3MT, Falling Walls Lab, MT180
Three-minute, one-slide thesis and breakthrough contests. 7MT is seven minutes and builder-oriented. We name them because applicants compare formats — not because we run them.
The Field
7MT 2026 · Applications open
Seven minutes to change how the world sees your idea.
7MT — Seven Minute Tech — is the global pitch competition where innovators, founders, and researchers turn one technical idea into a seven-minute story anyone can understand. One slide. No props. Real stakes.
The format
Three constraints. One story.
A format proven by the world’s best timed-pitch contests, adapted for a generation of builders who want to ship — not just publish. We are not affiliated with those programmes.
01
One static slide
No animations, no transitions. Force your strongest visual to do the heavy lifting.
02
No props
No demos, no costumes, no music. Just you, the stage, and the work.
03
Seven minutes flat
Long enough to say something real. Short enough to leave the audience wanting more.
How it works
Read the full rules
From application to grand finale, in five steps.
1
Apply with a 90-second video
One slide, one camera, one take. Submissions open globally between March and June each year.
2
Compete in a regional heat
Selected applicants pitch live across eight host cities. Top three from each heat advance.
3
National semifinals
Heat winners regroup for a country-level showdown judged by founders, scientists, and investors.
4
The grand finale
One stage, twelve finalists, one trophy — broadcast live every November.
5
Win, ship, repeat
Prize pool, investor introductions, and a global speaking tour for the winning idea.
The field
Read the map
Timed pitches have a landscape. We are one coordinate on it.
FAQ
All FAQ
Questions we already answered.
When do applications close?
30 June 2026. Shanghai and Beijing heats sit earlier on a rolling shortlist; you can still apply after those two cities for the remaining six until the deadline. Packet: Apply.
What is the video spec?
90 seconds, you on camera, one static slide, no music or montage. MP4 or MOV, 16:9. Full spec on Apply and in the FAQ.
How do I verify a certificate?
Paste the URL or ID at cert/verify.html. We do not sell certificates. Only heat finalists and beyond receive one.
Past winners
All winners
2025 finalists who turned seven minutes into momentum.
Wei Zhang
Tsinghua University
Quantum error correction for photonic chips you can actually fabricate.
Grand prize · 2025
Sophia Lee
National University of Singapore
Carbon-negative cement, made by bacteria that eat what we already exhale.
Runner-up · 2025
Arjun Patel
IIT Bombay
Sub-second LLM inference on a phone that fits in your pocket.
People's choice · 2025