Merit-Based ScholarshipsLong shot

Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs

Offered by Horn Entrepreneurship, University of Delaware · Free to apply

The Diamond Challenge is a free, global entrepreneurship competition for high school teams, run by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware. Teams of two to four students ages 14 to 18, each with an adult advisor, develop an original business or social venture idea and choose a business innovation or social innovation track. The first round is a written concept narrative of three to five pages plus a 60-second video. Teams that score well pitch at a live partner event or by video, and finalists present at the Limitless World Summit in Delaware. The top three teams in each track win $12,000, $8,000 and $4,500, and topical prizes add more, with over $100,000 awarded in total. Prize money can go to the venture or toward college. Concepts must not have earned more than $100,000 in revenue. The 2027 submission window opened September 16, and the deadline is January 14, 2027. Free curriculum resources help teams with no business background.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.

Estimated odds: roughly 1 in 1,080 applicants
Modelled applicant field: ~6,500 students
Awards each cycle: 6
Payoff per hour of work: $0 / hr

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
Planning to study Business
Ages 14 to 18

Confirm these before applying

Team entry only: 2 to 4 high school students ages 14-18 at the deadline, plus one adult advisor age 21+

Good to know

Prize money is per team and shared among members
Concept must not have generated more than $100,000 in revenue

Personalized matching

Does your student actually qualify?

Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.

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What the application takes

Essay required.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is January 14, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 14 each year. Applications open September 16. Form a team and pick an adult advisor before winter break.

Limitless World Summit finals: Spring 2026
Submission window opens: September 16, 2026
Concept narrative and video due: January 14, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST
Advancing teams notified: February 10, 2027

Remind me before Jan 14 Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs

How much is the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs worth?

The Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs awards $4,500 to $12,000 per team. 6 awards are made each cycle.

When is the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs deadline?

When do Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs applications open?

Applications open September 16, and close January 14, 2027 at 5:00 PM EST. Form a team and pick an adult advisor before winter break.

Who is eligible for the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs?

Key requirements: Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors; Planning to study Business; Ages 14 to 18.

Does the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs require an essay?

Yes. The application requires an essay. Expect to spend about 30 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs?

Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 1,080 applicants, against a modelled field of ~6,500 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and restricted to specific intended majors. At 30 hrs of work, that is about $0 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.

Is the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs free to apply?

Yes. The Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

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Lists this award appears on

Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.