Eligibility at a glance
Undergraduate and graduate students at accredited, nonprofit colleges or universities in the United States, Canada or Mexico; December 2026 graduates may participate.
International Travel Requirements
The Draper Competition welcomes eligible students from institutions in the United States, Canada and Mexico. All finalists must attend the in-person competition in San Antonio, Texas.
At the time of application, participants must already possess the valid immigration status, travel authorization, or documentation necessary to attend the competition without needing to obtain a new U.S. visa.
Participants are responsible for ensuring they meet all applicable travel and entry requirements. The competition does not provide visa sponsorship, immigration assistance, or support for obtaining travel authorization.
- Teams must have two to six members and identify a faculty advisor or mentor.
- Ventures must be student-created, student-managed, team-owned, for-profit and in seed, startup or early growth stages.
- Existing ventures must have received less than $25,000 in funding and earned less than $100,000 in gross revenue as of December 31, 2026.
- Students must be citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country where they are enrolled. Additional conditions apply.
Review the official handbook for complete eligibility rules before applying.
