STARTUPS

To ensure a fair and impactful competition, participants are required to meet certain eligibility standards. These criteria are designed to align with international best practices, such as those of the Hult Prize, while also being adapted to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lebanon.
Below are the eligibility requirements divided into two sections:

A. Hult Prize competition Criteria (Student-Focused)
These reflect the official guidelines of the Hult Prize and apply to teams wishing to compete through the global track:

• Teams must consist of 2–4 members.
• All members of the team must be at least 18 years of age by February 28th, 2026 to compete.
• At least one member must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at the time of registration.
• The business idea must be a for-profit venture addressing at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Non-profit organizations are not allowed to enter the Competition.
  More details about eligibility for the Hult -Prize award on: https://www.hultprize.org/terms-conditions
• All submissions must be in English, and all official competition phases will be held in English.
• Hult Prize is open to receiving applications from teams presenting business concepts and ventures at any stage of development, including both early-stage ideas and fully operational startups. There are no restrictions based on industry, prior funding, or level of business maturity. Startups run by eligible Teams that have raised capital and/or secured grants before entering the Competition are eligible to participate. Non-profit organizations are not allowed to enter the Competition.
• In addition to attending and/or participating in designated Competition events, Teams must complete mandatory submissions in order to advance to the next phase of the Competition.
• There is no entry fee.
• By entering and/or participating in the Competition “The Hult Prize Competition”, the Participant (“You”, “Your”) agree to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Terms and Conditions of Entry and the Hult Prize Code of Conduct published at https://www.hultprize.org/code-of-conduct/ as updated from time to time, and You represent and warrant that You meet the eligibility requirements.

B. 303030 Accelerator Competition 2025 Criteria (Broader Community)

To open doors for a wider pool of changemakers in Lebanon and the MENA region, we adapted the requirements to be more inclusive:

• Teams may consist of 1–5 members, all 18 years or older.
• At least one team member must be based in Lebanon or have business operations within the country.
• Open to students, early-stage startups, and registered businesses.
• Open to receiving applications from teams presenting business concepts and ventures that are already in the market, at least in a trial version, and at any stage of further development — from early pilots to fully operational startups. ( Seed, Launch, Traction, Scaling). There are no restrictions based on industry, prior funding, or level of business maturity. Startups run by eligible teams that have raised capital and/or secured grants before entering the Competition are also eligible to participate. However, non-profit organizations are not allowed to enter the Competition.
• Ideas must demonstrate a clear social, environmental, or economic impact, aligned with at least one SDG.
• Ventures must be designed as for-profit businesses with a sustainable growth model.
• Each team must have a designated CEO who is a Participant in the competition and meets all eligibility criteria.
• Originality of Idea: Ventures must be the original work of the team and not plagiarized, copied, or under legal dispute.
• Pitch & Deliverables: Teams must be able to prepare and deliver:

1. A pitch deck
2. A short business summary
3. Additional materials requested by the competition committee for the purpose of selection.

• Conflict of Interest: Participants must disclose any conflicts of interest (e.g., existing business relationships with judges or organizers).
• Language Requirement: All applications and pitches must be submitted in English.
• Team Changes: Any changes to team members after application must be shared in written and signed to the organizer.
• There is no entry fee.
• Decision Finality: The decisions of the judges and organizers are final and binding in all matters related to eligibility, evaluation, and awards.
• Teams participating in the Competition will have to deliver a pitch at the conference, more details will be shared.
• 303030 Accelerator reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to refuse or withdraw the participation of any applicant, individual, or team. This may include, but is not limited to, cases where participants violate the letter or spirit of these Terms and Conditions, fail to comply with reasonable instructions from the 303030 Accelerator team, representatives, or partners, or breach competition guidelines, processes, or the 303030 Accelerator Code of Conduct. Any conduct that may negatively impact the reputation of the Competition or the 303030 Accelerator may also result in disqualification or removal.
• By entering the Competition, You agree that you are not and will not be violating any contract or third-party rights including any patent, copyright, trade secret, proprietary or confidential information, trademark, publicity, or privacy rights.
• Business proposals and submissions shall be the original work of the Participants. The Hult Prize & 303030 Accelerator does not tolerate plagiarism and reserves the right to report incidents of plagiarism to Participant’s university. All sources referenced in submissions must be cited following an appropriate and globally accepted citation style.

By applying to the competition, you confirm that the information provided is true and complete. You also acknowledge that the organizing committee reserves the right to approve or reject applications, and that you have read, understood, and agreed to the competition’s Terms and Conditions, Code of Conduct, and related guidelines.