The Harvard Crimson
PROGRAMS
HCBC GUIDELINES
Follow the steps below to enter the Preliminary Round of the Harvard Crimson Business Competition!
You will ideate and develop an innovate solution to one of the six global challenges listed below
You may compete individually or with a team of up to 4 people
1
Food insecurity continues to affect communities worldwide. The UN estimates that nearly 2.4 billion people did not have consistent access to nutritious, safe food in 2023. Climate change, conflict, economic instability, and supply-chain disruptions have intensified the challenge.
We invite you to consider innovative approaches to agriculture, food distribution, urban farming, or food-waste reduction to strengthen global and local food systems.
EXAMPLE: Spoiler Alert created a simple platform that helps grocery stores and food distributors track expiring products and quickly donate or discount them to reduce waste and improve food availability.
FOOD INSECURITY
2
Education remains one of the most powerful drivers of global development, yet millions of students still face barriers to high-quality learning. According to UNESCO, over 244 million children and adolescents are currently out of school, and vast differences in technological access, and resources deepen the divide between regions.
We encourage you to explore business solutions that expand equitable learning opportunities, strengthen digital access, or improve educational tools and infrastructure.
EXAMPLE: LittleBits created electronic building blocks that let students explore engineering through simple, hands-on experiments. The modular design made STEM learning accessible without needing advanced equipment or computers.
EDUCATION INEQUALITY
3
Climate change continues to disrupt natural ecosystems and global economies. The UN reports that extreme weather events such as heatwaves, wildfires, and floods have tripled in frequency over the past 50 years, affecting millions of lives and causing immense financial losses.
Your challenge is to develop business strategies that reduce carbon emissions, shift industries toward sustainable practices, or help communities adapt to a changing climate.
EXAMPLE: The BioLite CampStove is a small stove that turns burning biomass (sticks, leaves) into usable electricity. It shows how a simple device can reduce emissions and provide renewable power in areas without electricity.
CLIMATE CHANGE
4
Over 1.3 billion people (about 1 in 6 globally) live with a disability, according to the World Health Organization. Many face barriers in education, employment, mobility, digital access, and public spaces due to limited inclusive design and supportive technologies.
We encourage you to explore business ideas that enhance accessibility, create assistive technologies, or promote inclusive environments that ensure equal participation for all.
EXAMPLE: OrCam developed a wearable device that clips onto glasses and reads text aloud, identifies products, and recognizes faces using a small camera. It gives blind and low-vision users greater independence through simple audio feedback.
DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY
5
The global housing crisis has reached unprecedented levels. UN-Habitat estimates that 1.6 billion people live in inadequate housing, while rising urban populations, construction costs, and land shortages make safe, affordable homes increasingly difficult to secure.
We challenge you to consider innovative business solutions that lower construction costs, expand sustainable housing models, or improve access to safe living conditions for underserved communities.
EXAMPLE: ShelterBox provides compact, easy-to-transport emergency shelter kits that include a durable tent, solar light, water filters, blankets, and basic tools. Their kits help people and families experiencing homelessness.
HOUSING CRISIS
6
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires displace millions each year, with economic losses exceeding $250 billion annually. Quick, coordinated response systems are vital, yet many regions lack the resources or infrastructure to recover quickly.
We invite you to design business solutions that enhance emergency preparedness, improve disaster-response logistics, or support long-term community recovery and resilience.
EXAMPLE: Zipline, a drone-delivery company, has transformed disaster response by delivering medical supplies, vaccines, and emergency materials to remote areas within minutes—even when roads are damaged.
DISASTER VULNERABILITY
Think of an idea to address the challenge you have chosen and prepare a slideshow to present your vision
Create a 14-18 slide presentation including these elements
Company name, logo, and mission
Identify the global challenge you selected
Detail your solution: product features and functions
How the features address your problem
Identify your target market
How you will reach your audience
Explain why someone should buy/use your product
Plans for future growth
Conclusion
These slides are just an outline to guide you; you are not bound to these exact slides. Please ensure it is no shorter than 14 slides, and no longer than 18
Articulation of Concept
Audience Engagment
Ethics
JUDGING CRITERIA
Future Growth
Creativity
Presentation
Feasibility
FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW THESE CRITERIA WILL BE EVALUATED, LOOK TO THE RUBRIC
