet, food and breaks, and a plan for who is responsible for submitting on time.
Parents do not need to be business experts to help. Setting a practice problem, holding the team to the clock and asking "who is your customer?" is genuinely useful. If you are not sure whether GYEC suits your child, or whether a different competition would be a better fit, our competition finder asks five quick questions and suggests options.
Is GYEC right for your teenager?
GYEC suits students aged 14 to 18 who enjoy problem-solving, can work well in a team, and would rather think on their feet than prepare one idea for months. Students who prefer to develop a single venture over a long period might be better suited to competitions such as the Diamond Challenge, where submissions are prepared over several months.
If you would like a clear view of where your child stands and which competitions make sense for them this year, you can book a free 30-minute Readiness Assessment. You will receive a short written plan within 24 hours, whether or not you choose to work with us.
Frequently asked questions
Is GYEC online or in person?
The official site describes GYEC as an online competition. Teams work wherever they have reliable internet and may collaborate remotely if they cannot meet in person.
Can students from different schools form a team?
Yes, as long as all members live in the same country. Teams with members from different countries are not accepted.
Do we need to prepare a business idea in advance?
No. The challenge is revealed on the day, so the idea is created during the 12 hours. What you can prepare in advance is your team process, roles and practice.
What language is GYEC in?
All submissions must be in English.
Where can I find the official rules?
The rules, eligibility and registration details are on the official GYEC website. Always check there for the latest information before registering.
Sources
Facts checked on the official GYEC website on 13 November 2026. Dates and fees can change, so please confirm with the organisers before registering. International Finance Academy is independent and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the GYEC Steering Committee, the Center of Entrepreneurship Development or any competition organiser.
