Competition timeline
The Red Ocean Competition runs on a seasonal cycle, giving student founders a clear structure to learn, build, and submit within a defined timeframe. Here is what to expect at every stage.
Registration Opens
Early SeasonCreate your account, choose your championship or track, and get access to learning resources. Registration is free and open to all eligible middle and high school students.
Learning and Building Window
Weeks 1 – 6Use this period to research your market, build your product or service, start acquiring real customers, and gather the traction data that will power your submission. Access curated learning modules to sharpen your strategy.
Submission Deadline
End of Week 6Submit your complete entry including your venture summary, market analysis, differentiation statement, traction evidence, business model, and founder reflection. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Review and Verification
Weeks 7 – 8Judges evaluate every submission across the five core pillars. Selected entries may undergo deeper verification, including requests for evidence, screenshots, analytics, or live demonstrations.
Finalist Announcement
Week 9Top-scoring founders in each championship and track are announced as finalists. Finalists receive feedback on their submissions and are invited to participate in the Founder Showcase.
Founder Showcase and Awards
Week 10Finalists present their ventures to a panel of judges and the broader community. Winners are announced across all championships and tracks, with prizes awarded for outstanding performance, growth, and founder maturity.