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This hackathon is the official replacement of the original "Creator Colosseum Startup Competition: Student Founders. Real Startups," which was taken down by Devpost due to a falsely suspected claim of a Community Guidelines violation. We can assure you that this hackathon, in no shape or form, violates Devpost guidelines.
To those who registered or submitted to the original hackathon, the rules and submission format is exactly the same.
The Creator Colosseum Startup Competition is a global, online startup competition for students ages 13–18, organized by Creator Colosseum, a student-founded initiative focused on making entrepreneurship accessible at an early stage.
The goal of this competition is to help student founders take real ideas seriously. Participants submit realistic startup concepts that matter to them and their communities, receive professional evaluation, and gain exposure to what it actually takes to move an idea forward.
The Creator Colosseum Startup Competition gives you the opportunity to receive meaningful feedback, real-world validation, and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.
Whether your idea includes code, design, or a business model still being refined, this competition meets you where you are and helps you grow.
The competition is entirely virtual, free to enter, and designed to reward clarity, originality, and execution rather than polish alone.
Requirements
What to Build
Participants should develop a realistic startup concept that addresses a clear problem and proposes a thoughtful, practical solution with real-world potential.
Your startup may be:
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A software-based product
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A platform, app, or tool
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A service or business model
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A technical or non-technical concept
The idea does not need to be fully built. Early-stage ideas are encouraged, as long as they show clear thinking, originality, and feasibility.
What to Submit
An expectation for our submissions are quality, well-thought out ideas. Creator Colosseum values hard work as a key indicator of a future business leader, and the effort put into your project will be assessed.
Each submission must include:
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A written description of your startup idea
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A clear explanation of the problem you are solving and why it matters
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A detailed explanation of your solution and how it works
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A basic execution or business plan describing how the idea could realistically be developed
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Identification of your target users or market
Format this in question: answer format, answering all components mentioned above. These answers can be submitted in an attached document in the "Upload a File" request in the "Additional Info" section.
If your startup includes a technical or coding component:
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A link to a public GitHub repository demonstrating any code used for the project
Optional Components [RECOMMENDED]:
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A short pitch video explaining your idea, the problem, the solution, and how the solution can be implemented.
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5 minutes is the recommended amount of time for the pitch
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A slides deck is not required, but please have it in the frame of the video if one is used.
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Designs, mockups, or prototypes
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Any additional materials that help communicate your vision
Submissions will be evaluated based on originality, clarity, feasibility, and real-world impact rather than polish or completeness.
Prizes
First Place
Professional Mentoring Sessions from a diverse set of fields (marketing, business management, finance, AI, tech, etc.)
Second Place
Professional Mentoring Sessions from a diverse set of fields (marketing, business management, finance, AI, tech, etc.)
Third Place
Professional Mentoring Sessions from a diverse set of fields (marketing, business management, finance, AI, tech, etc.)
Top 10 Rankings - Mentoring
Professional Mentoring Sessions from a diverse set of fields (marketing, business management, finance, AI, tech, etc.)
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Mahesh Soni
Nassau Financial Group | IEEE
Srinath Gopinath
US Bank
Sneha Malshetti
ISC2 Silicon Valley - Board Member
Jasper Shi
Founder & CEO @ ByteyAI
Amy Jain
Venture @ Pear VC | TechCrunch Featured Founder
Luzhuo Chen
CTO and Co-founder of Bytey
Judging Criteria
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Feasibility & Execution | 25%
Does the submission demonstrate a clear, realistic plan for execution? If technical elements are included, is the implementation thoughtful and functional? Does the idea show strong understanding of how the startup could actually work in the real world? -
Potential Impact | 25%
How meaningful is the problem being addressed? Could this startup create real value for users or a community? Is the target audience clearly defined, and does the solution effectively meet their needs? -
Communication & Clarity | 10%
Is the idea clearly explained? Are the submission materials, pitch, or demo easy to understand? Does the team effectively communicate their vision, execution plan, and future potential? -
Effort and Work Ethic | 40%
Is effort put into the project shown through the submission? Does the submission have thought put into it and can the work be measured?
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