Yorkshire-based educational technology company, SimVenture is putting the region on the world map by bringing students from around the globe together for an international business simulation competition, with £2,000 in prize money up for grabs.

SimVenture has opened entries for Evolve! 2026 - its annual global business simulation competition. The competition gives students the opportunity to experience the realities of running a business in a competitive, engaging and authentic environment.

Now in its third year, Evolve! is inviting schools, colleges and universities from around the world to enter student teams. The competition is open to students from all subject areas and is designed to develop business decision-making, strategic thinking, teamwork and other valuable employability skills.

The competition will run entirely online over a four-day period (9-12 November) using Evolution, SimVenture’s business simulation. Students will work in teams to start, manage, and grow their own virtual bicycle company, making a series of business decisions and responding to the consequences of those decisions as their business develops.

SimVenture Co-founder and CEO Peter Harrington says: “We’re proud to be a Yorkshire business with a global reach, and Evolve! is a great example of how technology can connect people and create opportunities that extend far beyond our city.

“We believe people learn best when they’re given the opportunity to put knowledge into practice. Running a business simulation gives students the chance to make decisions and learn from both their successes and mistakes.

“Alongside business knowledge and commercial acumen, the competition is designed to develop key skills including strategic thinking, communication, leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking.”

The competition has grown from 147 participating students from 16 education institutions across eight countries in its first year to 257 students from 25 institutions across 13 countries in 2025. Peter says Evolve! 2026 aims to build on this international growth and welcome even more students and education institutions from around the world.

2025 winners, Team JKonic from Universidad Modelo Mérida in Mexico, highlighted the value of applying classroom learning to a dynamic business environment.

Mr Edwin Melchor Balam Moo, staff representative for the 2025 winning team, said: “Fostering strategic thinking represents a challenge that transcends the knowledge acquired in the classroom; it involves the ability to apply what has been learned in real and dynamic contexts.”

SimVenture will host webinars for educators ahead of the entry deadline, providing an opportunity to see Evolution in action. To ensure that students begin the competition on a level playing field, all participants can access and practise with Evolution for six days before the competition officially begins.

Peter adds: “What makes Evolve! particularly exciting is the combination of experiential learning and competition. Participants are not simply learning about business – they are applying their knowledge in context, working as a team and connecting with students worldwide. Hundreds of people now enter Evolve! and we are very proud to be at the heart of this global project.”

Yorkshire-based edTech company Genio returns as gold sponsor of Evolve! 2026. The competition is free to enter. Entries open on 1 September 2026 and close at 5pm GMT on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Apply via the SimVenture Evolve! website: simventure.com/events/evolve/