FL Student Pitch Competition at Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University
Do you have what it takes to be the next #StudentToCEO? Bring your business idea to life with Launch Your Venture and win up to $10,000 in prizes! Apply by February, 24th.
Embry-Riddle is looking for university student-led startups with revolutionary ideas that will change the future of the aviation, aerospace and engineering industries. Successful projects will feature scalable transformative technologies led by strong management teams capable of launching disruptive innovation.
Eligible teams will have at least one full-time student, undergraduate or graduate, at an accredited university in Florida, enrolled during the academic year of the competition. The student must have a major role in the venture (founder, equity holder, C-level management) and will deliver the pitch if selected as a finalist.
2025-2026 Roslyn & Elliot Jaffe Retail Entrepreneur Prize
Championing entrepreneurship and innovation in the Marketplaces Industry, this award is for an undergraduate or graduate student or team passionate about launching a new retail concept, product, idea or pre-seed stage company (either brick-and-mortar or online).
To be considered, the applicant must be:
- A citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada or an international student
- An undergraduate (full-time) or graduate student (full-time or part-time) enrolled at an accredited university at the time of applying (open to individuals or a team)
- Passionate about launching a new retail concept, product, idea or pre-seed stage company (either brick-and-mortar or online)
Applicants must submit a general ICSC application as well as a business plan presentation for a new retail concept, including a 4-minute video and 3-page executive summary.
Prize benefits include $10,000, a complimentary trip to ICSC LAS VEGAS, pairing with an industry mentor, and complimentary ICSC Student Membership.
Deadline to apply is March 3rd.
Baylor New Venture Competition
The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise will host the 13th Annual Baylor New Venture Competition on March 28-29 at Baylor University's Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. Applications for the competition are open Sept. 1 through Nov. 3. This business plan and elevator pitch competition showcases collegiate student created, managed and led ventures from across the globe. The competition provides participants with personal and professional development through:
- industry-specific mentorship towards sustainable business plans,
- exclusive access to accomplished experts and fellow innovators,
- and a chance to compete for more than $200,000 in cash prizes and vital resources.
Since its inception, more than 600 student entrepreneurs world-wide have applied to compete in the competition. Nearly $1 million in cash and prizes has been awarded to these collegiate entrepreneurs. Several BNVC finalists have had additional successes beyond the BNVC. Most notably, Orai (2018 second-place winner) and Nanodropper (2019 top-10 finalist) were both named to the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30.
University of Minnesota - MN Cup
MN Cup is the largest statewide startup competition in the country. Our completely free programming supports emerging entrepreneurs through networking events, education, mentoring, and a chance at $400,00 in non-dilutive funding. All Minnesotans and Minnesota-based companies earning less than $1M in annual revenue are eligible to apply.
MN Cup encourages undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a Minnesota college or university to apply to the Student Division. The selected winner will take home a $25,000 non-dilutive cash prize!
2025 Applications will be open March 10 - April 11. Finalists pitch in August. Learn more at mncup.org.
University of St. Thomas - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, e-Fest®
e-Fest® is a premier event for the Top 25 student entrepreneurial teams nationwide. Finalists, selected through an online submission round on March 3, compete in Minneapolis from April 24-26 for over $220,000 in prizes, participate in workshops, and gain national exposure.
Schools submitting at least one team are eligible for $2,500 Development Grants. Learn more in the Submission Guide Video or contact Jennifer Gessner at jgessner@stthomas.edu.
The Hult Prize
The Hult Prize challenges young people around the world to solve the planet's most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship. This year, you can pitch any idea you have for a social enterprise, as long as it is world-changing and aligned with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Competition: Our year-long, global competition challenges young people to solve the world's most pressing issues by creating innovative social ventures. Every year, one team receives $1M USD in funding to make their idea a reality.
Winners of local competitions and top startups from our open application will compete in national events or participate in an equivalent online selection process.
Leading startups will refine their ideas, validate their product-market fit, create proof of concepts, develop MVP's, and set up actionable go-to-market strategies. We provide our entrepreneurs world-class resources, including online workshops and personalized mentorship from social entrepreneurs and industry experts.
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
University of Missouri, Kansas City - Regnier Venture Creation Challenge & Summit
The RVCC is a pitch competition & resource summit at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for college students in Missouri and its surrounding states (IA, IL, KY, TN, AR, OK, KS, NE). Top prizes of $15,000!
RVCC offers participants the chance to present their business ideas to judges, industry experts, and potential investors. Each year, the competition attracts the brightest minds, providing resources, mentorship, and exposure to transform innovative concepts into successful ventures.
Key dates:
• February 3, 2025: Applications open
• March 9, 2025: Deadline to apply
• April 25, 2025: Finals and Summit Activities at UMKC
Duke University: New Ideas Competition
The competition invites students from any major to explore how business can be a force for good in society and is open to those in their first, second, or third year of study. Grand prize winners will participate in an all-expenses paid trip to our campus in April to present their proposals to influential business leaders, engage in professional development programming, and network with members of our community.
Ten grand prize winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Duke's Fuqua School of Business where they will present their proposals to influential business leaders and participate in a live case study. Winners who apply to and are admitted to one of Fuqua's one-year master’s programs will also receive partial scholarship funding.
Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge
The Fowler GSIC inspires student social entrepreneurs around the world to connect and create business solutions that address social and environmental challenges. Since 2011, they've connected more than 3,000 students from more than 25 countries around the world - including Australia, South Korea, Rwanda, The Philippines, Ghana, Mexico, and Peru - recognizing their outstanding social ventures based on positive impact and financial sustainability.
How it works:
- Create a team with 1-5 members
- Analyze a social or environmental challenge
- Propose and validate a potential solution
- Pitch your idea for up to $75,000+ IN FUNDING
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
2025 TCU Values and Ventures Competition
TCU’s Richards and Barrentine Values and Ventures Competition invites undergraduate student entrepreneurs from all around the world to compete for over $100,000 in prizes. Semifinalists will be invited to TCU’s Neeley School of Business in Fort Worth, Texas from April 4-6th, 2025 to connect with likeminded values-focused undergraduates from across the globe; network with judges, mentors, faculty, and potential investors; and compete for the $40,000 Grand Prize.
If you are interested in learning more, TCU will be hosting Zoom info sessions (link: https://tcu.zoom.us/j/3137021558):
· November 22nd from 2 to 2:30 PM CST
· November 25th from 10 – 10:30 AM CST
Applications are live now and will be due January 17th, 2025, 11:59 PM CST!
Students can apply here.
Visit neeley.tcu.edu/VandV to learn more or email us at VandV@tcu.edu.
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
2025 EnergyTech University Prize
Business Plan Challenge
Sponsored by the Dept. of Energy - $400,000 in prizes
Collegiate students and faculty interested in energy and entrepreneurship are invited to participate in the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) 2025! This is a $400,000 collegiate competition challenging student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages National Laboratory-developed or other emerging energy technologies developed by students, faculty, or industry. Throughout the EnergyTech UP challenge, students receive mentorship and materials to help them succeed. Background on the event is here.
Returning to the 2025 event is another track challenging faculty to develop and implement educational activities to engage more students in energy technology commercialization and entrepreneurship topics at their institution while competing for $100,000.
Ready to learn more? Join an informational webinar on Dec. 10 at 1:00 PM ET to gain a better understanding of how the challenge works and how to find ideas for your business plan!
Eligibility:
- Teams comprised of university or college students
- At least two students on the team
- Can be undergraduate students, graduate students or a mix
- Create a business plan based on a national lab technology or technology from your university
- Please see the official rules for full details
**Teams or technologies are NOT required to be a startup or part of a startup.
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
Rice Business Plan Competition
Experiential, Impactful, and “Best. Competition. Ever”
The RBPC showcases the best university startups from across the U.S. and around the world, while providing student entrepreneurs the unparalleled experience of pitching their startups to investors and learning what it takes to build and launch a successful business.
The competition, having completed its 24th year, gives collegiate entrepreneurs real-world experience to pitch their startups, enhance their business strategy and learn what it takes to launch a successful company. Hosted and organized by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship—which is Rice University's internationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of entrepreneurship—and Rice Business. Over 23 years it has grown from nine teams competing for $10,000 in prize money in 2001, to 42 teams from around the world competing for more than $1 million in cash and prizes. It is the largest and richest student startup competition in the world.
We will be looking for startups to apply that:
- are student-driven, student-created and/or student-managed
- are from a college or university anywhere in the world
- have at least two current student founders or management team members (and at least one of those students must be a current graduate degree-seeking student (MA, PhD, MBA, JD, etc.)
- fall into one of our 5 sectors: Energy, Cleantech & Sustainability, Life Science & Healthcare Solutions, Hard Tech, Digital Enterprise, or Consumer Products & Services
- are seeking funding or capital (or will be in the next 12 months)
- are potentially viable investment opportunities
Applications are open until January 27, 2025
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
Heartland Challenge Startup Competition
Key Details:
- Registration Deadline: January 17, 2025 (11:59pm CT)
- Final Presentations: April 3-5, 2025 at University of Arkansas
- Eligibility: The competition is for graduate students currently enrolled on a full or parttime basis (i.e. from July 2024 to June 2025) at accredited universities around the world (however exceptional undergraduate teams will also be considered). Students who graduated, or will graduate, after July 1, 2024 are included. Students who graduated before July 2024 are not eligible to participate.
- Prizes: 12 semifinalist teams will compete for a prize pool of up to $100,000
XPRIZE Carbon Removal
XPRIZE Carbon Removal is aimed at tackling the biggest threat facing humanity - fighting climate change and rebalancing Earth’s carbon cycle. Funded by Elon Musk and the Musk Foundation, this $100M competition is the largest incentive prize in history, an extraordinary milestone.
This four-year global competition invites innovators and teams from anywhere on the planet to create and demonstrate solutions that can pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or oceans, and sequester it durably and sustainably. To win the grand prize, teams must demonstrate a working solution at a scale of at least 1000 tonnes removed per year; model their costs at a scale of 1 million tonnes per year; and show a pathway to achieving a scale of gigatonnes per year in future.
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
Florida Blue Health Innovation Challenge
The Florida Blue Health Innovation Challenge seeks for innovations and disruptive technologies developed by students to tackle healthcare challenges in Florida. The concepts should address topics that Florida Blue considers to be an active and ongoing problem in the healthcare system.
Impact Week Pitch Competition
Interested in pitching your business idea?
APPLY for the Domi Station Pitch Event. Finalist will pitch at IMPACT WEEK
Impact Week, happening on November 19-21, is a nonprofit Business Conference & Speaker Series right here in Tallahassee, FL! You are invited to engage with innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders from across the city, region, and state at the Challenger Learning Center in downtown Tallahassee.
This week-long event, free for students, focuses on business development, collaboration, and growth. Targeting startups, small businesses, and nonprofits, Impact Week offers valuable networking opportunities and hands-on workshops covering essential business topics such as strategy, planning, exit, financial literacy, cybersecurity, digital marketing, creative services, AI and more.
If you are intersted in hearing more about Impact Week, or would like a free student ticket, please contact May Wang at mwang@jmc.fsu.edu
Carnegie Mellon's Corporate Startup Lab (CSL) Third Annual Nationwide Case Competition
Key Details:
- Registration Deadline: September 20, 2024 (Midnight ET)
- Final Presentations: October 23, 2024, at Carnegie Mellon University
- Eligibility: Open to all graduate and Ph.D. students from U.S. universities and colleges
- Teams are limited to 3-4 students per team
- Prizes: $20,000 in total prizes for the top three teams
The Corporate Startup Lab is proud to launch its Third Annual Case Competition in the Fall of 2024!
$20,000 in total prizes will be awarded to the top three teams creating entrepreneurial approach solving a problem in Financial Wellness.
This competition is a great opportunity for graduate level students, particularly those pursuing studies in business, finance, entrepreneurship, and related fields.
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
Baylor New Venture Competition
Key Details:
- BNVC Applicant Round One Deadline: Executive Summary (Online), Nov. 3, 2024
- BNVC Finals (In Person, at Baylor University): Saturday, March 29, 2025
- Eligibility: open to teams of not-for-profit accredited university students and recent alumni around the world.
- There is no limit to the number of teams from a single university that may apply. For further information on team eligibility, visit the 2025 official guidebook linked in the application
- Prizes: more than $200,000 in cash prizes and vital resources
The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise will host the 13th Annual Baylor New Venture Competition on March 28-29 at Baylor University's Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. Applications for the competition are open Sept. 1 through Nov. 3. This business plan and elevator pitch competition showcases collegiate student created, managed and led ventures from across the globe. The competition provides participants with personal and professional development through:
- industry-specific mentorship towards sustainable business plans,
- exclusive access to accomplished experts and fellow innovators,
- and a chance to compete for more than $200,000 in cash prizes and vital resources.
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
Frank and Ellen Daveler Pitch Competition
Key Details:
- Deadline to submit applications is Monday, November 1, 2024
- Selected students are requiered to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas at the in-person event on Friday, November 15, 2024 at the University of South Florida Research Park: 3814 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612
- Eligibility: open to undergraduate students only at colleges or universities in the state of Florida
- Prizes: $5,000 For Scholars and $3,000 For Fellows
Up to 12 student teams will be chosen and will be given 8 minutes to pitch their innovation in front of a panel of judges from various entrepreneurship backgrounds who will evaluate their business ideas. Some of the innovations pitched at Daveler include:
- Sustainable Products
- Subscription Boxes
- Physical Prototypes
- E: Learning Platforms
- Fitness Tech
- Leisure Based Productd
- ...and More!
Please reach out to May Wang, Jim Moran College's Student Engagement Coordinator, with any questions.
TigerLaunch: The World's Largest Student-Run Entrepreneurship Competition
Applications due November 10th, 2024
TigerLaunch is the world's largest student-run entrepreneurship competition, organized by students at Princeton, with regionals in NYC, Berkeley, Houston, Singapore, London, Paris, and Mumbai! Every year, our contestants (from all over the world!) are chosen for selective accelerator programs like Y Combinator and have the opportunity to receive feedback from top VCs around the world. Best of all, TigerLaunch is all-expenses-paid and winners will receive $60,000 in no-strings-attached funding. Travel/housing fees will be compensated for regional competitors.
