The Winners of the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2026 Have Been Announced

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2026 brings together innovators from around the world whose entrepreneurial ideas contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following a public community vote and the evaluation of an international jury, the three winning teams have been selected. Meet the winners.

Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2026 winners

Grand Price Winner - 1st Place: Green Grow Organics

Solopreneur: Ingabire Regine
SDGs: Zero Hunger; Good Health & Well-Being; Responsible Consumption & Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water

Why it matters:
Green Grow Organics transforms crop nutrition with a 100% organic foliar fertilizer that delivers nutrients directly through plant leaves, increasing yields while reducing costs, labor, and environmental impact. Designed for East African smallholder farmers, the solution can be applied alongside existing pesticides, improves nutrient efficiency, and has already demonstrated nearly doubled bean yields in Kenyan field trials. By making sustainable fertilization both practical and affordable, Green Grow Organics helps farmers grow more while protecting soils and ecosystems.

Silver Winner - 2nd Place: The Algae-Brace: A Compostable Future for Orthopedic Bracing

Team: Seoyun Hwang, Dylan Stoltzfus, Lily Mauro
SDGs: Good Health & Well-Being; Sustainable Cities & Communities; Responsible Consumption & Production

Why it matters:
The Algae-Brace is a biodegradable, 3D-printed orthopedic brace that replaces single-use plastic casts with a patient-specific, compostable alternative. Combining a bio-based composite with AI-optimized design, it reduces material use, improves comfort through natural antimicrobial properties, and transforms orthopedic care into a more sustainable, circular healthcare solution.

Bronze Winner - 3rd Place: Detopsource: Turning E-Waste into Affordable Technology and Jobs

Solopreneur: Naomi Oborevwori
SDGs: Gender Equality; Decent Work and Economic Groth; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Responsible Consumption & Production; Climate Action

Why it matters:
Detopsource transforms electronic waste into opportunity by refurbishing discarded devices and making affordable technology accessible to underserved communities. Through repair, skills training, and entrepreneurship, the venture reduces e-waste, creates local jobs, and builds a circular ecosystem that supports sustainable consumption and long-term economic growth.

The Bigger Picture of CEC 2026

The CEC 2026 is one of Europe’s most inspiring innovation competitions. Open to participants from the age of 13, the program combines idea submission, entrepreneurial training (such as the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas), and community feedback. After an online voting phase, the Top 10 projects were evaluated by an international jury based on innovation, feasibility, impact, and SDG relevance.

Why These Winners Inspire

Practical Innovation: Each winning project tackles a real-world challenge with solutions that are both innovative and feasible—from sustainable agriculture and circular healthcare to affordable access to technology.

Entrepreneurship for Impact: By combining environmental responsibility with social and economic opportunity, all three ventures demonstrate how entrepreneurship can drive meaningful progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Visionary Changemakers: These entrepreneurs show that impactful ideas start with identifying local challenges and developing scalable solutions that benefit people, communities, and the planet.

Thinking Ahead Together

These three winning Ideenkinder are a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about business. It’s about responsibility, creativity, and shaping a more sustainable future.

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition is more than a contest: it is a space for learning, connection, and courage, where ideas take root and grow into impact. We look forward to seeing how these projects evolve and we warmly invite all participants to keep using the Entrepreneurship Campus as a platform for exchange, inspiration, and community.