Guest speaker · Nhan Nguyen Le · Saturday, Nov 14Solving Today's Challenges, Empowering Tomorrow's Impact.
The Entrepreneur's Impact Marathon is a worldwide competition where student teams turn bold ideas into real-world ventures.
Open to students in grades 8–12, in teams of 2–5. No entry fee.
A global competition, built by students, for students
EIM (Entrepreneur's Impact Marathon) is a global business competition dedicated to addressing real-world challenges. It is entirely organized by student groups and places participants in a real-world entrepreneurial environment under the guidance of business mentors. Here, you can meet like-minded peers, develop problem-solving and project pitching skills, and gain hands-on experience in operations, marketing, and external communication, adding impressive highlights to your university application profile.
During EIM, you will refine your business plan and clarify your strategic direction. As part of the experience, every participant can attend thematic workshops and receive professional guidance and feedback. High-performing teams also have the chance to win cash prizes!
We are delighted to officially announce that the third EIM Competition will kick off this November! Join us now to innovate, impact, inspire, and elevate!
Who can participate
Students currently in grades 8-12, forming teams of 2-5 members from anywhere in the world.
Why EIM exists
To give students a real-world entrepreneurial environment — mentorship, workshops, and hands-on experience tackling real business challenges.
What students gain
Problem-solving and pitching skills, hands-on experience in operations, marketing, and communication, and a standout addition to a university application.
How the competition works
A clear, structured path from idea to pitch.
Competition Format
EIM runs in two rounds: a first-round written business plan, followed by a final round where finalists refine their proposal and submit a pitch video.
Team Structure
Teams of 2-5 students in grades 8-12, open to international collaboration — members can come from different countries.
Submission Process
Teams submit a business plan covering the problem and solution, market analysis, business model, and financial projections. Topics can be based on the competition's key areas or any original idea.
Pitch Process
Finalists receive feedback on their first-round submission, then optimize their plan and record a pitch video that clearly presents the problem, solution, and value proposition.
Awards
Winning teams receive cash prizes and official recognition.
Eligibility & requirements
Everything your team needs to know before applying.
Eligibility
- Open to students currently in grades 8-12
- No entry fee to participate
- No prior competition experience required
Competition timeline
Key milestones from registration to awards.
August
Registration Open
Team registration for EIM opens.
September & October
Competition Preparation & Workshops
Teams prepare their business plans and attend four live workshops from Oct 11 to Nov 1.
Nov 14
Guest Speaker Session
Nhan Nguyen Le, Founder & CEO of Valiance Capital and The Berkeley Group, speaks to EIM teams.
November
First-Round & Final-Round Submission
Teams submit their first-round entries, followed by final-round submissions.
December
Results Announced
Competition results are announced.
Featured guest speaker
From Idea to Business: a conversation with Nhan Nguyen Le
An interactive conversation about recognizing opportunities, evaluating risks, and turning ideas into viable businesses.
Nhan Nguyen Le
Founder & CEO, Valiance Capital and The Berkeley Group
- $400M+
- Assets under management
- 25+
- Properties, 1,500+ beds and units
- Zero
- Investor losses since inception
A UC Berkeley graduate and Gates Millennium Scholar, Nhan acquired his first student housing property in 2010 and has since built Valiance Capital into the largest private owner-operator of student housing at UC Berkeley. He also founded The Berkeley Group, the firm's in-house property management platform.
Previously, Nhan served as Principal at Blackstone Ventures and Partner at Tesseract Capital Group, overseeing acquisitions, fundraising, strategic planning, and project execution. He began his career in 2007 at a technology startup, helping develop software for real estate financial analysis and investment forecasting.
A Vietnamese-American founder, Nhan bridges institutional capital between the US and Vietnam. He also leads the Valiance Foundation, which funds scholarships for underprivileged students in Vietnam.
Nhan shares firsthand insight on spotting opportunities, evaluating risk, raising capital, and building businesses.
Join the conversation
- Date
- Saturday, November 14
- Time
- 6:00 PM PST
- Duration
- 45 minutes
- Format
- Online fireside conversation and audience Q&A
- Platform
- Zoom
Four live workshops
Times shown in Beijing time
Oct
11
Session 1
Ignite Your Creativity
How to Bring Your Business Idea to Life Step-by-Step?
Sun, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Beijing time
Oct
18
Session 2
Pinpointing Your Industry Niche
How to Conduct a Comprehensive and Effective Market Analysis?
Sun, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Beijing time
Oct
25
Session 3
Quickly Capture Your Target Customers
How to Design Mixed Marketing Strategies?
Sun, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Beijing time
Nov
1
Session 4
Make Your Business Plan More Sustainable
How to Conduct Reliable Financial Projection?
Sun, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Beijing time
Key areas
There are no restrictions on the choice of business plan topics — we encourage and inspire all participants to design business plan topics based on the key areas below.
Sustainability & Circular Economy
Teams analyze business opportunities related to environmental sustainability, waste reduction, sustainable consumption, recycling, green packaging, second-hand markets, climate-conscious brands, or energy efficiency.
Sustainability, Circular Economy, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Green Packaging, Second-Hand Markets, Energy Efficiency
Education, Youth & Future Skills
Teams explore business opportunities in education, AI-assisted learning, tutoring, college preparation, language learning, career exploration, financial literacy, or student productivity.
Education, AI-Assisted Learning, Tutoring, College Prep, Language Learning, Financial Literacy, Student Productivity
Health, Fitness & Community Well-Being
Teams analyze non-clinical business opportunities related to fitness, wellness, sports participation, youth well-being, elderly support, accessibility, or community services.
Fitness, Wellness, Sports Participation, Youth Well-Being, Elderly Support, Accessibility, Community Services
Digital Commerce & Consumer Behavior
Teams study business opportunities in e-commerce, social media marketing, creator economy, local business digitization, consumer brands, AI shopping tools, or cross-border markets.
E-Commerce, Social Media Marketing, Creator Economy, Consumer Brands, AI Shopping Tools, Cross-Border Markets
How teams are scored
Submissions and pitches are evaluated against a consistent rubric across two rounds.
First Round
Business Problem & Solution
25%Is the problem clearly defined and backed by evidence? Is the proposed business solution coherent and feasible?
Market Analysis
25%Does the team demonstrate a strong understanding of the target customers, market trends, market size, and competitive landscape? Are conclusions supported by credible research and logical analysis?
Business Model
25%Has an effective plan been developed to attract the target audience by leveraging appropriate channels, customer insights, and various resources?
Financial Projection
25%Does it provide a detailed breakdown of all potential costs? Does it outline a clear and sustainable approach to generating revenue?
Final Round
Final Business Proposal
40%Have key aspects, such as the innovative solution, business model, and financial plan, been further optimized based on the guidance provided on the initial draft?
Clarity of Pitch Video
30%Does the video clearly articulate the problem, solution, and core value proposition in a structured and concise manner?
Presentation and Delivery
30%Is the video clear, well-structured, and easy to understand?
Judging Philosophy
EIM is designed to recognize teams that demonstrate strong market insight, strategic thinking, and evidence-based business analysis. Judges should prioritize the quality of analysis, logical reasoning, and practical feasibility over product development or technical complexity. A successful submission should convince judges that the team has identified a genuine market opportunity and developed a realistic strategy to create sustainable value.
Meet the judges
A panel of founders, investors, and educators.
Tina
Founder & CEO
Tina is the Founder and CEO of an education consulting firm. She holds an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and an M.A. in Secondary Education from Stanford University. With 14 years of experience in education, admissions, and entrepreneurship, she has served as an admissions professional, teacher, and college counselor in leading Bay Area schools, and has led a team that has helped thousands of students achieve their higher education goals.
Brian
Quantitative Researcher
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Cornell University. He gained industry experience as a Quantitative Analytics Intern at J.P. Morgan Chase and currently serves as a Quantitative Researcher at a prominent hedge fund. His professional focus centers on quantitative modeling, financial analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
Paula
University Lecturer in International Business
Paula holds a Ph.D. in Economics and a Master's degree in Finance, currently serving as a university lecturer in international business courses. Over the past few years, she has mentored hundreds of students, successfully guiding them to excel in prestigious international business competitions. She specializes in economic analysis, global business strategy, and student innovation mentorship.
Meet our team
Andrew Huang
Hello, my name is Andrew Huang and I am a junior at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, California. I am passionate about real-world problem solving through engineering & entrepreneurship and coming up with both feasible & innovative solutions. I joined the Entrepreneur’s Impact Marathon (EIM) organizing team because I aspire to help students turn their dreams and ideas into a reality. I am in charge of making posters advertising EIM on Canva.
Eric Ou
Hi, I’m Eric Ou, a senior at Virginia Episcopal School. I am fascinated by how people make decisions and how the business world operates. Deeply inspired by my experience participating in business competitions, I hope to launch a business event of our own. As a planner and organizer of the Entrepreneur’s Impact Marathon (EIM), I hope to share my passion for business with more young people and encourage them to explore entrepreneurship.
Daniel Guo
Hi, my name is Daniel Guo, and I am a sophomore at Burlingame High School. I am passionate about technology, entrepreneurship, and creating solutions that make an impact. I joined the Entrepreneur’s Impact Marathon organizing team because I wanted to help inspire students to turn their ideas into meaningful projects. As part of the team, I contribute to recruitment by connecting with potential participants and website development by building a platform that supports the event and improves the participant experience.
Isaac Zhang
Hi, my name is Isaac Zhang and I am currently an incoming freshman at San Mateo High School and I signed up for the Entrepreneur’s Impact Marathon organizing team because I want to help young people take action and make a real difference. I am passionate about entrepreneurship and making an impact. My responsibilities will be managing how we reach more participants and raising awareness around the Entrepreneurs Impact Marathon so we can make a greater difference.
Marcus Jin
Hello, I’m Marcus Jin, a sophomore at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton California. I’m interested in business, entrepreneurship, and technology, and I enjoy exploring new ideas, taking on challenges, and learning through hands-on experiences. I’m always looking for opportunities to grow, connect with others, and turn ideas into something meaningful. My key responsibilities include overseeing the operational side of the Entrepreneur's Impact Marathon (EIM), managing participant registration and information, coordinating schedules and deadlines, organizing workshops and competition events, and communicating important updates to participants. I will also be responsible for a wide range of behind-the-scenes administrative work to ensure the competition runs smoothly and efficiently.
Richard
Hi, my name is Richard. I am a high school freshman with a strong passion for business and sports, and I am dedicated to putting effort into both fields. I joined EIM because I want more people to understand how to combine these two areas. As a team member, my focus is on marketing and research to help us better understand our participants' needs and expectations.
Zoey Hu
Hi, my name is Zoey Hu, and I’m an eighth grader at The Harker School. I’m interested in learning about how to create a business through entrepreneurship and technology. I joined the Entrepreneurship Impact Marathon because I want to help people with innovative ideas expand them into a real enterprise. My key responsibilities in EIM are helping with registration management.
Frequently asked questions
Students currently in grades 8-12 are eligible to participate in the competition.
Get in touch
Questions about EIM? Reach out to our team.
Bring a team and a real problem.
Teams of 2–5, grades 8–12, from anywhere in the world. No entry fee and no prior competition experience required. Join four live workshops this fall, and a live fireside conversation with guest speaker Nhan Nguyen Le, founder of Valiance Capital, on November 14.