2026 Washington Youth CEO Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition

The 2026 Washington Youth CEO Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition is a premier innovation and entrepreneurship platform designed for middle and high school students in Grades 7–12 across the DMV area (VA/MD/DC) in Fall 2026. It supports solo entries or teams of 2–4 students (cross-school and cross-grade teams permitted). Generative AI tools are allowed (disclosure required). Participants retain 100% intellectual property ownership.

🗺️ Pathway to Nationals (3-Tier Advancement)

• Tier 1: DMV Local Selection Pitch (September 13, 2026) — In-person live pitch; the 1st place team in each track (2 teams total) will directly advance to the Eastern Regional Finals!
• Tier 2: CAST Eastern Regional Finals (October 4, 2026) — Online competition to compete against top winning teams from the East Coast for tickets to the National Finals.
• Tier 3: CAST-USA National Finals (October 31, 2026) — In-person finals in Philadelphia, PA, competing for national top honors, cash prize, and national recognition.

Chinese Association for Science & Technology, USA (CAST-USA) National Finals

The Chinese Association for Science & Technology, USA (CAST-USA) is one of the most influential professional science and technology organizations for Chinese Americans in North America, bringing together numerous top scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs active in artificial intelligence, life sciences, information technology, aerospace, renewable energy, and other fields. CAST-USA holds an annual national convention, consistently inviting Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, academicians from China and the United States, world-renowned entrepreneurs, and technology leaders to deliver keynote speeches, sharing technological frontiers and innovative practices as a vital international platform connecting academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. As an essential component of the CAST-USA Annual Convention, outstanding projects from the Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition will have the rare opportunity to step onto the national stage, interact face-to-face with Nobel laureates, academicians, and international experts, receive professional guidance and exposure, and compete alongside outstanding youth from across the nation. This is not only a showcase of innovative achievements, but also an extraordinary opportunity to broaden international horizons, connect with top resources, and step toward becoming future technology leaders.

📋 Team Formation & Online Registration Payment

Eligibility: Enrolled students in Grades 7–12 for Fall 2026. Solo entries or teams of 2–4 students allowed (cross-school and cross-grade teams permitted). Register via Google Form Online Table, and complete online payment through the following Stripe button:

📅 Key DMV Selection Timeline

📋 Live Pitch & Exit Flow Regulations

• Independent Holding & Announcement: Non-competing teams wait in an independent holding room. The runner will notify the next team in advance. Late arrival over 1 minute will be deemed a forfeit.
• Pitch Duration (10 mins/team): 7-minute team pitch presentation + 3-minute Q&A / judge feedback.
• Exit & Flow Control: Immediately after Q&A, on-site staff (Runners) will guide the team to exit through the side door and offer two flow options:
  • Option A (Recommended): Guided to the audience area to watch subsequent presentations.
  • Option B: Guided to the photo/interview area for team photos and brief post-competition interviews.
• On-site Order: Participants and guardians must comply with competition rules and maintain venue order. If there are questions, friendly inquiries can be made in areas away from the stage; any disruptive behavior will lead to immediate disqualification.

👨‍⚖️ Judging Panel & Comprehensive Evaluation Rubric

Judging Panel Composition: 3–5 expert judges (renowned university professors, corporate founders, executives, senior investors) + outstanding student judges (1–2 students, top 3 winners or major award recipients in national top competitions).

We sincerely invite enterprises, institutions, and community leaders to sponsor and support this competition! Together, let us empower youth technology and business leadership development across the DMV area. We provide sponsors with rich benefits including title naming rights, top website placement, on-site booths, award presenter seats, and media promotion.