The Entrepreneurship World Cup is one of the largest and most diverse pitch competitions and support programs of its kind. Every year, tens of thousands of entrepreneurs from 200 countries compete for US$1 million dollars in cash prizes and millions more worth of investment, support and publicity through national pitch competitions, bootcamps and a global finals event attended by leading investors.
Since launching in 2019, the competition has attracted 400,000 registrations from 200 countries and connected founders with over US$4 million in cash prizes and another US$250+ million worth of perks plus free support and services.
As the national ecosystem partner in Armenia, EPIC hosted three successful editions of EWC, bringing together key players in the Armenian startup ecosystem to make this nationwide event a reality.
Early Stage
$250,000
Idea Stage
$50,000
Growth Stage
$175,000
SpaceTech for Mining
$100,000
SpaceTech for Smart Construction and Infrastructure Monitoring
$100,000
SpaceTech for Crowd Management in Mass Gatherings
$100,000
SpaceTech for Public Safety
$100,000
- Any startup from around the world is welcome to apply and become an Applicant.
- Applicant startups must be legally registered or planning to register in their country of residence.
- Applicant startups must be ten years or less old by the date of the Global Finals. Entity age is set by the date of company registration and not idea conception.
- EWC Global Winners who won cash prizes during previous editions of the EWC Global Finals (2019-2024) are eligible to participate again in 2025 with certain candidacy considerations for future would-be prizes:
The Entrepreneurship World Cup is more than just a pitch competition. It gives everyone who enters access to the knowledge, networks and for some, the capital they need to start and scale a company.
IDEA STAGE
Do you have an idea for a new company, but aren’t sure how to start or find the resources you need to take the next step? EWC helps you unleash your idea with a chance to win $50,000 in cash prizes and to meet and network with top investors locally and internationally. Being an EWC alumni will give you access to an international community.
EARLY STAGE
Do you have an emerging startup and want to accelerate its trajectory? EWC empowers early-stage founders with a chance to sharpen your skills through a global pitch competition, a bootcamp for global finalists and win up to $100,000 in cash prizes. You will also have a chance to meet and network with peers and top investors locally and internationally. Being an EWC alumni will give you access to an international community.
GROWTH STAGE
Have you already found your market fit, started gaining serious traction and have an initial round of funding secured? EWC provides you with a global network of potential collaborators and expert mentors to help you achieve exponential growth – and a chance to win a no-strings attached check for $200,000. Plus, a chance to meet and network with peers and top investors locally and internationally. Being an EWC alumni will give you access to an international community.
Applications + Global Pool - June 2025
EWC 250 Selection - July 2025
EWC Virtual Bootcamp - August 2025
EWC 100 Selection - September 2025
EWC Global Finals - November 2025
The Entrepreneurship World Cup is open to creative and innovative individuals anywhere on the entrepreneurship spectrum. With categories and prizes for idea-stage, early-stage, and growth-stage ventures, the EWC customizes the resources available and ensures that competitions are conducted on equal footing and for all industries. Startups must be less than 10 years old at the date of the Global Finals.
The EWC is open to all entrepreneurs – including those focused on starting and scaling social ventures.
No. There is no fee to apply.
EWC is more than just a global pitch competition but it's still a competition, and yes, there are prizes – life-changing prizes. More than USD $1 million total in prizes, in addition to investment opportunities, visibility, network, access to markets and in-kind services for the top EWC100.
All startups must apply from the country where their headquarters are based. Even if your team is based in multiple countries, you must register from the country where the business's executive management and key managerial and support staff are located.
If idea stage, you must apply from the country where you are planning to set up your business.
Team members must be at least 18 years old except if applying to the Idea Stage category. There is no age restriction for the Idea Stage category.
All contestants will enter the EWC Global Pool for review and assessment. The top 250 highest-scoring contestants will be announced as the EWC 250 and invited to participate in the EWC Virtual Bootcamp. It is possible that in some countries, based on the number of applicants and other factors, more than one applicant will be selected to advance. In addition to those winners, the global judges will select high-scoring startups from around the world to join them in the EWC Group Stage and bootcamp. All Global Finalists will be reviewed and assessed based on due diligence. The top 100 startups from all stages will be announced as the EWC 100 and will pitch at the EWC Global Finals.
The global finals will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2025 as part of the Biban 2025 Global Forum.
The EWC Global Finals in Riyadh is a culmination of a year-long search to find some of the most promising entrepreneurs all over the world. The Finals is a multi-day event that features a series of pitches, expo booths and other opportunities to meet investors and other startup champions from all over the world.