The Paradigm Challenge is a free global competition inviting students ages 4–18 to develop creative, real-world solutions across five challenge areas: home fire safety, waste reduction, personal health, food security, and biodiversity. Entries can take any format — videos, posters, inventions, apps, websites, or community events.
Awards depend on team size. In each age division (4–8, 9–13 and 14–18), teams of four or more share first/second/third prizes of $10,000/$2,000/$1,000. For a placing team with fewer than four qualifying members, each member receives 25% of that team amount. The Grand Prize replaces first prize with $100,000 for a team of four or more, or $25,000 per member for a smaller team. Other finalists share up to $200, or $50 per qualifying member for teams under four. Up to four members of each first-place team, with one parent or guardian each, receive the stated Los Angeles prize trip; it is not offered to every member of an unlimited-size team.
The official registration and entry period runs May 2, 2025 through May 1, 2027. The rules state a final cutoff of 11:59 PM PST, using the organizer's wording. Mentor feedback is provided for eligible entries submitted more than 30 days before the cutoff, rather than guaranteed throughout the entire remaining period. Finalists are to be announced by June 1, 2027; no exact prize-ceremony date is supplied.
Sources checked November 4, 2026: official challenge overview and official rules. The country exclusions above follow the official rules. Dates for a later cycle are not yet confirmed.