In order to compete and be eligible to win in the Start-Up Challenge, a special category of TIC Americas 2025, competing teams (“Teams”) must meet the following criteria:
- Be composed of a minimum of one (1) person and a maximum of five (5) people between 18 and 34 years old, with experience in different areas of their business.
- Participants must be citizens or legal residents of an OAS Member State. Multinational Teams may compete. Multinational teams shall register under the country of nationality or country of permanent residence of the CEO.
- Each team may register up to two Volunteer Mentors responsible for guiding the team through their expertise (optional). (See “Mentors”).
- Each team may register up to two (2) Volunteer Mentors responsible for guiding the team through their expertise (optional). (See “Mentors”).
The following individuals are not eligible to register or compete in the Start-Up Challenge:
- YABT staff, members of its Board of Directors, and national chapters.
- TIC Americas judges.
- Any Banreservas staff, contractors, or members of its Board of Directors and Advisory Council
- Entrepreneurs who have already received capital investment and/or financing from Cree Banreservas Program.
- Organization of American States’ General Secretariat personnel.
- Immediate family or household members of anyone mentioned above.