Competition Terms & Conditions

OFFICIAL RULES OF THE 2026 MOTT MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE

THESE OFFICIAL RULES CONTAIN AN ARBITRATION PROVISION, SECTION 11, AND A WAIVER OF CLASS ACTION, SECTION 13.

BY ENTERING THE COMPETITION, YOU AGREE TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES, WHICH ARE A CONTRACT.  NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  THE PURCHASE OF ANY GOOD(S) OR SERVICE(S) WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

INTRODUCTION:  The 2026 Mott Million Dollar Challenge is an innovation competition for students in Grades K-12 supported by funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (“Mott Foundation”) and administered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (“NFTE”), a Mott Foundation grantee, with support from Collaborative Communications, Young Entrepreneur Institute, VentureLab and the Afterschool Alliance.  Across the competition, a total of $1 million in prize money will be awarded to young people throughout the United States on the terms and conditions contained in these Official Rules.

  1. FUNDER; SPONSOR; ADMINISTRATOR: The Mott Foundation, a Michigan nonprofit corporation with offices at 503 S. Saginaw St., Ste. 1200, Flint, Michigan 48502, is the funder and sponsor of the Competition (“Funder” or “Sponsor”); and NFTE with offices at 120 Wall Street, Suite 1850, New York, New York is the Administrator (“Administrator”) of the Competition
  2. COMPETITION PERIOD: The 2026 Mott Million Dollar Challenge (“Competition”) will consist of a number of Rounds, detailed in Section 8 below. The initial Round will begin at 9:00 am EST (Eastern Standard Time) on December 17, 2025, and ends at 11:59 pm HST (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time) on February 27, 2026 (“Final Submission Date”).  Winners will advance to subsequent Rounds until the final two Rounds on June 15 and 16, 2026, during a live Event in Flint, Michigan (collectively “Competition Period”).  The Administrator’s computer is the official clock for the Competition.
  3. ELIGIBILITY:

WHO MAY ENTER THE COMPETITION:  Competition is open only to

  • legal residents of the fifty states of the United States and the District of Columbia,
  • who are a K-12th grade student (or in that age range as of February 27, 2026) whether in public school, private school, charter school, homeschool, online school, or out-of-school youth as of the date of Entry,
  • and who otherwise comply with these Official Rules and provide the required Consent and Release Form.

(“Entrant” or “you”).  An Entrant must be a natural person (and not an organization or business entity).

WHO MAY NOT ENTER THE COMPETITION:  Children or wards of employees and representatives of Funder/Sponsor or Administrator and their affiliates and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, regardless of where they reside), and those living in the same household of each such individual, whether or not related.  All applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

CONSENT AND RELEASE FORM:  Entrants who are minors must provide a Parent & Guardian Consent and Release Form, which governs data use and media/IP rights.  Participants who are age 18 or older must sign and submit a Consent and Release Form, which governs data use and media/IP rights. 

ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON ENTRANTS AND COMPETITION CONDITIONS: 

  • For the Semi-Final and Final Rounds, the Entrants who are Second Round winners must attend in person and deliver a live pitch in support of their Entry Submission at the Event in Flint, Michigan on June 15 and 16, 2026.  Entrants participating in the Semi-Final and Final Rounds, together with one parent or guardian for each individual Entrant or group (in the case of minors), will receive airfare or a mileage allowance and lodging at a local hotel (subject to contest limits).  Meals will also be provided to Entrants and one parent or guardian during the Competition.  Parents or guardians may designate an approved chaperone, if unable to attend (using a form to be provided by the Administrator).  All other costs will be the responsibility of the Entrants and their parents or guardians.
  • Multiple Entrants are not permitted to share the same email address.
  • Any attempt by any Entrant to obtain more than the stated number of Entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods, will void that Entrant’s Entry and that Entrant may be disqualified, in the Administrator’s sole discretion.
  • Each potential winner may be required to show proof of being an authorized account holder.
  • Administrator has the sole discretion to determine whether an Entrant is eligible.  In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of an Entrant, a person who can demonstrate the ability to log into the applicable account with the correct username and password will be deemed the Entrant who submitted the entry. 
  • Automated, script, macro, or robotic Entries will be disqualified.
  • Entries may not contain, as determined in Administrator’s sole discretion, any content that:
    • is sexually explicit or suggestive, violent, defamatory, disparaging, profane, obscene, pornographic, or humiliating, or depicts cruelty or harm;
    • promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), promotes any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or promotes any political agenda or message; endorses any form of hate or hate group;
    • contains any personal information, such as personal names, street addresses, social media account information, telephone numbers, or e-mail addresses;
    • communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images or goodwill to which Funder/Sponsor or Administrator wishes to associate;
    • violates the rights of third parties, including copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity; and/or any law.
  • Administrator does not control and is not responsible for power interruptions or technology networking, including, without limitation, errors, cancellation of accounts, or technical malfunctions that may affect any Entrant’s ability to enter, win, view, be advised of, be eligible for or be properly considered in the Competition.
  • Administrator reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deny entrance to any Entrant, participant or team for any reason, including (but not limited to) in the case of any violation of the spirit or the letter of the Official Rules or the Competition guidelines or processes or the failure to comply with reasonable instructions from the Administrator or its representatives or agents.
  • Administrator may decline to accept Entry submissions that, in its absolute discretion, may compromise the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Competition. In such circumstances, the Entry shall be void.
  • Further details about the Competition process will be shared with participants prior to and through the Competition and may be published at http://mottmillion.org/.  Administrator reserves the right to vary and/or amend any of the rules, processes, guidelines and opening or closing date(s) or to cancel or postpone the Competition at any time and for any reason without prior notice. 
  1. HOW TO ENTER: There is only one Method of Entry for this Competition, as described below. Entrants may be an individual or a team consisting of up to three (3) members. Entrants must compete in their respective grade-level group, i.e., K-4, 5-8, or 9-12. If a team, all team members must be in the same grade-level group as of the Final Submission Date of February 27, 2026. Entrants may submit one Entry Submission as an individual and one Entry Submission as part of a team, for a total of two Entries, if they wish, but they may not appear in more than one individual Entry and one team Entry.

METHOD OF ENTRY: Prior to the end of the Final Submission Date, Entrants must:

  • Choose one of the two challenge categories:
    1. Business Challenge – create an idea for a new business. This could be a brand-new product, a better way to solve an everyday problem, or a creative twist on something that already exists. Your pitch should explain what the product or service is, why people need it, and how the business will meet that need.
    2. Social Challenge – Propose an idea that helps solve a social or community issue. Your pitch should clearly explain the problem in the community, why it matters, and how their idea would help fix or improve it.
  • Record a 30-90 second video presenting your idea as clearly, creatively, and persuasively as you can (“Entry Submission” or “Entry”).
  • To begin your submission, here https://my.reviewr.com/s2/site/MottMillion, either create a Reviewr account or Log in to your existing account, and then complete and submit the quick form with your video, either by uploading or including a live link to the public video on YouTube.
  • Before submitting an Entry Submission, each Entrant and their parents or guardians (in the case of minors) must sign the applicable Consent and Release form provided on the http://mottmillion.org/
  • The Entry Submission must cite any applicable sources from where they gather information, as applicable.
  • As outlined below, winners who are selected for the Semi-Final and Final Rounds will be required to prepare and submit revised materials (which will become part of their Entry) and to participate in a Live Pitch Event in Flint, Michigan on June 15 and June 16, 2026.

ORIGINALITY OF ENTRY: The Entry Submission must be original to you and may not be copied, in whole or in part, from the work of any other person or entity, or work generated in whole or in part by artificial intelligence or other machine-generated tool.

  1. Limitation on Entries; ownership of Entry: There is a limit of one (1) individual Entry and one (1) team Entry per person, for a total of two (2) Entries per person. All Entry Submissions become the digital property of Funder/Sponsor and Administrator and will not be returned, and may not necessarily be acknowledged.
  2. AUTHORSHIP; LICENSE: You represent that you are the sole author of the Entry Submission. The Entry Submission does not contain any third-party content for which permission or licenses are required. As stated in the Consent and Release form signed by you, you retain ownership of the copyright in the Entry Submission and grant Funder/Sponsor and Administrator a broad license to exercise the copyright in the Entry Submission in connection with the Funder/Sponsor’s and the Administrator’s nonprofit missions:  including to record a reading/presentation of the Entry Submission, reproduce copies of the Entry Submission, copy and display the Entry Submission in publications and exhibits, and publish the Entry Submission and any recording of it online and in promotional materials.  You further authorize the Funder/Sponsor and Administrator to use your name, image, likeness, voice, and brief biographical information provided by you (“Entrant Data”), in connection with their dissemination of the Entry Submission and/or public communications about the Competition.  This license is paid up and royalty free, in perpetuity, irrevocable, worldwide, and for all media now known or later developed.  You waive any requirement of attribution and any moral rights (as applicable).  Entrant Data shall be used consistent with (and in the following order of precedence): the consent/authorization given by Entrant at the time of Entry, with these Official Rules, and Administrator’s Online Privacy Policy, https://nfte/legal/services-privacy-policy.  Such use is without additional compensation to and/or right of prior review by Entrant. 
  3. ENTRANT REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES: Entrant represents and warrants that they have all necessary rights to submit the Entry and grant the consents above; their Entry does not violate, misappropriate, or infringe upon any intellectual property or right of any person or entity; they are of legal age to participate in the Competition or, if a minor, their parents or guardians have properly completed the Consent and Release form; and, to the best of their knowledge, they satisfy all eligibility requirements and their participation is consistent with all applicable laws.
  4. METHOD OF COMPETITION AND COMPETITION ROUNDS:

GENERAL:  The Competition will be divided into three groups based on grade level:

  • Group 1: Grades K-4;
  • Group 2: Grades 5-8; and
  • Group 3: Grades 9-12.

Within each Grade Level Group, Entry Submissions will be judged separately for the Business Challenge category and for the Social Challenge category.  Individual and team Entry Submissions will be judged together.

ROUND 1: 

  • Entry Submissions for Round 1 must be received before midnight (Hawaiian-Aleutian Standard time) on the Final Submission Date, i.e., by 11:59 pm HST on February 27, 2026.
  • Prizes will be awarded based on the initial Entry Submissions received in each Grade Level Category.
  • There will be 1,700 Round 1 prize winners (250 each in the Business Challenge and the Social Challenge in Group 1, and 300 each in the Business Challenge and the Social Challenge for Group 2 and for Group 3), for a total of 1,700 Round 1 winners, 850 in the Business Challenge and 850 in the Social Challenge.
  • Each of the Round 1 winners will receive $250 divided equally among team members for any team submissions.

Depending on the number and quality of Entry Submissions nationwide, the Administrator intends to evaluate Entry Submissions and attempt to award prizes in each of the states (in the discretion of the Administrator), with Entry Submissions from the City of Flint being treated as its own “state.” 

Only in Round 1 of the Competition may a competitor submit an individual entry and a team entry, for the chance to win two prizes (one for each Entry Submission).  After the First Round, competitors may only compete in one Challenge and with one Entry.  Should the Round 2 selection include a student who has two Entries, they may elect to compete with their individual Entry or with their team Entry.  If they elect to continue with their individual Entry, the remaining team members may continue without the Entrant who elected to participate as an individual (who will not be entitled to receive any team Prize in subsequent Rounds).

ROUND 2: 

  • In Round 2, 60 Entry Submissions will be selected from the top 120 scoring submissions from Round 1 (by new judge panels using the judging criteria described below), with 20 submissions selected to advance in each Grade Level Group (10 from the Business Challenge and 10 from the Social Challenge). Geographic regions will not be considered by the Administrator in this category, except that there will be at least one Prize reserved for Entrants from Genesee County, Michigan in each of the Business Challenge and the Social Challenge. 
  • Each of the Round 2 winners will receive $5,000 (divided equally among team members in the case of team submissions) and the opportunity to advance to the Semi-Final Round.

SEMI-FINAL ROUND: 

  • In order to continue to the Semi-Final Round, each of the Round 2 winners will be required to attend a Live Pitch Event in Flint, Michigan, with the Semi-Final Round on June 15 and the Final Round on June 16.
  • If Entrants are unwilling or unable to attend the Live Pitch Event, the Administrator will select alternate Entries from the Round 1 winners.
  • Competing in the Semi-Final Round:
    • each of the 60 Round 2 winners will be provided with instructions and a template to submit additional materials to further refine their idea, and on-line and other support will be available. These materials will be provided approximately 45 days prior to the Live Pitch Event in Flint. 
    • Entrants who advance to the Live Pitch Event will be required to expand upon and refine their original concept into a more complete pitch. However, Entrants will not be allowed to substantively change the core idea or concept of their original Entry Submission. 
    • As the Entrants advance in the Live Pitch Event, Entrants in the higher Grade Level Groups will be required to deliver more detailed pitches/presentations. Entrants will present to a panel of at least three judges for each Grade Level Group and Challenge (i.e., in 6 separate Competition rooms).  Presentations will have a time limit (to be determined) and judges will have an opportunity to ask each Entrant questions before deliberating to select those Entrants who will advance to the Final Round. 
  • The top six Entries will be selected from each Grade Level Group (3 from each the Business Challenge and the Social Challenge), for a total of 18 Semi-Final Round award winners who will advance to the Final Round.
  • Audience Choice Awards: In addition, each of the 60 Semi-Finalists will have their original submission video displayed on an online Showcase page (on the reviewr platform).  Between 12:01 am EST on June 15 and 12:00 pm EST on June 16, 2026, members of the public, including friends, supporters, family and others, will have the opportunity to review all of the Semi-Finalists’ videos and cast their votes by clicking the Thumbs Up “Like” button below their favorite presentation.  There will be 1 Prize for the Business Challenge and 1 Prize for the Social Challenge.  The Semi-Finalist in each Challenge whose video wins the most unique votes during that period will receive a special “Audience Choice” Award of $2,500, to be announced during the final event in Flint.

FINAL ROUND: 

  • The top 18 Semi-Final Round winners will compete in the Final Round of the Competition (each in their own Grade Level Group).
  • The top 6 Entrants of the 18 will be selected as the Final Round winners (2 from each Grade Level Group, 1 in each the Business Challenge and the Social Challenge) and will each receive an award of $25,000. The Final Round winners will also be invited to share their pitches on stage during the Live Event.
  • The remaining 12 Semi-Final Round Entrants will win semi-final awards of $10,000.
  1. PRIZES, PRIZE JUDGING, ANNOUNCEMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS:

PRIZES:  1,780 total prizes (“Prize(s)”) are available (as outlined above) and will be awarded so long as Administrator receives a sufficient number of Entries that meet the stated criteria.  Prizes will be awarded in each Round as outlined above.  Each Winner must claim their prize within 90 days of notice of the award.  The total approximate retail value (“ARV”) of all Prizes is $1,000,000.00 USD (less any required withholding).  Winners are solely responsible for any taxes applicable to their Prize. 

  • Round 1 Prizes: Each of the 1,700 winning Entrants of Round 1 will receive: $250, for a total ARV of $425,000.
  • Round 2 Prizes: Each of the 60 winning Entrants of Round 2 (in each age category) will receive: $5,000, for a total ARV of $300,000.
  • Semi-Final and Final Round Prizes: The 6 Final Round Winners will each receive: $25,000, for a total ARV of $150,000 USD and the remaining 12 Semi-Final participants will each receive $10,000, for a total ARV of $120,000.
  • Audience Choice Award: Each of the 2 winners of the Audience Choice Award will receive $2,500, for a total ARV of $5,000.

PRIZE JUDGING: Judging will be conducted by volunteer judge panels comprised of experts and other third parties not employed by the Administrator, as selected by the Administrator.  The judges will evaluate the Entries and determine the winners based on the criteria as shown below:

  1. Clarity – does the Entry (and pitch) clearly identify a business or social problem?
  2. Creativity –
    1. Does the Entry (and pitch) include an innovative and creative solution?
    2. How creative is the name and pitch video?
  3. Persuasiveness – How well does the presenter(s) sell the judges on their idea?
  4. Other Criteria:
    1. For Round 2, judges will also consider the quality of proposed short term actions and long term vision.
    2. For the Semi-Final and Final Rounds, the Administrator may announce additional judging criteria with the instructions and template circulated to participants 45 days prior to the Live Pitch Event in Flint.

From time to time, and in its sole discretion, the Administrator may also use other methods for selecting winners such as audience or peer vote and may also select winners through internal processes without the involvement of any external judges outside of the volunteer judge panels.

The final determination shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Administrator and all Entrants agree that the Administrator’s decisions and determinations shall be final and binding.

PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT: Round 1 Winners will be notified via email within 30 days following the Final Submission Date.  Notification will be given to winners of Round 2 via email within 15 days following the announcement of Round 1 winners.  The Semi-Final and Final Round Winners will be notified live at the conclusion of the live events on June 15 and 16 of 2026, in Flint, Michigan.

AWARDING PRIZES: All Prizes are subject to the following:

  • All Prizes will be awarded, provided that a sufficient number of Entries have been received by the Administrator that meet the stated criteria.
  • Administrator will not replace any lost or stolen prize.
  • Entrant may not substitute any prize, or transfer or assign its right to receive a prize.
  • Administrator reserves the right to substitute a prize with one of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion.
  • Receipt of awards shall be subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. Prize winners may be required to sign and return an affidavit confirming, among other things, eligibility, liability release, and where legal, a publicity release within seven days of notification. 
  • Winners may also be required, as a condition to receipt of their award, to complete and sign an Acknowledgment of Tax Liability and may also be required to describe the intended use of their award. 
  • Administrator may select a replacement winner if it is unable to contact a potential winner after a reasonable number of attempts; or if a potential winner is ineligible according to these Official Rules or applicable law; or if a potential winner fails to claim their prize or provide the required information and/or return any required documents within the specified time period; or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable;  or if a potential winner elects not to receive their prize for any reason.
  • Once any required information and documents are received within the specified time period, verified, and receive final approval by Administrator, a potential Competition winner becomes an actual Winner. Decisions and determinations of the Administrator are final in all respects.

CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS:  The Administrator may distribute Prizes above a certain threshold to winners through an approved custodial account (preferably into a Qualified Tuition Program (“QTP Account”) established under 26 US Code Section 529 or equivalent) that winners or their parents/guardians create through a reputable financial institution.  Regardless whether through a QTP Account or other eligible custodial account, winners or their parents/guardians will be required to submit proof of the custodial account prior to the distribution of any Prizes.  The Administrator may withhold Prizes for failure to meet these Prize distribution requirements and the Administrator reserves the right to amend or modify the Prize distribution requirements at any time, for any reason, and without notice. 

PRIZES WILL BE PROVIDED, AND ENTRANT ACCEPTS SUCH PRIZES, “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

  1. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES:  Regardless of the form of action or theory of recovery, in no event shall Funder/Sponsor or Administrator be liable to Entrant in connection with the Competition and/or these Official Rules for any indirect, special, exemplary, consequential, incidental or punitive damages (even if Funder/ Sponsor or Administrator is aware of the possibility of such damages); lost profits, lost revenue, lost business expectancy, business interruption losses, or loss of data.  Because the Competition does not involve payment to Funder/Sponsor or Administrator by Entrant, direct damages may not exceed One Hundred Dollars (U.S. $100.00).  Some jurisdictions do not allow consumer limitations of liability.
  2. DISPUTE RESOLUTION: The parties shall attempt to resolve any disputes through good faith business negotiations. Any dispute that cannot be resolved through good faith business negotiations shall be submitted to facilitative mediation, which may be conducted online.  https://www.adrtimes.com/judicial-arbitration-and-mediation-services/.  Facilitative mediation shall be a condition precedent to litigation.  Litigation, if any, shall be initiated and maintained only in the Circuit Court of Genesee County, Michigan, or the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division.  The parties expressly submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of these courts and waive any objection on the grounds of personal jurisdiction, venue, or forum non conveniens.  The parties hereby waive their right to a trial by jury and stipulate to a bench trial.  The parties agree to the consolidation of lawsuits if brought by different Entrants where such arbitrations/lawsuits relate to the same general subject matter of these Official Rules.  Notwithstanding the terms of this Section 11, a party may bring a claim in small claims court where the claim seeks only money damages and where the demand is for One Thousand Dollars (U.S. $1,000) or the jurisdictional amount of the small claims court, whichever is less.  If desired by Entrant and if agreed to by the court, the matter shall be decided by legal briefs and affidavits and not by in-person hearings or trials.
  3. GOVERNING LAW. Except where prohibited, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Entrant, Funder/Sponsor, Administrator or any other parties in connection with this Competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan.
  4. WAIVER OF CLASS ACTION: Whether disputes are resolved by good faith negotiations, mediation, or in court, Entrant hereby waives any right to bring, or participate as a member in, a class action lawsuit against Funder/Sponsor or Administrator.
  5. WINNERS:  For the names of the prize Winners, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Administrator, 120 Wall Street, Suite 1850, New York, New York, addressed to “2026 Mott Million Dollar Challenge.”
  6. FORCE MAJEURE: Administrator shall have the right to terminate the Competition in the event of fire or other casualty, acts of God, earthquake, floods, explosions, interrupted power supply, attacks on technology infrastructure, sabotage, war, riots, civil disturbance, acts of terrorism; inability to procure or a general shortage of labor, equipment, facilities, materials or supplies in the open market; strikes, lockouts, court orders, laws, regulations, or orders of government or military authorities; pandemic or health emergencies, accidents; or any other cause not within its control.  Notice of such action may be posted online at http://mottmillion.org/.
  7. CONSENT TO ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS: Funder/Sponsor, Administrator and Entrant consent to electronic signatures, documents, communications, and legal notices. Administrator may provide Entrant with notices by postings to the Competition website at http://mottmillion.org/, by email, text, or United States Postal Service. Notice is deemed given upon the earlier of (a) actual receipt, (b) twenty-four (24) hours after an email is sent or a communication is posted to the web site of Administrator, (c) if by mail, then three (3) days after first class mail is deposited with the U.S. Postal Service.
  8. GENERAL: Any Entry not in compliance with these Official Rules will be disqualified. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules or any Competition form or other document will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision of the Official Rules is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, it shall be revised in a manner consistent with the intent set forth in that provision and to make it enforceable.  Any waiver must be in writing and no waiver shall be implied.  In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any Competition-related materials, privacy policy, or terms of use on Administrator’s Website and/or the terms and conditions of the Official Rules, the Official Rules shall control.  Administrator reserves the right to cancel or modify the Competition at any time and shall post a notice to http://mottmillion.org/. A copy of the Official Rules is available at http://mottmillion.org/.  No third party has sponsored this Competition.

If you have questions, please contact the Administrator at:  mottmillion@nfte.com