Deadline Date: May 31, 2026
The Social Impact Award program invites young people to submit innovative ideas that can develop into entrepreneurial ventures with social impact.
The program focuses on innovation, degree of social impact, and feasibility when evaluating ideas, while also supporting mentoring, validation of business and impact models, prototyping of ideas, collaboration building, participation in the Social Impact Award competition, and connection with an international community of social entrepreneurs.
The program provides participants with resources and guidance to help transform their ideas into viable entrepreneurial initiatives. Applicants submit their ideas, which are then evaluated by an expert jury based on established criteria that consider innovation, the potential for social impact, and the feasibility of the proposed solution.
If an idea is selected, participants gain access to mentoring and support aimed at validating business and impact models. The program also helps teams prototype their ideas and build early collaborations that can support the development of their initiatives.
Participants may also have the opportunity to compete in the Social Impact Award competition, where winning teams can receive initial financial capital and the chance to attend the international SIA Summit. In addition, teams become connected with the program’s international alumni network, which includes more than 1,000 social entrepreneurs from over 25 countries.
The selection process begins with a technical review in which the project team checks submitted applications to ensure they meet the program’s requirements. After this stage, an expert jury consisting of representatives from the private, public, and civil sectors evaluates the applications. The program then publishes the list of finalist teams on the official website, and all applicants are given the opportunity to receive feedback on their submissions.
Participants applying for the Social Impact Award Montenegro competition in 2026 must meet specific conditions. All team members must be born between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2011, and at least one member of the team must have residence in Montenegro. The submitted idea must not have received funds or generated income before January 1, 2026, and it must not have received formal financial support exceeding 3,000 euros from other donors before the application submission.
For more information, visit Social Impact Award.
