Top 20 Competition FAQs

Join the Enactus Top 20 Semi-Final Competition and take your team to the next stage of the Enactus World Cup journey… in Bangkok!

General Information

  • The Top 20 Semi-Finals is the second round of the Enactus World Cup Qualifiers. The Teams will present thier projects to a panel of judges at the ExCeL Centre in London on the 7th of April.

  • The top teams from the Semi-Finals advance to the Top 4 Final Round where they’ll present at the ExCel on the 8th of April. The champion represents the UK & Ireland at the Enactus World Cup in Bangkok.

  • The Top 20 Semi-Finals Competition will be held at the Platinum Suite, ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL Nearest Tube: Custom House

Measuring & Presenting Impact

  • Yes, all Enactus Teams that make it through to the Top 20 Round will complete a pre-audit before competing. This ensures all teams adhere to the same standards when presenting their Enactus impact, creating a fairer competition for all. Visit the Top 20 Competition page to submit your pre-audit: https://enactusuki.org/top-20

  • You can include both. You must clearly distinguish between the actual impact you’ve already achieved and projections of future outcomes. Projections demonstrate your project’s potential, but judges will be asked to focus on actual results only.

  • Absolutely. We encourage judges to ask about what it is that you have presented especially in regards to verifying impact, so it’s important that you are prepared to answer questions on what you have presented. Be prepared to explain how you gathered your data, why it’s reliable, and what it shows about your project’s impact. The easiest thing to do is make your presentation really clear so they don’t have a reason to!

  • Direct Impact: Measurable improvements among individuals you directly worked with (e.g., participants who received training).

    Indirect Impact: Benefits experienced by those who didn’t directly participate but were positively influenced by the project (e.g., families or community members of the direct participants).

  • Yes – if it’s not clear, the judges may ask. It’s important that you are being as accurate as possible with the impact you have created.

  • Combine quantitative data (e.g., surveys with scaled questions) with qualitative methods like interviews, focus groups, or personal testimonials. These approaches can help you capture and communicate the human side of your project’s impact.

  • Definitely not! As mentioned above, impact is one measurement of the Enactus criterion out of 4.  Judges value the work you’ve put in to develop your projects, meet needs and create interventions. A deeper, more meaningful impact on a smaller group or even one, can be more compelling than a superficial impact on many.

Event Preparation

  • Exact timings will be provided prior to the event - please check your email and calendar. Generally, plan to arrive at least 15-30 minutes before the start to settle in.

  • Wear something that makes you feel both good and professional. Think smart business casual, but don't feel like you have to be super formal. Comfort is key as they are long days! If you can showcase your team spirit through your outfit colours or styles - even better!

    **At Enactus being sustainable is important. We encourage you, where appropriate, to consider clothing made from sustainable materials, charity shop finds, or previously owned pieces.

  • There will be no food provided at the event, however, the ExCeL Centre has many options to purchase food and beverages.

    Please feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks to keep energised throughout the day.

    • A reliable laptop with a working HDMI port and your presentation preloaded/downloaded.

    • Laptop charger.

    • (OPTIONAL) Annual Reports to distribute to the judges.

    • Reusable Water Bottle.

    • Recommended:
      • Backup of Your Presentation! Have a USB or external drive copy in case of technical issues.
      • Back up laptop.

  • No, you are not required to submit your presentation in advance. Simply bring your presentation on a laptop with an HDMI port to ensure it can be displayed on the day.

  • Yes, you are permitted to use support materials such as notes, cue cards, or scripts while presenting.

  • No, there is no specific template required for your presentation.

    You have the freedom to design it in a way that best represents your team and project.

Registration

  • Everyone attending the Top 20 Competition will be required to complete an individual registration form that would have been shared with the team via email.

  • Each team can have up to 7 members in the core presentation team. However, there is no limit to how many members you can have from your Enactus Team supporting you on the day so make sure to bring everyone along!

  • Due to venue capacity, requests for additional attendees must be submitted in writing to Stephen Brown (sbrown@enactus.org), with Amy Brereton (abrereton@enactus.org) copied in. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate additional guests, so kindly confirm availability before finalising their attendance.

  • Yes, as long as you still meet the minimum and maximum presenters requirements. If someone drops out, you can replace them with another eligible team member.

    If this is the case you must let Stephen (sbrown@enactus.org) know as soon as possible as we will need to know the details of the new attendee such as Name, Email, Access requirements.

Competition Details

    • A 12-minute audio/visual presentation showcasing your project.

    • A 5-minute Q&A session with judges.

    • Judges evaluate based on the Enactus Criteria.

  • No, after each presentation there will only be a 5 minute Q&A session.

  • No, you can have different presenters for the World Cup Qualifiers Top 20.

    Please note that for the World Cup Qualifiers, a maximum of 7 presenters is allowed.

  • There is no penalty for presentations that are shorter than 12 minutes. However, you will be stopped if your presentation exceeds the 12-minute limit.

  • No, live demonstrations or physical prototypes are not permitted as part of your presentation.

  • In the event of a power failure or any other fault attributable to Enactus UK & Ireland or the venue, the competition will be paused until the issue is resolved.

    Should a team's electronic equipment fail due to a fault attributable to the team, the allocated presentation time will continue to elapse. This can include the team’s laptop dying, presentation freezing, sound malfunctioning etc.

  • It is each team’s responsibility to ensure all necessary equipment is brought and is in working order. Once your presentation timer starts, any technical issues or missing items will continue to count against your total time. You have 3 minutes for set-up; if you exceed this, the extra time needed will reduce your 12-minute presentation slot.

    We will only pause the timer for technical faults on our side, such as a venue power failure

    We strongly recommend brining backup chargers, downloaded powerpoints on USBs or backup laptops.

  • No, if your team advances to the Top 4, you will present the same presentation that you delivered during the Semi-Finals. The format, structure, and time limit will remain the same. The only difference is that you will now be presenting in front of a larger audience and a new panel of judges during the Final Round. This ensures a fair and consistent competition for all teams.

  • You will find out which league you are competing in on April 7th at the Top 20 Semi-Final competition. League assignments will be revealed on the day, just before the competition begins, ensuring a fair and exciting experience for all teams.

Accessibility and Support

  • We recommend reaching out to your University Advisors first to understand the process for reclaiming travel expenses. While each university may have its own guidelines, consider utilising any available funds in your team’s bank account to support attendance at these events, as doing so can significantly accelerate your projects.

    If your team is experiencing difficulties attending this event, please contact Mariana (mdasilva@enactus.org), copying in Amy (abrereton@enactus.org), and we will explore how we may be able to assist.

  • Please include accessibility requirements in the registration form, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

  • If you require a prayer room, please get in touch with Stephen (sbrown@enactus.org) to let us know in advance of the event.

By attending the Top 20 Semi-Finals, you agree to the following policies & disclaimers:

Privacy Policy

Disclaimers

Code of Conduct

Photography and Media Policy:
Please be aware that photography and videography may take place during this event. By attending, you consent to the use of your image and likeness in photos and videos taken at the event. These images and videos may be used for promotional purposes on our website, social media channels, and other marketing materials. If you do not wish to be included in any photos or videos, please let us know by contacting Mariana (mdasilva@enactus.org), ahead of any event that you may attend.

Still have a question?

Get in touch with Stephen at sbrown@enactus.org