No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it

Blue Ocean Competition Team work

The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneurship Competition is a virtual competition that draws the greatest high school aged entrepreneurs from all across the world.

In the year 2022–2023, 5,209 participants from over 146 countries and 1,700 schools took part in the competition.

Behind the success of this competition was a team of student executives who worked hard at each stage of the competition to take it to the next level.

This executive committee operates under the guidance of Dr. Zee Munir, Executive Director of the competition. She is in charge of establishing important strategic priorities, formulating operational objectives and plans, managing stakeholder relationships, keeping an eye on finances, and enlarging the innovation ecosystem to encompass technology, incubation, and venture capital.

Meet the Executive Committee

Ishan Vanjara

Currently enrolled in college, Ishan Vanjara, a former participant from Plainsboro’s West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, was a crucial member of the student executive committee as the student leader. He worked on high school outreach and training within the executive committee for the year 2022–2023. New initiatives he spearheaded include a YouTube alumni spotlight series and ‘Tip of the Day’ videos on the Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship Competition Instagram. He will be part of the executive committee as an alumni leader this year.

Shivani Dodamani

Shivani Dodamani, a former competitor from Texas High School who is currently a university student, was another crucial member of the competition. She oversaw the live webinars’ artistic direction, interacting with participants to motivate them to enter the competition and providing frequent competition updates. She planned webinars where former participants shared their stories and gave advice for prospective participants.

Nitika Chopra

Another significant addition to the committee was Nitika, a former participant from PKR India ’23 who is currently enrolled in university. She was in charge of creating engaging and informative blogs and spread the word about the competition on Pinterest. She will also be part of the committee this year as an alumni member.

Andreea Alexandra Vasile

Last but not least is Andreea Alexandra Vasile, of Teoretic Genesis College ’25, Romania. She translated social media posts and created a presentation in Romanian to spread the word about the competition in her community and across Europe.


Interested in joining the executive committee? Email us your interest.

Free · Fully online · Any high school student

How the Blue Ocean Competition works

From a problem you have noticed to a pitch the judges watch.

1

Register

Free, and open to any high school student anywhere in the world. Enter on your own or with a team of up to five.

2

Take the Mini-Course

The free Blue Ocean Mini-Course teaches you how to create an idea that stands apart, instead of competing with what is already out there. You finish it with a certificate.

3

Develop your blue ocean pitch

Start from a problem you have seen up close, and work out why your answer to it stands apart from everything already out there.

4

Record and submit

Record your blue ocean pitch as a video of up to five minutes, in whatever style you like. Upload it to YouTube and submit it through the form on this site.

5

Judging

Once the submission deadline passes, a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs, experienced business people and professors reviews the pitches, narrowing the field round by round.

6

Win and be recognized

Everyone who submits receives a Certificate of Participation, and top finishers receive a Certificate of Achievement — both worth adding to a college application. Global and regional winners are announced at the end of the season and receive cash prizes.

Register now

See what won last year

More than 23,000 students took part in the 2026 competition. Check out the inspiring winning pitches.