Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition Empowers Next Generation of Innovators
Top high school students from around the world recognized for their innovative blue ocean business ideas
May 20, 2026
The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is excited to announce the winners of the 2026 competition. With participation from 23,000+ students representing 9,000+ schools from 173 countries and 50 US states in 2026, the world’s largest virtual entrepreneurship competition for high school students showcases the most innovative blue ocean ideas to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
Global Awards
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
People’s Choice Award
Regional Awards
North America
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Europe
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Latin America
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Asia & Oceania
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Africa
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Middle East
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
The World’s Largest Virtual Entrepreneurship Competition for High School Students
Inspired by Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne’s Blue Ocean Strategy and the blue ocean way of thinking, the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition was founded in 2014 by Nicholas Benavides, a young budding high school entrepreneur, with the mission to prepare high school students for the real world of entrepreneurship and empower them to create blue ocean businesses.
The first edition of the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition in 2014 was at the county level, which then quickly expanded to state, and then the countrywide competition. Today it has become the largest and the most prestigious virtual entrepreneurship competition providing high school students an opportunity to compete at the global level. Participation is 100% free for all students.
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneurs Corp, the non-profit running the competition also recognizes and awards outstanding educators and schools for their significant contribution to preparing high school students for the real world of entrepreneurship.
Top 5 Schools with Most Submissions – 2026
Blue Ocean Teacher Champions – 2026
We are proud to recognize our 2026 Blue Ocean Teacher Champions for their outstanding commitment to guiding and inspiring the next generation of innovators. Their dedication played a key role in this year’s record-breaking competition. In recognition of his exceptional mentorship and tireless efforts to spread blue ocean entrepreneurship, Eric Sera was named the competition’s first-ever “Blue Ocean Super Teacher Champion”—a new honor celebrating extraordinary leadership in youth entrepreneurship
Blue Ocean Teacher Super Champions:
- Eric Sera, Munster High School, Indiana, USA
- Şebnem Gürler, Çorlu Science and Art Center, Turkey
- Aditi Bhargava, Indus International School, Bangalore, India
Outstanding Blue Ocean Teacher Champions:
- Sajeewa Ranasinghe, Gateway College, Dahiwala, Sri Lanka
- Spencer Burrows, Pacific Ridge School, California, USA
- Deepthy Satyanathan, The Samhita Academy, India
- Dilek Erdas, İSTEK Belde Anadolu Lisesi, Turkey
- Stephanie Benavides, Lincoln Park Academy, Florida, USA
- Khokon Mahmud, Glenrich International High School, Bangladesh
- Sarah McCance, Fountain Valley High School, California, USA
- Sana Abdul Salam, Aga Khan School Garden, Pakistan
- John Mark E. Ludor, NU Fairview Senior High School, Philippines
- Ousmane Diallo, Mentari Intercultural School, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Allan Gunawan, Tzuchi School, Indonesia
- Ebong Michael, LEAD Academy, Uganda
- Yaroslavna Karpova, Ayeyarwaddy International School, Myanmar
- Abigail Vallente, Southville International School and Colleges, Philippines
- Daniel Onyango, Ragwe Mixed Secondary School, Kenya
- Erwin Racasa, Nick Joaquin Senior High School, Philippines
- Geleena Gestiada, Asia Pacific College, Philippines
- Henrik Graversen, Herningsholm Erhvervsskole og Gymnasier, Denmark
- Jassen Dowling, Holt High School, Michigan, USA
- Kimakwa Godfrey, Kaimosi Girls High School, Kenya
- Rekha Jain, Medicaps University India
Blue Ocean Student Ambassadors – 2026
The 2026 competition also sees growth of the Blue Ocean Student Ambassadors Program, a vibrant community of high-achieving students – already 700 strong from 56 countries and growing – who champion blue ocean entrepreneurship and inspire peers while developing critical leadership skills that enhance their future prospects.
Blue Ocean Student SUPER Ambassadors:
- Aditya Yadav, S.R.S. International School, Patti Pratapgarh, Uttar Pardesh, India
- Krethi Karthik, Ruh Continuum School, India
- Aarnav Chandraganti, George Washington University Online High School, Texas, USA
- Rounak Nayak, Blossom Public School, Pune, India
- Aiza Mohammad, Heritage High School, Texas, India
- Shoriful Islam, Shaheed Police Smrity College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Nargiza Zufarova, Tashkent University of information technologies, Uzbekistan
- Mahrus Yunus, Glenrich International School Uttara, Bangladesh
Outstanding Blue Ocean Student Ambassadors:
- Abdullah Al Araf Furat, Kanchkura Provati Kg & High School, Bangladesh
- Ahinyoke Vickeli Iba, Makurdi International Secondary School, Nigeria
- Akshay Agarwal, Neerja Modi School, India
- Aman Kumar, Sunbeam, India
- Annik Choudhary, USA
- Anushka Yeole, St. Lawrence, India
- Atharva Naik, Indus Altum International School Belagavi, India
- Bera Gumruk, Thomas Jefferson High School For Science And Technology, USA
- Brandon Walker, Munster High School, USA
- Chalita Dono, Bashewam, Ethiopia
- Chukwuemeka Nnamene, Command Day Secondary School Enugu, Nigeria
- Guru Nakkala, International School Wassenaar, Netherlands
- Heldana Mewael, Ethiopia
- Jai Sivasankar, Chantilly High School, USA
- Md. Nayem Nayem, Udayan Uchcha Madhyamik Bidyalaya, Bangladesh
- Meerab Fatima, Pakistan International School Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
- Njini Lefeh, Gbhs Etoug Ebe, Cameroon
- Rithik Vinay, Ssvm World School, India
- Salsabila Assyfa, Al Fityan Moslem Senior High School, Indonesia
- Siddhi Jain, Medi Caps International School, India
- Simran Singh Janjhua, International School Wassenaar, Netherlands
- Siraaj Singh, Alliance Academy For Innovation, USA
Download the latest press releases
- Blue Ocean Competition 2026 Winners (20 May 2025) Word.doc
- Blue Ocean Competition 2026 Winners (20 May 2025) PDF
- Blue Ocean Competition 2025 Winners (20 May 2025) Word.doc
- Blue Ocean Competition 2025 Winners (20 May 2025) PDF
- Blue Ocean Competition 2024 Winners (02 May 2024) Word.doc
- Blue Ocean Competition 2024 Winners (02 May 2024) PDF