.png)
NFTE’s purpose is to lead the global movement for equitable access to entrepreneurship education and to ignite the entrepreneurial mindset, empowering students to own their futures.
The World Series of Innovation has three primary objectives:
1. Global Awareness of Entrepreneurship as the Driver of Innovation
2. Activation of the Entrepreneurial Mindset
3. Workforce Readiness
The World Series of Innovation (WSI) is an annual, global early‑stage innovation competition that engages students in teams of up to four to develop entrepreneurial solutions to real‑world challenges. Each year, WSI launches multiple challenge categories aligned with pressing social, environmental, and economic issues, open to students from September through December.
Students participate through a free, open‑access online platform, where they are guided step‑by‑step through the design-thinking process. Teams identify a specific target customer, articulate a real problem that the customer faces, and propose an initial solution supported by a clear value proposition. The focus is not on polished ventures, but on idea development, critical thinking, and learning through iteration.
Throughout the competition, students apply entrepreneurial tools to clarify assumptions, refine their ideas, and communicate their thinking clearly. Submissions are evaluated based on problem understanding, creativity, feasibility, and potential impact. Winning teams receive recognition and prizes, while all participants gain hands‑on experience exploring early‑stage innovation in a supportive, real‑world context.
To date, the World Series of Innovation (WSI) has engaged more than 60,000 young people worldwide, with 19,596 innovations submitted and 246 Innovation Days hosted across diverse communities. These Innovation Days connect participants with volunteer coaches who help strengthen and validate their ideas.
Recognized in the 2024 and 2025 HundrED’s Global Collection and as a World Economic Forum Education 4.0 Lighthouse, WSI continues to scale its impact and visibility, achieving a 21.2% average year-over-year growth. WSI’s growth has been driven by targeted outreach to schools and community‑based organizations, particularly those serving low‑resource and historically underserved populations. Expansion is further supported through participant amplification and a global network of student‑serving organizations that help localize access and engagement. In 2024, WSI launched the Imagination League for students ages 5–12, and it has since reached 1,514 additional young learners worldwide, expanding access to early‑stage innovation at younger ages.
WSI has also strengthened its global volunteer ecosystem, engaging thousands of coaches and judges over its 15 seasons. To increase accessibility, WSI is currently offered in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, and Simplified Chinese, with plans to expand into additional languages pending funding. As WSI grows, it remains committed to fostering inclusive, early‑stage innovation and creativity for young people around the world.
The World Series of Innovation has been modified to better support students during and beyond the competition experience. While the Imagination League—introduced last year—expanded access for younger learners, the primary focus of recent evolution has been strengthening support for participants across all age groups during the innovation process.
WSI now offers in‑season support, such as office hours and curated Innovation Labs that guide students through key stages of early‑stage innovation. These sessions focus on identifying meaningful problems, adapting and improving existing solutions, designing innovations with potential to scale, and building ideas that can remain relevant and sustainable over time. This added structure helps students deepen their learning and refine their ideas while the competition is underway.
Looking ahead, WSI is exploring a local student ambassadorship model to extend its impact after the competition cycle ends. Student ambassadors would support peer learning, help sustain momentum locally, and advance WSI’s program goals by sharing innovation tools and experiences within their schools and communities. This evolution reflects WSI’s shift from a one‑time competition toward a longer‑term, student‑centered innovation ecosystem.
Students and educators can get started by visiting the World Series of Innovation website at https://innovation.nfte.com, where they can explore current innovation challenges, learn about the process, and register to participate. The platform is free and open to all, allowing students to form teams, submit ideas, and engage in early‑stage innovation regardless of prior experience.
Educators, schools, and community‑based organizations interested in bringing the World Series of Innovation to their students can reach out to wsi@nfte.com to learn more about becoming an Innovation Partner. Innovation Partners receive guidance, resources, and support to host Innovation Days or integrate WSI into classrooms, clubs, or community programs. This partnership model enables organizations to tailor the experience to their local context while connecting students to a global community of young innovators.
Together, these entry points make WSI accessible both to individual participants looking to explore innovation and to organizations seeking to embed entrepreneurial learning opportunities within their communities.
