Applications open on November 20, 2025, and the application deadline is December 20, 2025. Please ensure you are available for your local hackathon and for the Riyadh Summit.
Youth Impact Studio 2
Powered by Youth. Made for Impact.
Join PepsiCo’s regional youth movement and bring your ideas to life through creativity, collaboration, and purpose.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
ABOUT
The Youth Impact Studio (YIS) is a flagship initiative owned and led by PepsiCo, designed to empower youth across the Middle East to channel their creativity, purpose, and cultural pride through innovation, storytelling, and social impact. The program aims to build the capacity of young people and strengthen their ability to create positive social impact within their communities.
In its second edition, designed and implemented in partnership with Parachute16, YIS focuses on how the new generation perceives their own communities, their values, and the impact they want to create - how they understand their local context and culture, translate that into meaningful ideas, and build purpose-driven, impact-led stories that reflect real issues in their markets. AI is part of the landscape, as it has become the new norm - but authenticity remains at the core.
We are scouting exceptional young talents from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, and the UAE to embark on a creative journey that will culminate in a regional summit in Riyadh. Through national hackathons, mentorship, and brand-centered challenges, participants will co-create ideas and content that spark positive change and reflect the dynamic spirit of their generation.
Program Outcomes
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Build a strong network with industry experts, mentors, and leading creative professionals.
- Engage in cross-cultural exchange and collaboration with youth from the region.
- Strengthen their skills in design thinking, strategy, marketing, creativity, communication, storytelling, and social innovation.
- Work on hands-on brand briefs that address authentic social and cultural themes, from sustainability and education to innovation, sports, and creativity.
Winners will receive:
- Certificates of participation and recognition from PepsiCo and Parachute16.
- Fully funded, immersive creative trips, where they will visit HQs, explore innovation hubs and R&D centers, and meet with global teams.
- Experience Packages, including exclusive mentorship, brand exposure opportunities, and feature placements.
- Access to regional platforms and future PepsiCo initiatives that spotlight youth impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Education & Professional Experience: Open to university students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals (up to 3 years of work experience).
Proficient in English.
Nationality/Residency: Must be a national or resident of the market they are applying for.
Availability: Must be available to attend the local hackathon in their country and the 2-day summit in Riyadh.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
APPLY
Market | Local Hackathon Dates | Riyadh Summit |
Lebanon | January 10–11, 2026 | February 13–14, 2026 |
Jordan | January 16–17, 2026 | February 13–14, 2026 |
UAE | January 24–25, 2026 | February 13–14, 2026 |
KSA | January 30–31, 2026 | February 13–14, 2026 |
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
Phase 1: Pre-Selection
- Applications are evaluated based on eligibility, creativity, and clarity of concept.
- The top 10 teams per market (20-30 Individuals) are shortlisted to participate in a 2-day local hackathon.
- From each hackathon, 3-4 teams per market will be selected to attend the regional summit in Riyadh.
Phase 2: The Youth Impact Studio Summit (Riyadh)
Selected participants will attend the Youth Impact Studio Summit — a 2-day immersive experience bringing together PepsiCo leaders, industry mentors, and youth innovators from across the region.
Expert sessions will cover:
- Social Impact & Sustainability
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Creative Storytelling & Brand Expression
Date: February 13–14, 2026 | Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
PEPSICO P16
PepsiCo: As a leading company in the Food and Beverage sector, PepsiCo is committed to enhancing the sustainability space in the region. This is closely aligned with PepsiCo’s end-to-end transformation strategy, pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) which puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we create value and inspire positive change for the planet and the people.
Parachute 16: Parachute16 is a regional impact-driven innovation agency that designs and implements programs to empower entrepreneurs, creatives, and changemakers across the Middle East. Through its youth-focused programs, Parachute16 helps organizations unlock innovation and create measurable social and economic value.
Call For Partners
Are you a company, venue, or organization looking to collaborate on impactful youth and community programs?
If our objectives align, we’d love to connect and explore partnership opportunities.
Please reach out to: ab@parachute16.com.
COUNTRY APPLICATIONS
APPLY
Each country features its own PepsiCo brand challenge, inspired by local culture, creativity, and youth energy. Choose your market, read your brief, and submit your entry through the official application portal.
Competition Guide - PepsiCo Youth Impact Studio
Want the full details? This guide includes everything you need to know. Challenge descriptions, rules, deliverables, evaluation criteria, submission formats, timelines, team requirements, and the official AI Fair Use Policy.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach us at ab@parachute16.com.
Lebanon
Aquafina Challenge: Drops of Change
Show how one small action can spark a ripple of positive change.
Aquafina believes big change starts small. One action, one choice, one drop. Create content that shows how a small, consistent act can inspire hope or progress. It could be helping someone, teaching a new skill, or creating something that inspires others.
What we’re looking for:
- Positive energy and everyday action
- Small steps making real impact
- Hope, progress, and community spirit
- Creative pieces that capture the optimism and clarity associated with Aquafina are encouraged
KSA
Pepsi Zero Challenge: Moment Zero
Capture the heartbeat of Saudi football, the split-second before everything begins.
Football in Saudi Arabia is emotion, unity, and anticipation. Pepsi Zero celebrates “Moment Zero” that electric pause before kick-off. Create content that captures that build-up, intensity, and unity. A chant rising, a breath before the whistle, the countdown among friends.
What we’re looking for:
- High emotion and anticipation
- The energy of Saudi fan culture
- “The moment before the moment”
- Entries that reflect the bold, energetic spirit of Pepsi Zero are encouraged.
UAE
Pepsi Zero Challenge: From Zero to Full Throttle
Show the moment when potential becomes acceleration - the UAE way.
The UAE is built on momentum, from idea to action, spark to speed. Show a moment where youth go from Zero to Full Throttle, hitting upload, stepping onto a stage, or chasing a dream.
What we’re looking for:
- Drive, ambition, acceleration
- Energy and boldness
- A “green light” moment
- Work that captures the dynamic, fast-paced mindset of Pepsi Zero is encouraged
Jordan
Aquafina Challenge: Moments of Clarity
Show us a moment that helps your generation pause, reset, and see clearly the Aquafina way.
Life can be loud and overwhelming. Aquafina celebrates the simple moments that help us refocus and refresh from within. Create a piece of content that captures a moment of clarity: real, human, simple.
It could be a quiet walk, a late-night reset, or a breath before starting again. Show what “clarity” means to you.
What we’re looking for:
- Honest, human moments
- Stillness, refreshment, and perspective
- Feeling grounded and seeing things clearly
- Content that naturally reflects the spirit and freshness of Aquafina is encouraged
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQS
Q1: Who can apply to the Youth Impact Studio? Anyone aged 18–30 who is a resident or national of Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE can apply. You can be a student, recent graduate, or early-career professional with up to 3 years of experience.
Q2: Do I need to apply as a team or individually? Applications must be submitted in teams of 2–3 people. Each team should bring together diverse skills, such as business, design, communication, or storytelling, to balance creativity and execution.
Q3: Can I apply to more than one country challenge? No. You can only apply to one country challenge, the one that matches your nationality or residence.
Q4: What will I gain from participating? You’ll get hands-on experience solving real brand challenges, connect with PepsiCo mentors and creative experts, expand your professional network, and gain visibility for your work. Winners will receive PepsiCo Experience Packages and exclusive opportunities to feature in future campaigns.
Q5: Are there any participation or registration fees? No, participation is completely free. PepsiCo covers all program-related costs.
Q6: What are the submission requirements? Each team must submit one creative piece related to their country’s theme in one of the following formats: Short video (max 60 seconds, vertical) | Poster / Visual design (1080×1350 px) |Audio / Voice piece (max 60 seconds).
Q7: What’s the policy on AI-generated content? You may use AI to support your creative process, like brainstorming, drafting scripts, editing, translation, or generating small supporting visuals or sounds. AI cannot create the main creative output of your submission. Fully AI-generated videos, visuals, or audio are not allowed, and you cannot use AI to mimic real people, brands, or logos. All teams must disclose how AI was used in the form. Misuse or non-disclosure may lead to disqualification.
Q8: How are the winners selected? Submissions are evaluated on creativity, relevance to the theme, clarity of message, and authenticity. Top teams from each market will be shortlisted to join their local hackathon, where they’ll pitch their ideas. Winners will then be selected to attend the Youth Impact Summit in Riyadh.
Q9: What if I can’t attend the hackathon or summit? Participation in both your local hackathon and the Riyadh summit is mandatory. If you can’t attend, your team’s participation will be forfeited.
Q10: How do I stay updated? Follow the announcements shared through your local PepsiCo and Parachute16 channels. Once accepted, all communication will happen via email and WhatsApp groups for easy coordination.
Youth Impact Studio 1:
Graduates selected from 800 applicants concluded the first cohort of the Youth Impact Studio by PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation earlier this year.
Learn more about their journey.