The OnCampus Program is the foundational stage of the global Hult Prize journey, designed by the Hult Prize Foundation to introduce students to the principles of social entrepreneurship and impact-driven innovation. Serving as the first step toward competing on international platforms, the OnCampus Program held at St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, provided students with hands-on exposure to startup ideation, problem-solving, and sustainable business thinking.
Conducted over multiple days, the program featured pitching rounds, mentorship sessions, speaker interactions, and experiential learning opportunities such as industry visits. With participation from over 100 teams, the initiative fostered critical thinking, collaboration, and purpose-led innovation. By addressing real-world social and environmental challenges, the OnCampus Program empowered students to transform ideas into actionable solutions, reinforcing the Hult Prize vision of entrepreneurship as a force for meaningful and sustainable change.
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The Competition Journey
ROUND 1: QUALIFIERS
Compete with other teams through our college's OnCampus Program. Winners of OnCampus, competitions with participating teams earn a spot at the Summits. Submissions from smaller university programs are evaluated against the Round 1 scorecard by a panel of experts. Top-scoring teams earn a spot at the Summits.
ROUND 2: SUMMITS
OnCampus Program winners advance to one of our Global Summits, held in eight cities worldwide: Lisbon, Bangkok, Boston, Mumbai, Dubai, São Paulo, Nairobi, and Mexico City. Winners from these summits qualify for our four-week Global Accelerator program as Hult Prize Semi-Finalists.
ROUND 3: ACCELERATOR
The Global Accelerator supports the 12-14 Semi- Finalists from the summits in refining their ideas into investment-ready ventures. Part 1 is virtual, where teams complete assignments and pitch practice. In Part 2, teams relocate to countries like the United States or the United Kingdom for three weeks of intensive mentorship.
ROUND 4: GLOBAL FINALS
After the Global Accelerator round, six of the 12-14 Semi-Finalists advance as Finalists. They present their ideas before a panel of internationally renowned judges in London, United Kingdom. One of the six finalists wins the US $1,000,000 Grand Prize.
FAQs
What is the main objective of the OnCampus Program?
The main objective is to promote social entrepreneurship among students. It focuses on building for-profit startups with sustainable impact. The goal is long-term change, not short-term charity.
What type of mentorship is offered through the program?
Participants receive mentorship from industry leaders, experienced entrepreneurs, and accomplished professors, who guide them in refining their ideas and preparing for the next stages of the program.
Who can participate?
Any currently enrolled student of St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata, from any year, any course, including the Raghabpur Campus, is eligible to participate
What is the Factory Visit?
The Factory Visit is a sponsored trip by Hult Prize SXC an industrial factory, where finalists gain real-life exposure to production processes and understand how industries operate in practice.
Do participants need a complete startup to register?
No. Participants can register with just an idea. The OnCampus program provides guidance, mentorship, and feedback. Teams are expected to improve their concept during the competition.
On what basis is the theme selected?
The Hult Prize theme is selected based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Each year, global challenge is chosen. All participating teams must align their ideas with this theme.
