Startup World Cup Championship 2026 in Davos Showcased UN SDGs GOLD MEDALS 2026

While world leaders, investors, and business executives gathered in Davos to discuss the future of the global economy, another remarkable event captured international attention. 

The Startup World Cup Championship 2026 for Children and Youth proved that the entrepreneurs of tomorrow are not waiting for the future—they are already building it today.

United Nations Special Recognition

Entrepreneurship Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

One of the Championship's greatest distinctions was its close alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This year, 17 outstanding projects received Special United Nations Awards, recognising innovative solutions that directly contribute to achieving the world's most important development priorities.

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goal Awards

• No Poverty — GreenShare Global (Pakistan)
• Zero Hunger — Smart Snacks / GOAL CRASHERS (Turkmenistan)
• Good Health and Well-being — Dental Calm Box (Ukraine)
• Quality Education — Young Traders (Ukraine)
• Gender Equality — NeuroLead Educational (Poland)
• Clean Water and Sanitation — Ash Aura (Azerbaijan)
• Affordable and Clean Energy — Choco Bricks (Azerbaijan)
• Decent Work and Economic Growth — SkillSwap (United Kingdom)
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure — Beatrice Bridal Online (Ukraine)
• Reduced Inequalities — Uniquely Yours (South Africa)
• Sustainable Cities and Communities — Business Impulse™ (Kazakhstan)
• Responsible Consumption and Production — Scrabmylius (Kazakhstan)
• Climate Action — Silque (Azerbaijan)
• Life Below Water — Le Pass (Azerbaijan)
• Life on Land — Growkit / Green Roots (Turkmenistan)
• Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — Two Sides (Ukraine)
• Partnerships for the Goals — Teens Club (Turkmenistan)

Each award symbolises far more than entrepreneurial excellence. It confirms that young innovators are already developing practical solutions aligned with humanity's shared global priorities and capable of creating measurable positive impact.

The Startup World Cup Championship 2026 was far more than an international competition. It became a living laboratory of the future—a place where children's imagination met business discipline, where creativity merged with technology, and where entrepreneurship became a force for solving global challenges.

The level of professionalism displayed by participants surprised many experienced investors, educators, and business leaders attending the event. The projects demonstrated not only innovation but also market awareness, customer understanding, financial thinking, sustainability, and international scalability.

Many of these startups have genuine commercial potential and may evolve into globally recognised companies in the years ahead.

Building the Entrepreneurs the World Needs

Today's rapidly changing world demands a new generation of leaders—individuals capable of combining innovation with responsibility, technology with ethics, and business success with meaningful social impact.

The young entrepreneurs who stood on the stage in Davos demonstrated exactly these qualities. They are not waiting to inherit the future. They are designing it.

Their ideas prove that entrepreneurship is becoming one of the world's most powerful educational tools, preparing children and young adults to think independently, solve complex problems, create employment, improve communities, and contribute to sustainable global development.

The Future Has Already Begun

The Startup World Cup Championship 2026 sent a powerful message to governments, investors, educators, and business leaders around the world:

The next generation of entrepreneurs is already here. They are innovative. They are globally minded. They are socially responsible. And they are ready to build businesses that not only generate economic value but also improve lives, strengthen communities, and shape a more sustainable future for humanity.

As Davos looked toward the future, one thing became abundantly clear: The future of entrepreneurship is already in remarkably capable hands.

Startup World Cup Championship 2026 Davos: WINNERS

Startup World Cup Championship 2026 United Young Entrepreneurs from Around the World in Davos

9–17 July 2026 | Davos, Switzerland

The Startup World Cup Championship 2026 was successfully held in Davos, Switzerland, as part of Global Business Week 2026, bringing together children, young people and adults with a shared ambition to transform innovative ideas into real businesses.

The Championship became a powerful international platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders. It united participants who were not only dreaming about the future, but were actively creating it through entrepreneurship, technology, creativity and social innovation.

Young talents presented startup projects, developed entrepreneurial thinking, tested their ideas before an international audience and learned how to build sustainable companies capable of generating value, creating jobs, attracting investment and contributing to long-term economic growth.

Kateryna Lazor: Restoring Lives After the Trauma of War

At the World Woman Forum 2026, held during Global Business Week Davos, Kateryna Lazor, PhD and Founder of the charitable foundation Women’s Wings, presented a powerful message about healing, resilience, and the urgent need to support women whose lives have been profoundly affected by the war in Ukraine.

In her presentation, "Restoring Lives After the Trauma of War," she drew international attention to one of the most overlooked humanitarian challenges—the long-term recovery of women who have survived Russian captivity, torture, and violence, as well as the wives and mothers of fallen or missing Ukrainian defenders.

Kateryna Lazor explained that Women’s Wings was created to help these women rebuild their lives through comprehensive rehabilitation, combining psychological care, medical support, physical recovery, counselling, educational programmes, retreats, creative workshops, and social reintegration. Every rehabilitation journey is tailored to the individual, recognising that every woman carries her own story of loss, resilience, and hope.

The foundation also creates a supportive community where women can reconnect with others who share similar experiences, restore confidence, rediscover purpose, and regain the strength to move forward. At the heart of its philosophy is the belief that true rehabilitation is not only about overcoming trauma—it is about restoring dignity, hope, and the ability to dream again.

Addressing the international audience, Kateryna Lazor emphasized that as the war continues, the need for professional rehabilitation and long-term support continues to grow. She called on governments, philanthropic organizations, businesses, and individual donors to join this mission and help women rebuild their futures.

Concluding her presentation, she reminded participants that every act of compassion creates lasting impact:

"When we help one woman heal, we strengthen a family. When we strengthen a family, we strengthen a community. And when communities recover, nations become more resilient. Together, we can ensure that hope, dignity, and humanity are stronger than the consequences of war."

Her presentation highlighted one of the central messages of the World Woman Forum 2026: investing in the recovery of women is not only a humanitarian responsibility—it is an investment in the resilience, healing, and future of society itself.

Viacheslav Kredisov: Building Bridges for Sustainable International Business Cooperation

At the Global Education Forum 2026, held during Global Business Week Davos, Viacheslav Kredisov, President of the Swiss-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Cooperation (SU-CCC) and Chairman of the Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Association Nova Formatsiia (NFUA), presented a vision for strengthening international economic cooperation through sustainable business ecosystems rather than one-time networking events.

In his presentation, "Building Bridges for Sustainable International Business Cooperation," he emphasized that today's rapidly changing global economy requires more than temporary business contacts. Long-term growth depends on trusted mechanisms that transform dialogue into lasting partnerships, investment opportunities, knowledge exchange, and joint international projects.

Viacheslav Kredisov introduced the mission of the Swiss-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Cooperation (SU-CCC) as a platform connecting businesses, entrepreneurs, institutions, and investors between Switzerland, Ukraine, and Europe. Together with the Nova Formatsiia Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Association, which has been supporting entrepreneurship and international cooperation for 29 years, the Chamber is developing practical tools that help businesses continue collaborating long after conferences and forums have ended.

He highlighted that in an era of geopolitical uncertainty, economic transformation, and global challenges, sustainable partnerships based on trust, shared values, and mutual benefit have become one of the strongest drivers of economic development and international stability. Building permanent cooperation platforms enables entrepreneurs, investors, educational institutions, and public organizations to create projects with lasting economic and social impact.

Concluding his presentation, Viacheslav Kredisov shared a message that resonated strongly with the international audience:

"The future belongs to those who build bridges rather than barriers. By creating sustainable systems for cooperation, we can transform ideas into lasting partnerships that benefit businesses, communities, and future generations. International cooperation begins with trust, dialogue, and the willingness to create opportunities together."

His presentation reinforced one of the central themes of Global Education Forum 2026: sustainable development is built not only through innovation and education, but also through trusted international partnerships that connect people, businesses, and nations for the long term.

Lyazzat Alshinova: Creating Environments Where People Flourish

At the Global Education Forum 2026, held during Global Business Week Davos, Lyazzat Alshinova of Kazakhstan presented an inspiring vision of social leadership through her presentation, "Creating Environments Where People Flourish."

Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in community development and civic engagement, she shared a simple yet profound idea: lasting transformation does not begin by changing people—it begins by creating environments where people can discover their own strengths, build confidence, and thrive.

A turning point in her journey came after participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the United States, where she witnessed how local communities create meaningful change through responsibility, collaboration, and active citizenship. Inspired by this experience, she founded Zamandas21, an organization dedicated to supporting children, families, women, and local communities across Kazakhstan.

Rather than focusing on short-term programmes, Zamandas21 creates safe, supportive, and human-centered environments where trust, opportunity, and meaningful relationships become the foundation for sustainable development. Through this approach, communities strengthen resilience, encourage civic participation, and empower people to contribute positively to society.

Lyazzat Alshinova emphasized that in a world facing increasing social fragmentation and uncertainty, the most important investment is not only in projects or infrastructure, but in creating spaces where people feel valued, respected, and inspired. Such environments foster stronger families, more resilient communities, and greater social cohesion.

Concluding her presentation, she delivered a powerful message to the international audience:

"A better world is not built by extraordinary individuals alone. It is built by ordinary people who choose to care, serve, and create opportunities for others to flourish. Every child deserves the freedom to dream. Every family deserves hope. Every woman deserves the opportunity to discover her strength. The future begins with the spaces we create for one another."

Her presentation reminded participants that sustainable development is ultimately about people—and that the environments we create today will shape the societies of tomorrow.

BOSS AWARDS 2026: TOP 100 GLOBAL LEADERS

TOP 100 GLOBAL LEADERS

BOSS AWARDS 2026: Honouring Those Who Shape the Future

The BOSS AWARDS 2026 celebrated one of the most prestigious moments of Global Business Week 2026, recognizing the world's most influential entrepreneurs, innovators, public leaders, educators, scientists, philanthropists, and changemakers whose vision and achievements are making a lasting contribution to global progress.

Held in Davos, Switzerland, the Awards Ceremony brought together distinguished leaders from across the world to celebrate excellence, leadership, innovation, and international cooperation. More than an awards programme, the BOSS AWARDS have become a global platform for recognising individuals whose work inspires economic growth, strengthens communities, and creates meaningful impact for future generations.

This year, 100 exceptional leaders from around the globe were honoured for their outstanding achievements across a wide spectrum of industries and public life. The laureates represented multinational corporations, innovative startups, government institutions, educational organisations, scientific communities, charitable foundations, and international business networks.

The awards celebrated visionary entrepreneurs who have built successful international companies, political and civic leaders dedicated to strengthening international cooperation, educators transforming learning for future generations, scientists driving innovation, and young entrepreneurs proving that age is no barrier to creating meaningful change.

Each recipient demonstrated that true leadership extends far beyond business success. It is measured by the ability to inspire people, solve complex challenges, build international partnerships, and create opportunities that benefit society as a whole.

WORLD CHANGER AWARD

The prestigious World Changer Award recognises individuals whose leadership has made an exceptional contribution to international cooperation, humanitarian development, and global unity.

Paul Goggin – United Kingdom, Former Mayor of Bristol

Honoured for his outstanding contribution to strengthening international relations between the United Kingdom and Ukraine, and for his unwavering support of humanitarian initiatives that have helped save lives and provide assistance to the Ukrainian people during the war.

Liudmyla Stanislavenko – Ukraine, Chair of the Supreme Council, World Woman Club, Founder of the Liudmyla Stanislavenko Charitable Foundation

Recognised for her exceptional leadership in promoting global unity, international dialogue, humanitarian cooperation, and initiatives that strengthen understanding and collaboration between nations.

BOSS AWARD

For Building Outstanding International Companies That Drive Global Progress

The BOSS AWARD honours visionary entrepreneurs whose companies create economic growth, generate employment, introduce innovation, and contribute to sustainable international development.

2026 Laureates

• Oleksandr Marakhovskyy & Aurika Vrancianu — Switzerland
• Lali Okujava — Georgia
• Yelena Lee — Kazakhstan
• Yang Chin-chung — Taiwan
• Olena Vykhrystyuk — Ukraine
• Alan Chen — Taiwan
• Ayjemal Orazalyyeva — Turkmenistan
• Olga Gryzodub — Poland

These remarkable leaders have demonstrated that entrepreneurship is not only about building successful companies—it is about creating opportunities, transforming industries, generating innovation, and improving the lives of millions of people.

The BOSS AWARDS 2026 reaffirmed a powerful message: the future is created by courageous leaders who combine vision with action, innovation with responsibility, and business success with a commitment to making the world a better place.

By celebrating the achievements of these extraordinary individuals, the Awards inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers to think globally, lead with integrity, and create lasting impact across borders.

For the complete list of the Top 100 Global Leaders, award categories, laureates, and ceremony highlights, we invite you to visit our official website and discover the inspiring stories behind this international celebration of excellence.

GLOBAL BUSINESS DIPLOMACY AWARDS 2026

Honouring Leaders Who Build Bridges Between Nations

One of the most prestigious recognitions presented during the BOSS AWARDS 2026 was the Global Business Diplomacy Award—an international honour celebrating visionary leaders who strengthen economic cooperation, promote international partnerships, and create strategic business relationships between countries.

Business diplomacy has become one of the most powerful drivers of sustainable economic growth. It connects entrepreneurs, investors, governments, and institutions, opening new markets, encouraging international trade, attracting investment, and creating opportunities that benefit both national economies and the global business community.

The Global Business Diplomacy Award recognises individuals whose leadership goes beyond business success. They serve as ambassadors of international cooperation, helping entrepreneurs establish meaningful cross-border partnerships while strengthening the competitiveness and global presence of their countries.

2026 Business Diplomacy Laureates

• Ira Goel — Germany
• Iana Lutska — Poland
• Grigoriy Gurbanov — Turkmenistan
• Narmina Hasanova — Azerbaijan
• Irina Selevestru — Moldova
• Nazzara Ergasheva — Kyrgyzstan
• Dinora Saitova — Kazakhstan
• Ilona Bordian — Ukraine

GLOBAL CULTURAL DIPLOMACY AWARDS 2026

Inspiring Nations Through Culture, Education, and Human Development

Culture has always been one of humanity's strongest forces for unity. Through education, the arts, science, creativity, and cultural exchange, societies develop mutual understanding, preserve their heritage, and inspire future generations.

The Global Cultural Diplomacy Award honours distinguished leaders whose work contributes to the advancement of culture, education, creativity, and the intellectual development of individuals and entire nations. Their initiatives strengthen international understanding, preserve cultural identity, and promote lifelong learning as the foundation of peaceful global cooperation.

2026 Cultural Diplomacy Laureates

• Dr. Watceilia Varso — Australia
• Dr. Irene Khajalia — Georgia
• Tetiana Markova — Germany
• Olena Malenkova — Ukraine
• Siphiwe Nompumelelo Antonia Gumede — South Africa
• Stefaniia Didenko — Ukraine
• Vita Mishyna — Ukraine

GLOBAL WOMEN'S DIPLOMACY AWARDS 2026

Empowering Women. Strengthening Communities. Transforming the Future.

The Global Women's Diplomacy Award recognises exceptional women whose leadership advances women's entrepreneurship, professional development, international cooperation, and humanitarian initiatives.

These inspiring leaders build strong women's communities, create opportunities for economic empowerment, support education, encourage leadership, and promote projects that improve the lives of women and families around the world.

Their work demonstrates that investing in women creates stronger businesses, stronger communities, and stronger nations. By connecting women across borders, they contribute to a future built on collaboration, equality, innovation, and sustainable development.

2026 Women's Diplomacy Laureates

• Olha Korbut — Ukraine
• Tetiana Moskalenko — Ukraine
• Tetiana Semikop — Ukraine
• Iryna Nikolenko — Poland
• Marina Belaia — Moldova
• Liudmyla Zotova — Ukraine
• Liliia Oliinyk — Ukraine
• Nadiia Peryna — Ukraine

These distinguished laureates represent the very best of international leadership. Through business diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and women's diplomacy, they are building bridges between nations, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, preserving cultural heritage, empowering communities, and shaping a more connected, peaceful, and prosperous world.

The BOSS AWARDS 2026 proudly celebrates these global leaders whose vision, dedication, and international impact continue to inspire cooperation and progress across continents.