On Saturday, February 15th, my team and I (Ana Jarso and Jisu Lee) walked onto the Hult Prize stage like the Avengers assembling for an epic battle armed not with superpowers but with an idea we believe can change the world.
We pitched PopEdu at theHult Prize competition, standing before a panel of judges with the weight of our own expectations pressing on us like a season finale cliffhanger. The moment was electric moments of vision, weeks of refinement, and countless late nights had led to this singular opportunity to make our mark on the world of education and social impact. But if there was one lesson the day reinforced, it was this: resilience is everything!
The road to Hult Prize wasn’t some smooth, Hollywood-style training montage. No, this was more like a Stranger Things-level obstacle course—twists, turns, and plenty of Demogorgon-sized setbacks. We iterated our idea tirelessly, refining our pitch deck until it practically told our story like a Netflix original. We faced skepticism like an underdog in a sports movie, adapted to feedback like a sci-fi hero rewriting the future, and even survived a few technological hiccups (haha well done Ana) that tested our patience more than waiting for a Marvel post-credit scene.
Walking onto that stage, we weren’t just pitching a business idea but showing why we refused to roll the credits on this dream. The judges’ questions were tough, their scrutiny sharper than a Game of Thrones plot twist, but we stood our ground. Every answer we gave was backed by the belief that what we were building had the power to change lives. Resilience wasn’t just a trait we possessed; it was the very foundation of our startup’s DNA.
Competitions are unpredictable! You can prepare for everything and still get hit with a curveball, ask any reality show contestant. But whether we advanced or not, the day reaffirmed that our real victory lies in perseverance. Every “no” is just another step toward a better “yes,” and every challenge is an invitation to level up.
The Hult Prize stage wasn’t just a pitch opportunity, it was a reminder that those who truly change the world are the ones who persist through the storms, stand firm in their purpose, and turn setbacks into the ultimate comeback story.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7296573988753879040/
As PopEdu we want to express our deepest gratitude to the Hult Prize organizers for an incredible and well-organized event, allowing us to compete for the $1 million prize. A special thank you to Dianne and Akhshi for their wise encouragement, to the mentors who guided us throughout this journey, and to the judges for their invaluable insights. Lastly, congratulations to Ivy for winning this year’s San Francisco edition, we celebrate your success and the impact you will undoubtedly create.
And so, we move forward, undaunted, unshaken, and more resilient than ever, ready for the next season of our journey!
