What is Young Founders School?

Young Founders School is a global entrepreneurship education program that empowers students with real-world skills, hands-on startup experience, and mentorship from industry leaders.

Who can join YFS programs?

YFS welcomes students aged 11-18 who are curious, motivated, and excited to learn. No prior business or tech experience is needed.

How do corporates benefit from partnering with YFS?

Corporate partners gain meaningful employee engagement, high-impact CSR alignment, and the chance to mentor the next generation of innovators.

Are YFS programs free?

YFS offers both paid and fully-funded programs. Students from economically weaker sections can participate at no cost through fully-funded initiatives.

How can donors support YFS?

Donors can fund student access, sponsor regional programs, or support new school partnerships. Every contribution expands YFS's reach.

Global AI Hackathon · 2026

Build For Good

An international hackathon by Young Founders School, where young people use AI to tackle real global challenges — from sustainability to education to inclusion.

Submit your ideation or speed run project for a chance to present at the Global Finals in Singapore.

Submit Project

1000

Young Innovators

14-18

Age Group

Countries

Finalists to Singapore

Global Reach

Six Countries. One Mission.

Students across 6 partner countries are running speedrunning hackathons, ideation workshops, and regional finals in parallel.

ChinaIndonesiaNigeriaPhilippinesIndiaSingapore

The Process

From Idea To Impact

STEP 01

Ideate Fast

Rapid ideation workshops surface high-potential student ideas across the challenge tracks.

STEP 02

Refine With Coaches

Local mentors and YFS coaches help student teams stress-test and shape their concepts.

STEP 03

Rapid Prototyping

Teams build working prototypes using AI tooling, supported by the YFS Studio accelerator.

STEP 04

Pitch Locally

Each regional hub runs a live pitch event — winners advance to the Global Finals.

Program Structure

Three Phases

Phase 1

Speedrunning Hackathons

Regional speedrunning hackathons across 6 hubs — short-form competitions that surface top teams per country.

Phase 2

Training & Mentorship

Shortlisted teams join the YFS Studio — a 2-month accelerator with masterclasses, mentor pairing, and prototype support.

Phase 3

Grand Finale at Singapore

Three champion teams fly to Singapore to pitch live at the YFS Annual Gala in front of 330+ founders, partners, and funders.

Timeline

1 Apr – 30 Jun
Workshops
Ideation and speedrunning workshops across all six hubs.
1 Apr – 30 Jun
Project Submission
Teams submit their ideas through the Build For Good portal.
15 Jun – 30 Jun
Judging
Expert panel scores submissions against track criteria.
1 Jul – 15 Aug
Mentorship
Shortlisted teams enter the 2-month YFS Studio accelerator.
5 September
Final Pitching
Three teams present live at the YFS Gala 2026 in Singapore.

Innovation Tracks

What Will You Build?

AI for Sustainability

From climate resilience to circular economies — build AI tools that move the needle on the environment.

AI for Education

Close the global learning gap — tutor bots, accessibility tools, skill-building for underserved learners.

AI for Inclusion

Empower marginalised communities — accessibility, language, economic participation, mental health.

3 Winning Teams Fly to Singapore

The top three teams across the six countries are flown to Singapore for the Global Finals, where they compete live at the YFS Gala 2026.

Flights and accommodation fully covered
Live pitch on stage at YFS Gala 2026
Exclusive masterclasses with industry leaders
Innovation tours of Singapore's startup ecosystem
Global networking with mentors, VCs, and corporate partners
Crowned on stage in front of 330+ Gala attendees

Ready to Build for Good?

Submit your project, find a local speedrunning workshop, or register your school — the Road to 1 Million Students starts here.

Submit Project All Events