Hult Prize 2026: IPAG at the heart of innovation

At IPAG Business School Paris, the commitment to impact-driven innovation is fully embodied through the organization of the Hult Prize Local, which will take place on February 27, 2026. This international social entrepreneurship competition mobilizes students from around the world each year to develop concrete solutions addressing major societal challenges such as poverty, climate change, social inclusion, and sustainable transition.

The competition will be presented by Dr. Inaya WAHIDI and will bring together highly committed and innovative student teams. Among the projects competing, we will have the pleasure of discovering:

Regulink — Team Captain: Gaelle Hanna 

TrustPlates — Team Captain: Nicolas Pantic 

SipSense — Team Captain: Stan Repetylo 

MethaneMint — Team Captain: Chloé Gravier 

E-GUARD — Team Captain: Antoine Brodowska 

LoopWear — Team Captain: Myriam Henid 

Neighborhood — Team Captain: Ugo Broussard 

LYRIA — Team Captain: Hannia Milán Mendoza Álvarez

The Hult Prize Local jury will be composed of academic leaders and experts committed to promoting innovation and responsible entrepreneurship:

• Prof. Dr. HDR Maria-Giuseppina BRUNA — Dean for Research, Dissemination & Impact of the IPAG Business School — Jury President
• Dr. Inaya WAHIDI — Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship — Promotor of the IPAG Hult Prize & Executive Secretary
• Dr. Mélanie BONINSEGNI — Assistant Professor in Marketing — Jury Member Prof. Imen SAFRAOU — Professor in Marketing — Jury Member

In this dynamic context, IPAG Business School will also have the great honor of hosting the French National Hult Prize Final on April 18, 2026, on its Paris campus. On this occasion, winning teams from local competitions organized in French business schools and universities will gather to defend their high-impact projects and compete to represent France on the international stage.

The organization of the Hult Prize at IPAG is led by Dr. Inaya Wahidi, an entrepreneurship specialist recognized for her academic expertise, strong experience in mentoring innovative, impact-driven projects, and active involvement within the international Hult Prize ecosystem. This initiative is conducted under the supervision of the Dean for Research, Dissemination and Impact, Prof. Dr. HDR Maria-Giuseppina BRUNA, whose strategic vision and executive leadership aim to strengthen IPAG’s scientific, societal, and international visibility.

The Hult Prize represents an exceptional opportunity for students: it is the most prestigious student entrepreneurship competition in the world, and the international winning project receives a $1 million prize to launch and scale its impact-driven venture. This unique experience enables participants to develop key skills in innovation, leadership, teamwork, creativity, and responsible entrepreneurship.

Launched at IPAG during the 2024–2025 academic year, following a successful first experience led by Dr. Inaya WAHIDI and the under the supervision of Prof. Dr. HDR Maria-Giuseppina BRUNA, the Hult Prize immediately achieved strong success with the organization of its very first national edition. As early as 2026, IPAG Business School was selected to host the first national Hult Prize competition in France, confirming its position as a major player in innovation and student entrepreneurship. The school will have the honor of welcoming winning teams from all French institutions that have organized local Hult Prize competitions.

On April 18, 2026, IPAG Business School will officially award the national prize to the French winning team, which will then continue its journey in London for the international final stage, where the best teams from around the world will compete for the ultimate $1 million global prize.

The organization of a National Hult Prize constitutes a major first at the French level, while IPAG was selected and entrusted with the role of host institution for the national edition in recognition of the excellence of its entrepreneurial strategy and the strength of its societal commitment.

Beyond the competition itself, the Hult Prize represents a rare opportunity in a student’s academic journey, a transformative experience that can only be lived once, yet can profoundly shape their professional and entrepreneurial trajectory. It serves as a powerful springboard to foster initiative,responsible risk-taking, and the ability to transform innovative ideas into real-world, high-impact solutions.

Through this major event, IPAG Business School reaffirms its role as a committed actor in promoting responsible entrepreneurship, social innovation, and the development of leaders capable of designing sustainable solutions for the world of tomorrow. True to its mission, IPAG continues to prepare managers and entrepreneurs to thrive in a rapidly changing global environment, while producing high-quality research with strong national and international visibility. The Hult Prize thus represents a key milestone in this broader strategy of excellence, impact, and global influence.