External Competitions
Wanting to showcase and develop your startup idea on a larger scale? Here are some notable annual competitions and accelerators across the nation (most of which Pitt teams participated in the past) to be aware of:
CodeLaunch
Various application deadlines as there are multiple CodeLaunch competitions throughout the year; competitions held in various locations
What do you get when you combine a seed accelerator competition, tech tradeshow, a startup conference, and a raucous networking event?
You get CodeLaunch!
CodeLaunch sponsors and partners put thousands of dollars in professional seed services behind the winners of its national seed accelerator competition. CodeLaunch has become a unique and critical amenity to pre-MVP startups.
At the core of CodeLaunch is a seed accelerator competition between individuals and groups who have software technology startup ideas.
CodeLaunch is the perfect opportunity for first-time startup founders, both technical and non-technical alike, as the startup competition costs $0 to apply and no equity is surrendered.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CODELAUNCH
Global Sustainability Supply Chain Student Competition
Usually applications due in September; held every October through December
This international competition brings together students from around the world, working in teams to solve global supply chain challenges while contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The teams present innovative solutions that demonstrate their knowledge and ability to address complex challenges while upholding principles of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
The competition is open to anyone enrolled as a full-time, part-time, undergraduate or graduate student at a degree-granting educational institution anywhere in the world. There are no restrictions of the student’s major course of study.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY SUPPLY CHAIN STUDENT COMPETITION
Richard King Mellon Foundation’s Social-Impact Pitch Challenge
Usually applications due in September; held every September through February
The RK Mellon Foundation invites socially minded for-profit companies with bold ideas to compete for at least $1 million in Foundation investments in their Social-Impact Pitch Challenge. Winning companies will be selected by the Foundation, with advice from prominent regional and national advisors.
The pitch competition is part of the Foundation’s Social-Impact Investment program, or SII. Through SII, the Foundation invests in for-profit companies whose missions align with the Foundation’s philanthropic priorities. Unlike most pitch competitions, where the goal is to make money for investors, the Foundation’s primary goal is to generate positive social impact.
With its pitch competition, the Foundation is seeking to accelerate the program further still, to ensure that social-impact entrepreneurs, across the Pittsburgh region and beyond, are able to access the financial resources necessary to achieve scalable positive impact.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RK MELLON FOUNDATION’S SOCIAL-IMPACT PITCH CHALLENGE
Duquesne New Venture Challenge
Usually applications due in November; held every January through April
The Duquesne New Venture Challenge (DNVC) is a three-stage competition that offers entrants an
opportunity to:
- Prepare, test, learn, and execute business concepts
- Assess target markets and develop a viable business model
- Network with other contestants, mentors, judges, investors, and entrepreneurs
- Pitch startups to investors and regional leaders
- Enhance understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pittsburgh
- Strengthen business plan and potentially secure funding
- Win cash and prizes valued at $100,000
DNVC invites the submission of new venture ideas and growing startups that have commercial and/or social
missions. Duquesne University affiliation is not required for Stages I and II. The DNVC facilitation team will
assist Stage III finalist teams in attaining an affiliate team member if needed. Each DNVC team may consist
of one to five (1-5) team members. There is no limit on business size, but each participating group must
select five (5) or fewer people to participate on the DNVC competition team. Businesses who have been
legally registered for four (4) years or fewer are eligible and legal business registration is not required.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DUQUESNE NEW VENTURE CHALLENGE
ASU Innovation Open (ASUio)
Usually applications due in November; held every February
Got an idea for a revolutionary hard tech venture? Put your idea to the test and win the funding you need to make it a reality. This competition is designed to challenge and advance university student innovators who aim to develop hard tech ventures.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ASU IO COMPETITION
Baylor New Venture Competition
Usually applications due in November; held every March
The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise will hosts the annual Baylor New Venture Competition every March at Baylor University’s Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. Applications for the competition are due every November. 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 over $250,000 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.
Please direct all questions via email to newventurecomp@baylor.edu.
Learn more about the Baylor New Venture Competition
Tulane Business Model Competition
Usually applications due in January; held every February through March
College entrepreneurs with promising startup ventures are invited to enter the annual Tulane Business Model Competition for a chance to win their share of a $125,000 cash prize.
Hosted by the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tulane’s A. B. Freeman School of Business, this student startup competition is open to teams that include at least one degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student, in a leadership position, from any college or university. The Tulane Business Model Competition seeks early-stage ventures that can demonstrate how they are adapting to their customers’ needs. The contest rewards those that are creating commercially viable ventures through breaking down an idea into a key business model hypothesis, have tested their assumptions with customers; and applied Customer Development/Lean Startup principles to refine the model for improved success.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TULANE BUSINESS MODEL COMPETITION
Rice Business Plan Competition
Usually applications due in January; held every April
THE WORLD’S LARGEST AND RICHEST INTERCOLLEGIATE STUDENT STARTUP COMPETITION
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, the Rice Business Plan Competition offers an educational program mirroring real-world experience through this multi-day event for student startups from across the world.
Student founders pitch to investors, receive feedback and advance their startup. There is also significant time designated for interaction with our judges and prize sponsors—providing valuable access and experience with both early-stage and later-stage investors.
With access to mentors, real-world experience and investment opportunities, the Rice Business Plan Competition helps student founders stay on target and realize their potential. Since inception in 2001, it has grown from nine teams competing for $10,000 in prize money to 42 teams from around the world competing for more than $1.5 million in cash and prizes.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RICE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
YHack
Usually applications due in March; held every March
YHack is Yale’s premier hackathon. The competition invites all students who share a passion for innovation and learning to be immersed in an energetic atmosphere, learning and creating alongside individuals as passionate as themselves! Expect a myriad of spectacular rewards, deeply technical workshops, renowned guest speakers, and engaging activities throughout the event!
At the Yale Hackathon, students will have 24 hours to turn their ideas into reality. Whether a student wants to tackle global issues or improve the quality of life for all, they will find the support and resources needed to make it happen. The Yale Hackathon is more than just a coding event. It is an opportunity to see and understand the diverse perspectives of life using technology and bring students’ fascinating skills to the world!
LEARN MORE ABOUT YHACK
e-Fest
Usually applications due in March; held every March through April
e-Fest® is an action-packed three-day celebration of undergraduate entrepreneurship featuring workshops, networking and three separate competitions awarding up to $215K in cash prizes.
Becoming one of the 25 e-Fest finalist teams is an elite recognition in itself. But wait there’s more! Finalist teams’ network with the top student entrepreneurs from across the nation, promote their businesses to news organizations across the country, attend development workshops by industry leaders, and take home a portion of $215,000 in cash prizes!
Students will participate in multiple competitions over the three-day event – the Pitch Slam! where one member from each team will give a 90-second elevator pitch on their business venture, the Innovation Challenge, where teams comprised of students across participating universities will develop a solution to a specific issue, and finally, the Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge, the business plan competition where teams compete for their share of $125k in cash. In total, among the four competitions, $215k in cash is awarded, making e-Fest one of the largest undergraduate student business plan competitions in the world.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT E-FEST
The Zingale Big Idea Competition – hosted by Allegheny College
Usually applications due in April; held every April
The Zingale Big Idea Competition focuses on seed-level new business ideas. The Annual Competition will award a whopping total of $30,000 in prize money among the student winners. This contest emulates the experiences seen on the popular CNBC broadcast, Shark Tank, but with a heart. Unlike Shark Tank, the Zingale Big Idea distinguished panel of judges do more than evaluate business models – they offer constructive feedback, coaching, and encouragement.
Please note: Up-and-running small businesses with revenue are not eligible for the competition.
How can you participate?
Workshops are scheduled to help participants prepare for the competition. Those interested in competing in the Zingale Big Idea Competition and/or attend the workshops should contact Entrepreneur in Residence, Professor Chris Allison at callison@allegheny.edu.
To be eligible to compete in the Zingale Big Idea Competition, all contestants must submit an Executive Summary of a business plan to Chris Allison. The Executive Summaries must include an overview of the company’s financials, including monthly operating costs, startup costs and at least a 1-year income statement. A three year outlook is preferable. A template for the Executive Summary can be found among the handy contest templates at the bottom of this page.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ZINGALE BIG IDEA COMPETITION
Cleantech Open
Usually applications due in April; held every June through October
Cleantech Open is the world’s largest cleantech accelerator, providing entrepreneurs and corporate innovators the resources they need to launch and grow successful cleantech businesses. Their one-of-a-kind innovation ecosystem built over the last 20 years of programming spans key cleantech innovation hubs in the U.S., linking labs and universities, service providers, investors, corporations, governments, and other cleantech incubators and accelerators.
Through their annual accelerator, Cleantech Open provides between 100-150 companies in the U.S. (and North America) with a rich program of customer discovery, extensive mentoring, training, investor meetings, startup-corporate matching, and showcasing at both the regional and national levels. Since 2005, more than 70% of their reporting U.S. alumni companies are still operating and have collectively raised over $2B in external funding. Join this exciting community and be a part of Cleantech Open’s global network of innovation.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLEANTECH OPEN
UpPrize – BNY Mellon/Innovation Works’ Social Innovation Challenge
Usually applications due in July; held every July through October
The UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, administered by Innovation Works and fully funded by the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, bridges the gap between the nonprofit and entrepreneurial communities and increases the number of impactful technology-based solutions targeted to critical social challenges.
Since its launch in 2015, the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge has allocated more than $ 2.8 million in investments, grants, and technical assistance.
Criteria for eligibility:
- You must be 18 years old or older
- The submitting nonprofit, business, or individual must be based in and make a direct impact in one of these counties in Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland.
- You must ensure that your participation does not violate any other policies or procedures, or any other third-party rights or obligations (e.g. non-competition agreements).
- You, and your immediate family members, must not be employed or affiliated with BNY Mellon or Innovation Works.
LEARN MORE ABOUT UPPRIZE
PDMA Global Student Innovation Challenge
Usually applications due in June; held every June through September
Showcase your brilliance and make a mark on the global stage! PDMA’s Global Student Innovation Challenge encourages students to submit projects created through academic work, including capstone projects or theses. You can review the rules and guidelines of the challenge as well as videos of the winning teams from previous years by going to their website via the button below. Please thoroughly review the rubric to ensure you are meeting all the criteria.
University student teams who develop an original concept for a product, service, software, or a combination of the three, will develop a submission detailing the unique value proposition, evidence of demand, and mockup or embodiment of product. Designs for products, services or software of any type are welcome. Students are welcome to expand on the academic work for their theses or capstone projects as the basis of their entry.
Finalist teams are encouraged to present their concepts, prototypes, poster, and mockups at PDMA’s Inspire Innovation Conference & JPIM Research Forum. The presentation portion provides students the opportunity to showcase their product development skills in front of product directors, product managers, and product designers.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PDMA GLOBAL STUDENT INNOVATION CHALLENGE
