Investment education
Learning resources introduce investment fundamentals, portfolio strategy, and ESG considerations.
YEFA PROGRAMS / YSIC 2026
Youth Sustainable Investment Challenge™
A global middle and high school investment competition focused on real-market investment decisions, ESG strategy, financial literacy, and community impact.
THE INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
$1,000,000in virtual capital for each team
Build and manage an investment portfolio through the StockTrak simulation platform.
INVESTANALYZECREATE IMPACT
$1MVirtual capital per team
1–4Students per team
6–12Eligible school grades
ABOUT THE CHALLENGE
Investment education meets real-world thinking.
YSIC brings together investment research, strategy, portfolio management, and sustainable development.
What is YSIC?
The Youth Sustainable Investment Challenge™ is a global competition hosted by the Youth Entrepreneurship and Finance Association (YEFA) for middle and high school students.
Teams develop investment strategies involving stock selection, asset allocation, and risk management. Participants use virtual capital to manage portfolios and connect their investment thinking with environmental, social, and governance considerations.
YSIC 2025
A growing international community.
Participation figures reported in the existing YSIC 2026 program materials.
181Participating teams
442Student participants
12Countries and regions
THE EXPERIENCE
What participants explore.
Portfolio simulation
Teams manage $1,000,000 in virtual capital using the StockTrak trading simulation platform.
Professional evaluation
Advancing teams present their investment strategies to finance and industry professionals.
Community impact
Participants connect investment decisions with real-world challenges and practical community action.
Recognition
The published 2026 program includes certificates, awards, and additional opportunities for selected teams.
Global participation
Students engage in an international challenge combining financial literacy and sustainable investment.
2026 EVALUATION
Two dimensions. One challenge.
The published 2026 evaluation structure combines investment performance and community impact.
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO70%
Portfolio performance
Investment strategy and results using $1,000,000 in virtual capital on StockTrak.
- 70–80% traditional investment allocation
- 20–30% ESG and impact allocation
- Stock selection and asset allocation
- Risk management
COMMUNITY IMPACT30%
Creative impact project
Develop a practical community impact proposal connected to investment research.
- Identify a real community challenge
- Connect investments with potential impact
- Design a $500 action plan
- Complete a zero-cost action before Round 2 ends
FROM IDEAS TO ACTION
The five-step impact framework.
Identify a challenge
Choose a meaningful issue, such as environmental sustainability, educational equity, mental health, or food insecurity.
Connect investment to impact
Research companies addressing the issue and evaluate their ESG practices.
Create a $500 action plan
Propose how a $500 budget could support a practical community initiative.
Take immediate action
Complete at least one zero-cost activity, such as a video, presentation, or interview, before the end of Round 2.
Execute winning plans
Selected winning teams may receive up to $500 in impact funding, with additional YEFA support where needed.
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
YSIC 2026 timeline.
The dates below are from the published 2026 program schedule and are presented as historical information.
June 152026
Registration deadline
The published registration period ended June 15, 2026.
June 292026
Round 1 begins
Teams begin managing their virtual investment portfolios.
July 292026
Midpoint check
Minimum two trades, at least one ESG stock, and no more than 20% cash allocation.
September 42026
Trading concludes
Portfolio performance is assessed against the initial virtual capital.
September 52026
Top 60 announced
Advancing teams proceed to investment strategy development.
September 152026
Round 2 report deadline
Teams submit their Round 2 investment strategy reports.
September 182026
Top 30 announced
The Top 30 teams are announced following the Round 2 report deadline.
October 32026
Grand Final — Top 10 only
The final round is held on October 3, 2026, exclusively for the Top 10 teams.
2026 AWARDS
Recognition for achievement.
Published awards and opportunities listed in the original 2026 competition materials.
Champion Trophy
01Runner-Up Trophy
02Third Place Trophy
03Additional recognition
The published 2026 program includes participation certificates and further opportunities for selected teams, including recommendation letters.
Top three teams
The source materials also list a two-week SCISS Elite Investment & Entrepreneurship Summer Program, with a stated value of $5,500, for top-three winners.
Champion opportunities
The published program mentions media coverage, tailored recommendations, partner internship or shadowing priority, and inclusion in YEFA's Annual Impact Report.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions.
Who was eligible for YSIC 2026?
Students in Grades 6–12 during the 2026–2027 academic year, individually or in teams of one to four students.
Was previous investment experience required?
No. The published program described free learning resources covering investment fundamentals and ESG strategy.
How was the competition evaluated?
The published structure allocated 70% to investment portfolio performance and 30% to a community impact creative project.
Is registration currently open?
The published 2026 registration deadline was June 15, 2026. For information about future competitions, please contact the YSIC organizers.
STAY CONNECTED
Interested in future YSIC opportunities?
Contact the organizers for information about future competition announcements.