SEED Challenge
Bring Your Passion for Impact
The Sustainability Education and Enterprise Development (SEED) Challenge is your chance to join the next generation of innovators to create sustainable, world-changing startups. Let your entrepreneurship pave the path for a better tomorrow!
Register today

What is SEED?

Impact Entrepreneurship Starts Here

The GSLI Sustainability Education and Enterprise Development Challenge is a semester-long impact entrepreneurship program that provides mentorship, workshops, online materials, and competition funding to aspiring student innovators. Since its founding in 2020, the program has awarded $65,000 in seed grants to 23 winning teams through our final Challenge. Over 400 students have registered for the program and used our resources to build out their sustainable venture ideas. For instance, many signed up for Expert in Residence mentoring to ask questions of seasoned entrepreneurs, others have attended our workshops like “Perfecting the Pitch,” and others have gone on to compete in our Semifinals each March with their pitch.

Winners of the SEED Final Challenge each April may be eligible for a trip to FGSIC or a similar global competition. SEED has so far sponsored 11 teams’ trips to the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge, where they have won grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. In fact, our 2022 champion Gazelle Ecosolutions won FGSIC, went on to win the Shell Changemaker’s Award of $100,000, and raised a $1 million+ seed round in 2024. Many others are operating post-graduation.

Register for SEED

Ready to join SEED? Register today and begin your sustainable entrepreneurship journey.

Applications are due by February 22, 2026 to pitch in the qualifying round. Early submissions will provide access to our Canvas page and Slack channel for earlier support and announcements.

SEED Successes

Want to learn more about successful SEED start-ups? Check out past winners:

SEED Ventures in the News

Program Details and Eligibility

Preparation

  • This competition is an outlet for those interested in social and environmental innovation. You can join as an individual or a team. You do not have to have a venture or an idea already, but you are welcome to apply if you do.
  • Pitch for a chance to win $15,000 in seed funding.
  • The Global Sustainability Leadership Institute is providing free social entrepreneurship curriculum and workshops to participants. If you sign up, you will access online modules, workshops, and socials with students from across campus.
  • Register by February 22, 2026 for full access to our workshops.
  • The 2026 pitch semifinals will be held March 5-6, and finals will be April 2.
  • The top two teams from SEED will attend the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge in May 2026 for a chance to win an additional $75,000 in funding.

Register now

Goals

  • Build a community of socially and environmentally conscious innovators.
  • Develop ubiquitous skills such as systems thinking, impact measurement, and pitching.
  • Support students’ career exploration through experiential learning and mentorship.
  • Break down campus departmental silos and support interdisciplinary entrepreneurship.

Eligibility

To compete, students must sign up to give a five minute pitch in the Semifinals on March 5-6 and send in their slide decks via Canvas by March 4.

Format

Nov. 18, 2025: IP Protection for Entrepreneurs

Dec. 1, 2025: SEED registration form opens; Canvas access granted now through February

Jan. 28, 2026: Planting the Seed: Journeys in Impact Entrepreneurship + Info Session Kick-Off

Feb. 4, 2026: Finance for Early Stage Entrepreneurs

Feb. 11, 2026: Networking time + “Perfecting the Pitch” Workshop

Feb. 22, 2026: Challenge registration closes

Feb. 25, 2026: Networking lunch in GSLI Hub for competitors

Mar. 5-6, 2026: Semifinals

Mar. 11, 2026: “Next step” resources discussion over lunch for semifinalists

Apr. 1, 2026: SEED Tech Check

Apr. 2, 2026: SEED Challenge Finals

May 1-3, 2026: FGSIC (San Diego)

Want to Learn More?
This competition is ideal for stretching your entrepreneurial wings in a positive environment full of learning opportunities. Flip through our information session deck or watch the information session recording.
View the SEED slide deck

2024-2025 Finalists

  • Brazo
  • CURA
  • Caelus
  • Austin Carbon Exchange
  • Panacea
  • SolarMax

2023-2024 Finalists

  • Energy Umbrella
  • Merge Conflict
  • Front Row
  • Terra Technology
  • InnoWind
  • Silvana

2022-2023 Finalists

  • Navigo (1st)
  • Fungi Vitae (2nd)
  • Dispoze (Audience Choice Award)
  • MealBuddy
  • Jules

2021-2022 Finalists

  • Project Xylem
  • Gazelle
  • Patina
  • Cherryish Yourself
  • Cross for Paws
  • WellWorks cc