President’s Innovation Challenge 2026: The Launch

This year’s challenge is still under wraps. On 25 November, the President of DCU will reveal it live.

We can’t say much yet. But here’s a clue. The problems you’ll be working on are bigger than any one person, any one country or any one field. That’s exactly why we need people from every corner of DCU to take them on.

You don’t need a business idea. You don’t need a team. You don’t need to know anything about startups. You just need to care about something bigger than yourself, and be curious about what you could do about it.

What happens on the night

Hear the challenge revealed by the President

Find out how the problems look up close

Meet students from across DCU who want to work on the same thing

Start forming a team

Food and drinks from 6pm

The timeline

Wed 25 November: Launch night. The challenge is revealed.

Sun 31 January: Submissions close.

Thu 11 February: Final pitch.

What’s at stake

The winning team gets a spot in the Hult Prize to compete nationally. From there, teams have a shot at the global finals and a US$1 million prize.

Who is this event for

Every DCU student, from every discipline. Engineers, nurses, journalists, teachers, designers, scientists, business students. The best teams mix people who think differently.

DCU staff and members of the wider community are welcome too.