Deadline Date: May 22, 2026
The Social Impact Award 2026 incubation program provides an opportunity for young social entrepreneurs to transform early-stage ideas into impactful ventures through structured mentorship, resources, and a global support network.
The program focuses on idea validation, business and impact model development, prototyping, early customer acquisition, mentorship support, competitive selection by expert jury evaluation based on impact potential, innovation, feasibility, and team capacity, access to financial support and recognition through awards, participation in the annual SIA Summit, and connection to a global alumni network of social entrepreneurs.
The incubation program is designed to help participants refine and strengthen their social entrepreneurship ideas by providing access to resources, structured mentoring, and a supportive ecosystem. Participants receive guidance to validate their concepts, develop practical prototypes, and build early traction through supporters and customers.
The application process begins with a compliance check where the local team reviews submissions to ensure they meet eligibility requirements. Applications are then evaluated by a jury consisting of experts from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, who assess each idea based on set evaluation criteria. After this stage, finalists are announced and given the opportunity to join the incubation program during a dedicated event. All applicants also receive feedback on their submissions, ensuring learning value even for those not selected.
Selected participants gain access to a range of benefits throughout the incubation period. This includes mentoring support focused on refining business and impact models, guidance in prototyping ideas, and assistance in attracting early users and customers. Participants also become eligible to compete for an award that provides funding, recognition, and entry to the annual SIA Summit, along with access to an international alumni network of over 1,000 social entrepreneurs across more than 25 countries.
Eligibility criteria require that all core team members be between 14 and 30 years of age to ensure a youth-focused program. The program accepts both new ideas and early-stage ventures, provided implementation began after January 1 of the previous year. Projects must not have received significant formal funding exceeding 6,000 euros from external sources such as grants or investments. Additionally, applicants who have previously participated in the SIA incubation or won the Social Impact Award with the same idea are not eligible to apply again.
For more information, visit Social Impact Award.
