Prequel × Limitless Education — Young Changemakers Fund

Got a project that actually matters?

Over $75K in prize funding — scholarships, grants, and pitch competition prizes — for high school students building projects that make the world better. Open to grades 8–11 nationwide.

Apply Now → How It Works
$75K+
Total fund
12
Scholarship spots
$15K
Catalyst Prize pool
5 min
Application time
How It Works

From application to real funding.

The fund operates in three stages. Enter the open contest, apply for a scholarship, or do both.

1

Open Contest

$5,000 Grand Prize

Open to any student in grades 8–11. Record a 60-second video about the problem you want to solve. Winner gets a full-ride scholarship to Prequel plus $5K in project funding.

2

Scholarship Cohort

12 Students Selected

Need-based scholarships to join Prequel's year-long program. Weekly workshops, 1:1 coaching, college advising, and a community of students building real ventures.

3

The Catalyst Prize

$15,000 in Prizes

After completing the year-long Prequel program, scholarship students pitch their social impact projects for real prize money. Open exclusively to Prequel students.

The Open Contest

One video. 60 seconds. Tell us what problem you'd solve and how you'd use $5,000 to grow your project.

Grand Prize
$10,500 total value Full-ride scholarship ($5,500) + $5,000 project funding awarded after program completion
  • Open to any student in grades 8–11, anywhere in the US
  • Winner must enroll in and complete the full Prequel program year
  • $5K project funding is awarded after program completion
  • Post your video with #PrequelChangemakers and tag @joinprequel (optional but encouraged)
Enter the Contest →
🎥
60-Second Video Pitch
"What problem would you solve?
How would you use $5K to grow your project?"
The Program

What scholarship recipients get access to

Prequel is a 12-month program where students build real projects — startups, apps, films, research, books. Scholarship recipients join the full cohort starting June 18, 2026.

⚡
Business & Entrepreneurship

Identify high-impact problems, build a minimum viable product, validate with real users, and develop a viable business model.

📡
Audience & Distribution

Develop a public presence, build an audience, master social media and writing, and learn to pitch your work to mentors and investors.

🤖
AI-First Learning

Use AI as a force multiplier across research, content, and decision-making. Build with no-code and AI-powered tools. Work 10x faster.

📅
Weekly Live Sessions 90-minute workshops every Thursday (8–9:30 PM ET) with real project challenges and peer collaboration.
📚
12-Month Program A full year of structured support. Foundations (months 1–3) to launch your project, Scale (months 4–12) to grow it.
🎓
1:1 Mentorship Dedicated coaching combining human mentors and AI-guided feedback to keep your project on track.
🏫
College Advising In-house college strategy — initial positioning call plus ongoing support to make your project the centerpiece of your application.
🤝
Community A peer group of driven students building their own ventures. Weekly interaction, shared accountability, lasting connections.
📈
Real Traction Goals By month 3: a defined project with measurable progress. By year end: a standout venture that strengthens your college application.
Summer 2026 Cohort

Starts June 18, 2026. Scholarship recipients get full access for the entire program year. Additional optional sessions on Wednesdays (8–9 PM ET) plus monthly college advisor masterminds.

Foundations
Months 1–3
Scale
Months 4–12
Prequel Students

This is what "real projects" look like

These are current and recent Prequel students. Real projects, real traction, real results.

Anaiah Singh
Anaiah Singh
Hearttalk

Mental health brand with 30,000+ TikTok followers. Featured in Newsweek. Full app published on the App Store.

30K+ TikTok • Newsweek feature • App Store
Shivin Singh
Shivin Singh
Legisim

AI-powered legislation simulator with 6,000+ users. Makes the legislative process accessible through interactive simulation.

6,000+ users
Vaani Tiwari
Vaani Tiwari
The Hidden Loop

Documentary on social media's impact on teen mental health. 325-person waitlist before release. Published filmmaker.

325 waitlist • Published filmmaker
Divya Taneja
Divya Taneja
Saha PCOS

Health app for PCOS management, built from personal experience. Active community of 90+ members.

90+ community members
The Catalyst Prize

Pitch for $15,000 in prizes

After completing the year-long Prequel program, scholarship students pitch their social impact projects to a live panel of judges. Four prizes awarded on the spot.

1st Place
$7,000
2nd Place
$4,000
3rd Place
$2,500
People's Choice
$1,500
How The Catalyst Prize works: The Catalyst Prize is an invitation-only pitch competition at the end of the Prequel program year. It is open exclusively to scholarship cohort students and other Prequel students working in the social impact space. Prize money is awarded after the competition. If you pivot away from social impact during the program, you keep your scholarship but lose Catalyst Prize eligibility.

Apply in under 5 minutes

One form for both the scholarship application and contest entry.

Applications close May 1, 2026 • Contest entries close April 17, 2026
Timeline

Key Dates

Mar 20, 2026
Applications open + contest begins
Apr 17, 2026
Contest entries close (4-week window)
Apr 24, 2026
Contest winner announced
May 1, 2026
Scholarship applications close
May 15, 2026
Scholarship offers extended
Jun 18, 2026
Cohort starts — full Prequel program begins
Jun 2027
Program year ends — The Catalyst Prize + prizes awarded
FAQ

Common Questions

Who can apply?

Any student in grades 8–11, anywhere in the United States. You do not need to be enrolled in Prequel already, and there is no GPA requirement. You need a social impact idea and a clear plan for what you would build.

What counts as "social impact"?

We define it broadly. It could be a for-profit business that solves a social problem, a nonprofit, an app, a media project, or a community initiative. It is not limited to nonprofits — for-profit ventures with clear social benefit qualify.

Do I need an existing project?

No. You need an idea and a plan for what you would build. Applicants with existing projects and applicants starting new ones are equally welcome.

Is the video pitch required?

Yes. It is the most important part of your application. 60 seconds, speaking directly to camera. Tell us what you want to build and why it matters. Production quality is not a factor — your idea and clarity are what count.

Do I have to post my video on social media?

No, posting on social media is optional. We value students who are comfortable sharing their work publicly, but it is not a requirement. If you do post, use #PrequelChangemakers and tag @joinprequel.

What happens if my idea changes during the program?

Project direction can change during the program, and that is expected. If you pivot to a different project, you keep your scholarship. However, if your new project is no longer social impact focused, you will not be eligible for Catalyst Prize awards.

How are scholarships determined?

Scholarships are need-based. In the application, describe your financial situation and why you need the funding. We also evaluate the strength of your idea and video pitch. Two students receive full rides. The remaining scholarship recipients receive partial tuition coverage. All scholarship funds are confirmed upon acceptance into the program.

When are prizes and funding awarded?

Catalyst Prize awards ($15K total) are given at the end of the program year, after you present your project. The contest winner's $5K project funding is also paid out after completing the full program. Scholarships cover your tuition from day one.

What is Prequel?

Prequel is a 12-month program for high school students building real projects — startups, apps, films, research. Students receive weekly workshops, 1:1 coaching, college advising, and access to a community of peers working on their own ventures. The Summer 2026 cohort starts June 18. Learn more at joinprequel.com.

Applications Close May 1, 2026

Real Teens.
Real Ventures.
Real Impact.

Apply Now →