Draper Data Science Business Plan Competition
Friday, April 9, 2027
Compete with Purpose. Win with Data.
The Draper Data Science Business Plan Competition will take place on Friday, April 9, 2027, inviting eligible student entrepreneurs from the United States, Canada and Mexico to advance student-led ventures that use data science to solve real-world challenges and create business value. Teams compete for up to $100,000 in cash investments and the opportunity to present their ideas to industry judges.
Applications open November 2, 2026, and close January 3, 2027.
To learn about the eligibility requirements, application process and preparation for the competition, please register for an information session.
Information Session Registration
Competition Awards
The competition offers fixed placement awards of $35,000 for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $15,000 for third place. Supplemental award categories include Most Data-Science Driven, Judges’ Choice, and Fan Favorite. Supplemental awards and their amounts are discretionary; total competition awards will not exceed $100,000.
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, any participant who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident 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.
2027 Draper Competition Handbook
Prize Payment and Tax Identification Requirements
Cash prizes are awarded directly to individual members of winning teams. To be eligible to receive a cash prize, all participants, regardless of citizenship or residency status, must possess a valid U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) at the time of application.
Participants must be able to provide all required tax and payment documentation if selected as prize recipients. The competition does not provide assistance with obtaining an SSN or ITIN. Participants who do not meet these requirements are not eligible to receive cash prizes.
All prize payments are subject to applicable university procedures and tax reporting or withholding requirements.
How to Apply
Phase I | November 2, 2026 – January 3, 2027
The team leader submits team and faculty advisor information and one PDF venture proposal addressing the business concept (50 words maximum), application of data science tools and techniques (200 words maximum), and competitive advantage from data science (100 words maximum). Each team member must provide student-status verification by January 6, 2027.
Phase II | Selected teams only
Teams selected to advance will be notified January 13, 2027. They must participate in the January 23 workshop and submit a Business Model Canvas PDF and an unlisted YouTube link to a 90-second pitch video by February 7, 2027.
Finals | April 9, 2027
Finalists will be notified February 22, 2027. Selected teams must confirm participation by February 26, submit an executive summary and pitch deck by the published deadline, and attend required check-in and competition activities in San Antonio.
Key Dates
- November 2, 2026 — Applications open
- November 19, 2026 — Information session 1
- December 4, 2026 — Information session 2
- January 3, 2027 — Phase I applications close
- January 13, 2027 — Advancing teams notified
- January 23, 2027 — Mandatory workshop
- February 7, 2027 — BMC and video pitch due
- February 22, 2027 — Finalists notified
- April 9, 2027 — Competition finals
“Data science will drive the greatest transformations of the next few decades. Business plan competitions tend to encourage and attract those people who are going to make those transformations. Melissa and I have found these competitions to be a magnet for progress and change.”
