Selection Process &
We're committed to a selection process that’s clear, fair, and consistent. To ensure this, we leverage independent judges from diverse backgrounds, and a clear scorecard at every stage of the competition to guide decisions.
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How Judges Make Decisions
All judges around the world follow a structured process to evaluate each team. Here’s how decisions are made at every stage of the competition:
What Judges Look For
We use a progressive scorecard throughout the competition. This means the criteria build as your startup grows.
Universal Criteria (all stages)
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Additional Criteria
As teams progress towards later stages, judges look for additional key indicators that your startup is ready for the next level:
Introduced at Nationals: Product Market Fit and Go-To-Market Strategy
Introduced at Incubator: Traction
Introduced at Finals: Scaling
Commitment to Diversity
Hult Prize was founded by a group of international students working together — and that spirit still guides us. We believe diversity drives better ideas and stronger startups.
While all teams are judged using the same scorecard, we may also consider diversity of region, background, industry, and business stage to help shape a finalist pool that reflects our global community and strengthens the overall portfolio.