Championship guide · Innovation · High school
Blue Ocean Competition
An online pitch competition for high school students. Entrants record a five-minute video pitch for a “blue ocean” business idea: one that creates new demand instead of fighting rivals in a crowded market.
- Solo or teams of up to five
- Five-minute video pitch
- Fully online
“Why Students Should Participate” from the Blue Ocean Competition’s YouTube channel.
About the championship
What students actually do
Students research an opportunity, build a pitch using the organiser’s blue ocean template and upload a five-minute video. There is no travel: the whole competition, including the finale, takes place online.
Judges shortlist in stages, from the Top 500 down to the Top 10, before the winners are announced at a live online finale. The organiser offers cash prizes but does not list amounts on its main pages.
Key facts
The 2027 competition at a glance
Registration is open now. Pitches are due on 21 February 2027.
Sources: Blue Ocean Competition. Checked 30 October 2026. Always confirm dates and rules on the official site.
Preparation with IFA
How we help students get ready
Live coaching from finance professionals who have been there and done it, built around what this competition rewards.
A real problem
Finding a problem worth solving and the people who have it, with evidence rather than guesses.
The business model
Customers, pricing, costs and simple projections that hold up to a judge’s questions.
The deck and the story
A clear structure, clean slides and a story judges remember.
Pitching and Q&A
Timed practice pitches and mock judging, with honest feedback after each run.
Not sure this is the right competition?
In a free 30-minute Readiness Assessment, a founder meets your child and you, and sends a written plan within 24 hours. If another competition, or none yet, is a better fit, we will say so.
Questions
What parents ask
Does my child need a business already?
Can my child compete alone?
Is there any travel?
Is IFA connected to the organisers?
International Finance Academy is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the Blue Ocean Competition or its organisers. Competition names are used only to describe the events we help students prepare for.