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Registration is now closed. 

Are you a passionate builder, entrepreneur, or innovator with an early-stage business idea that uses Algorand to help solve a real-world problem? Does your project have clear market opportunity and traction potential? If so, Algorand Startup Challenges are perfect for you.

Stay tuned for the next round.

The program includes a series of challenges, guiding participants through different phases of project development. Each phase ends with a specific challenge to test your knowledge and demonstrate the project's progress. While participation in each task is optional, those who actively engage and deliver strong results have a greater chance of winning awards.

To help you succeed, the program combines technical and business topics. Technical sessions cover Algorand integration, tooling, and proof of concept (POC) development, all using AI and no-code tools, so no prior technical knowledge is required. Business sessions dive into market validation, growth strategies, and pitching.

Through this hands-on, tech+business approach, you’ll iterate on innovative blockchain applications and focus on addressing genuine market needs.

Why builders and entrepreneurs should be part of this program:

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Test, refine and validate your vision

Dive into Lean Startup principles and learn how to rapidly iterate (test and refine) your initial project concept. Understand how to validate assumptions, assess market feasibility, and define essential requirements. Build a solid foundation to ensure your project is on the right track.

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Iterate your proof of concept (POC):

We’ll help scope your POC and identify the core functionalities it needs to test the market effectively. You’ll also gain hands-on experience integrating Algorand with your POC.

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Achieve real-world traction:

Discover several marketing strategies to attract early adopters and gain user traction. Learn how to gather early feedback and use it to refine your POC so you can pivot towards a strong product-market fit.

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Mentorship:

Founders will receive valuable one-on-one mentorship sessions throughout the program to guide their progress.

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Prizes & final pitch:

Teams that complete the challenges and score highest under the judging criteria may earn a spot in the final pitch. A total prize pool of up to $125,000 in USDC on Algorand (USDCa) will be awarded per the Official Rules.

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No Prior technical knowledge is required

We will use AI tools and no-code to turn your idea into a working proof of concept.

What You’ll Learn:

Educational content only; not legal, tax, or investment advice. Participation or mentorship does not guarantee selection, funding, or business outcomes.

Over the course of this program, you'll gain practical skills and startup-building experience to help you:

  • Define and validate your startup idea using Lean principles.
  • Identify customer pain points and test your value proposition.
  • Build and iterate a blockchain-based proof of concept (POC).
  • Integrate Algorand into your project using modern tooling.
  • Attract early users and gather actionable feedback.
  • Understand product-market fit and learn how to test for it.
  • Craft a compelling pitch and pitch deck for investors or competitions.
  • Compete for a $125K USDCa prize pool in the final pitch event.

Prerequisites to join:

To get the most out of the Startup Challenges, we strongly recommend that participants have drafts or completed versions of the following key project items before joining. 

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Preliminary idea

A well-defined initial concept that addresses a real market need.

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Problem statement

A brief statement that clearly articulates the problem your idea intends to solve.

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Initial value proposition:

A draft outline of your solution's unique value.

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Basic research:

Initial market research to identify user pain points, target audience, and the competitive landscape.

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Basic Proof of Concept (POC):

A simple early version of your idea that shows the main features and early evidence that it solves the problem.

Understanding of blockchain potential:
Understanding of blockchain potential:

A basic (not necessarily technical) understanding of how blockchain could enhance or transform your concept.

Please leave your details below so we can notify you when our next phase is live.

Please see the T&Cs of the startup challenges here.

Subject to Official Rules, participation is null and void where entry is legally prohibited. No purchase or payment is required to enter or win. The total pPrize pool may be up to $125,000 and winners will be , paid in USDC on the Algorand network (USDCa) to a compatible wallet. ; nNetwork fees may apply. Winners are responsible for taxes and will may be required to complete identity verification (KYC). Selection of the winners will be made is by judges per the published criteria.; The odds of winning depend on the number and quality of entries.  Participation does not constitute an endorsement, investment recommendation, or guarantee of any startup, product, service, or token presented. Mentorship and program content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, financial or investment advice.; no No outcomes are guaranteed.  Algorand Foundation Ltd, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, expressly disclaim liability for any representations made by participating startups, including claims regarding business performance, product functionality, token utility, or potential returns. All participants are independent persons solely responsible for their operations, marketing, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Prospective customers, partners, or investors should conduct their own due diligence and seek professional advice before engaging with any participant.