Submission Guidelines
Applications due November 16, 2026. Ready to submit? Click here.
Entry Instructions
An entry includes a video pitch and a slide deck explaining your proposed application of the Y-Prize technology. Your submission should demonstrate that you have identified a promising application, explored the problem through initial customer discovery, and confirmed that the proposed application is appropriate for the technology.
The video pitch and slides should address the following:
Your Idea
Describe your proposed application and explain how it uses the Y-Prize technology. What makes the idea promising or creative? Make clear how the proposed application relates to and is enabled by the underlying technology.
Problem Definition
Clearly define the problem your proposed application addresses. Who experiences the problem, why is it important, and what evidence suggests that it is a real problem worth solving? Your problem definition should be grounded in insight from potential customers, users, or other relevant stakeholders — not based solely on assumptions.
Market Rationale & Customer Discovery Required
Initial customer discovery is required for all Phase 1 submissions. Identify your target customer or user and the pain point or unmet need they experience. Describe the customer discovery you conducted — such as interviews, conversations, observations, or other direct engagement.
Explain:
- Who you spoke with or engaged
- What you learned
- What evidence indicates that the problem matters to your target customer
- How these insights informed or challenged your initial assumptions
Secondary research — including market data, industry reports, and other credible sources — may be used as supporting evidence, but does not replace direct customer discovery.
At this stage, the emphasis is on validating the problem and customer need, rather than demonstrating a fully validated solution or business model.
Technological Feasibility
Demonstrate that you understand the Y-Prize technology, including its capabilities and limitations relevant to your proposed application. Explain why the technology is appropriate for the application you are proposing.
Teams are required to discuss their proposed application with the relevant Penn inventor(s)/PI before submitting an entry. This conversation provides an initial feasibility “sanity check” on the proposed use of the technology.
We encourage teams to explore several potential applications before meeting with the PI rather than focusing immediately on a single idea.
What Is Not Required in Phase 1
Phase 1 focuses on opportunity framing and early validation. You are not expected to provide:
- A detailed business model
- Unit economics or detailed financial projections
- A fully validated go-to-market strategy
Teams selected as finalists will further develop and validate the business opportunity during Phase 2.
Required Entry Materials
Video Pitch — Maximum 5 minutes. No requirements for how you deliver the information, but be sure to address the Phase 1 criteria listed above. Upload to YouTube, set privacy to “Unlisted,” and share the link in the online entry form.
Slides — Maximum 5 slides, saved as a PDF. Use the slides to expand on your pitch and provide supporting evidence for your customer discovery and proposed application.
Team Photo — A high-resolution group photo or individual headshots of all team members. Used for promotional purposes if your team is selected as a finalist. Not shared with judges.
Phase 1 Judging Rubric
Judges will evaluate submissions based on Strength of the Idea, Problem Definition, Market Rationale & Customer Discovery, and Technological Feasibility.
Download the Phase 1 Judging Rubric to see exactly how submissions will be evaluated before you submit.