There is currently no high-profile, competitive event that showcases entrepreneurship in the same way the Olympics celebrates sports. While hackathons and pitch competitions exist, they lack the prestige, drama, and communal excitement of a global sporting event. A possible solution could be a weekend-long, Olympics-style hackathon where elite founders compete to launch and monetize a business in real time.

How It Could Work

The event could feature teams of established founders—such as unicorn builders or top accelerator alumni—alongside rising stars. Over 48 hours, they would ideate, build, and launch a minimally viable business, with winners judged by revenue generated, innovation, and scalability. To engage audiences, the competition could be live-streamed with commentary, behind-the-scenes access, and interactive voting for audience choice awards.

Stakeholders and Incentives

Founders might participate for prestige and networking opportunities, while sponsors—like tech companies or VCs—could gain brand association with innovation and access to talent. Viewers could find inspiration, educational value, and entertainment in watching top-tier entrepreneurship unfold. To ensure fairness, revenue channels could be standardized (e.g., all teams use the same e-commerce platform), and judging could balance short-term monetization with long-term potential.

Execution and Testing

A minimal viable product (MVP) could start as a virtual pilot, recruiting 4–5 high-profile founders via personal networks and partnering with a single sponsor to cover costs. Scaling up might involve hybrid (physical + virtual) events with tiered participation. Key assumptions—like founder willingness to participate or audience interest—could be tested through surveys or micro-events, such as a 4-hour live-streamed demo.

This idea builds on existing formats like TechCrunch Disrupt or Y Combinator Demo Day but adds real-time monetization and public-facing theatrics. By combining exclusivity, hybrid engagement, and multi-stakeholder appeal, it could create a unique space in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.