IEG Global Association

MEC | Model Entrepreneur® Competition

Registration for MEC Online Americas 2027 is now open!

Build your team, develop your business idea, and compete with students across the Americas.

📌Key Dates:
Registration & BP Submission: Now – August 10, 2026
First Round: September 22, 2026
Final Submission: November 15, 2026
Final Round: January 9-11, 2027
🏆 Awards Ceremony: January 12, 2027

🔗 Apply now: officialmec.org/online-americas-2027-registration

Maximize Potential • Explore Possibilities • Create Real Impact

We are beyond excited to share that Esther Wojcicki, the Godmother of Silicon Valley and legendary educator, will be joining a unique event on May 27 for an exclusive pre-screening and Q&A, right before her upcoming documentary hits the world stage this June. 🎬✨

You’ll have the rare chance to hear her speak directly about nurturing talent, curiosity, and the next generation of innovators, all while enjoying an intimate and memorable evening together. 🌟😊

If you are in the Palo Alto area, we recommend checking this out!

🗓️ May 27 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM PDT 📍 Imagination Lab School, Palo Alto
🎟️ RSVP: https://luma.com/w49nceof

Using music as the coaching language for creative entrepreneurship.

When it comes to youth entrepreneurship, joining a pitch competition may feel out of reach for some students. The ambition is there. They simply need a different path to explore.

Here’s an opportunity worth discovering: a pre-collegiate summer camp led by BerkleeICE, which has partnered with IEG since its inception over 10 years ago.

“...Our summer program will take students through the process of thinking like an entrepreneur by using creativity as a catalyst for innovation and provide the tools they need to innovate in the future,” said Panos Panay, founder of BerkleeICE and current President of the Recording Academy/GRAMMY Awards®.

This summer, join a journey that will inspire you to compose your own future and see the world of business through a new lens.

https://college.berklee.edu/news/berkleeice-launches-creative-entrepreneurship-summer-camp

Using music as the coaching language for creative entrepreneurship.

When it comes to youth entrepreneurship, joining a pitch competition may feel out of reach for some students. The ambition is there. They simply need a different path to explore.

Here’s an opportunity worth discovering: a pre-collegiate summer camp led by BerkleeICE, which has partnered with IEG since its inception over 10 years ago.

“...Our summer program will take students through the process of thinking like an entrepreneur by using creativity as a catalyst for innovation and provide the tools they need to innovate in the future,” said Panos Panay, founder of BerkleeICE and current President of the Recording Academy/GRAMMY Awards®.

This summer, join a journey that will inspire you to compose your own future and see the world of business through a new lens.

Read the full article:

BerkleeICE Launches Creative Entrepreneurship Summer Camp Offered in partnership with IEG Global Corporation, the program’s inaugural class is composed of high school students from China and Taiwan and will explore an innovative approach to teaching entrepreneurship,...

MEC | Model Entrepreneur Competition

In a world driven by rapid change, MEC empowers students to think beyond the classroom and navigate challenges like real-world entrepreneurs.

Model Entrepreneur Competition (MEC) is a global platform where students tackle real business problems, develop innovative solutions, and compete with peers from around the world.

From ideas to ex*****on, turn vision into real impact.

MEC | Model Entrepreneur Competition
Maximize Potential • Explore Possibilities • Create Real Impact

🌍 4 Global Business Competitions Every Young Founder Should Know

If you’re a student building your first startup idea, here are some of the most impactful international competitions to explore:

🚀 Model Entrepreneur Competition (MEC)
A pioneer in entrepreneurship education and competitions. MEC is the first Ivy League-founded competition built for high school entrepreneurs. Develop, refine, and pitch real business ideas with structured mentorship, strong fundamentals, and a clear path from concept to ex*****on.

🌊 Blue Ocean Competition
Inspired by Blue Ocean Strategy, this competition challenges students to move beyond traditional competition and instead create entirely new markets through innovative thinking.

💡 Diamond Challenge
A globally recognized entrepreneurship competition hosted by the University of Delaware, emphasizing business model development, feasibility, and real-world impact.

🏆 Conrad Challenge
A STEM-focused innovation competition where students design solutions to global problems in areas such as health, energy, and the environment.

✨ Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or already building your first venture, these competitions are great opportunities to grow, learn, and challenge yourself on a global stage.

At MEC, we encourage every student to think beyond borders, and start building the future today!

MEC | Model Entrepreneur Competition
Maximize Potential • Explore Possibilities • Create Impact

A red ocean refers to existing markets where competition is intense and companies fight over the same demand.
A blue ocean represents new and unexplored market space where demand is created rather than competed for.
Learn more: Blue Ocean Strategy

Most students today are trained to survive in a red ocean,
competing for grades, awards, and limited opportunities within defined rules.

At MEC, we think differently.

We challenge students to enter the blue ocean,
where innovation creates opportunity,
and where they are not limited by competition, but driven by creation.

Through global collaboration, real-world problem solving, and bold thinking,
MEC empowers students to go beyond existing boundaries and build what does not exist yet.

The future does not belong to those who follow the rules.
It belongs to those who write them.

MEC | Model Entrepreneur Competition
Maximize Potential • Explore Possibilities • Create Impact

What does it take to stand out among the best? 🌟

This moment belongs to those who turned ideas into impact through creativity, persistence, and bold thinking. Your efforts truly set you apart. 🚀

MEC | Model Entrepreneur Competition
Maximize Potential • Explore Possibilities • Create Impact

At MEC, we believe great ideas deserve a stage and every effort deserves recognition.

We are proud to celebrate the teams who stepped up, took risks, and turned their business plans into powerful presentations. Standing in front of judges and competitors is never easy, but you did it with confidence, clarity, and ambition.

To all our winners, congratulations. Your hard work, creativity, and dedication truly stood out. This achievement is not just a result, but a reflection of your journey, persistence, and teamwork.

Keep building. Keep pitching. Keep believing in your ideas.

MEC is just the beginning.

MEC | Model Entrepreneur Competition
Maximize Potential • Explore Possibilities • Create Impact

Do you want to turn your business plan into reality?
Do you have the courage to lay your strategy bare in front of competitors and judges?

At MEC, it is not just about ideas, it is about ex*****on.
Step onto the stage, present your vision, and defend it under pressure.

Challenge assumptions
Refine your strategy
Push beyond your limits

This is where bold thinkers rise and real entrepreneurs are made.

Are you ready to take the challenge?

MEC | Model Entrepreneur Competition
Maximize Potential • Explore Possibilities • Create Impact