The DECA Idea Challenge, launched each year during Global Entrepreneurship Week, is an entrepreneurial skills competition that shows innovation can come from anyone – no matter the age or experience. This year, the challenge calls for participants to transform an everyday household item – the mystery challenge item this year is plastic bottles – into something new and creative.
Students in elementary school through university from around the world can form teams and participate in the competition. The DECA Idea Challenge provides an opportunity for students to be imaginative and resourceful while learning about the entrepreneurial process.
Competitors will not only create a completely new item out of the plastic bottles, but will give a three-minute pitch and presentation through a YouTube video to explain their product, its use and how they came up with it.
Last year, students used cardboard boxes to create stunning new products – from a portable shelter for workers who spend hours under a desert sun, to reinforced pallets businesses could use to move and stack their goods – DECA Idea Challenge participants gain hands-on experience through teamwork and ideation, and learn valuable entrepreneurial skills.
There is still time to submit an entry, as submissions are due Nov. 17 by 11:59 p.m. Winners in the elementary and middle school group (ages 6-13) will receive up to $500, high school students (ages 14-18) will receive $750, and university students (18 and over) will receive $750.