Judges evaluate Competition Materials, score Teams, and select the winners of the Start-Up Challenge. Judges are selected based on the following criteria:

• Professional experience in sectors such as microenterprise development and/or business, community organizing, academia, chambers of commerce, and technical areas related to sustainable development.
• Bilingual or multilingual in English and/or Spanish.

Past performance judging a TIC Americas competition, when applicable.
The following individuals are ineligible to participate as Judges:

• YABT staff, Board members, and national chapters.
• TIC Americas mentors.
• Organization of American States’ General Secretariat personnel.
• Immediate family or household members of anyone mentioned above.

Judges shall sign a confidentiality agreement, disclose all potential conflicts of interest, and agree to abide by Start-Up Challenge’s Rules, Terms and Conditions in order to participate. Judges will agree to score teams fully and impartially based on the technical quality and presentation of the Competition Materials and the team’s performance during Start-Up Challenge and without regard to gender, nationality, age, education, race, sexual orientation, or other discriminatory factors. Judges participate on a voluntary basis and will not be paid by Teams, YABT, Banreservas, Sponsors, TIC Americas, the Start-Up Challenge, or any partners.

YABT will provide training and oversight to Judges to ensure consistent, appropriate application of the Evaluation Criteria (see Evaluation Criteria) and the selection process.