COMPETITIONS
Below is a list of competitions open to students in the US. Dates and descriptions are based on historical trends, and are subject to change. This list was updated August, 2014. For pitching tips and tricks, check out our Pitching Basics page!
Local & Regional
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Application: September
Competition: October
Grand Prize: $1,000
Notes: must be student led, no outside funding
Michigan Collegiate Innovation Prize (MCIP)
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Application: September
Competition: February
Grand Prize: $30,000
Notes: teams must have 2+ members, majority student run, no revenue prior to current academic year
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Application: September
Competition: November
Grand Prize: $2,000 for New Business Idea, $5,000 Emerging Business
Notes: at least 1 team member must reside in Michigan, business must be Michigan based.
Location: Detroit, MI
Application: October
Competition: November
Grand Prize: $5,000 & entry into GreenLight
Notes: company must be 100% student owned, less than 10k in revenue, & less than one year
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Application: February
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $15,000
Notes: team must be comprised of students from a participating college, no revenue above $10,000
GreenLight Business Model Competition
Location: East Lansing, MI
Application: February
Competition: March
Grand Prize: $25,000
Notes: focused on the business model canvas, company must be under 1 year,\ & michigan based
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Application: March
Competition: June
Grand Prize: $5,000 for New Business Idea, $25,000 Emerging Business
Notes: at least 1 team member must reside in Michigan, business must be Michigan based.
National & International
Location: Varies
Application: September
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $50,000 plus services
Notes: must choose between technology, social/environmental, or 'open' categories
Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition
Location: Online
Application: November
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $5,000 plus $10,000+ in servies
Notes: only for-profit companies with a social, environmental, or cultural impact.
Location: UC Berkeley, CA
Application: December
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $25,000
Notes: must have quantifiable social or environmental impact, team must include at least 1 grad student
Rice University Business Plan Competition (RBPC)
Location: Houston, TX
Application: January
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $20,000 & over $600,000 in investments/servcies
Notes: minimum 2 person team, focused on business plan
ASME Innovation Showcase IShow
Location: Washington, DC
Application: January
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $25,000
Notes: at least 1 team member must be an engineer, must be students (grad or undergrad).
Lemelson-MIT National Collegiate Student Prize Competition
Location: Cambridge, MA
Application: January
Competition: June
Grand Prize: $15,000
Notes: must be a student founded and led team, own all intellectual property
Tulane Business Model Competition
Location: New Orleans, LA
Application: January
Competition: June
Grand Prize: $25,000 plus entry into the International Business Model Competition
Notes: focused on the business model canvas
Location: Cambridge, MA
Application: February
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $25,000
Notes: must be 50% student-run, must fit into at least one of the following categories: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, or Infrastructure & Resources
Giants Entrepreneurship Challenge
Location: Grand Forks, ND
Application: February
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $5,000
Notes: must be student led, no more than 4 members, maximum of 1 non student
The International Business Model Competition (BMC)
Location: Stanford University
Application: March
Competition: May
Grand Prize: $25,000
Notes: minimum 2 person team, less than$100,000 prior funding, focused on the business model canvas
Location: Merrillville, IN
Application: March
Competition: March
Grand Prize: $3,000 plus $20,000+ in services
Notes: must choose between technology, social/environmental, or 'open' categories
Location: Chicago, IL
Application: April
Competition: April
Grand Prize: $5,000 plus services
Notes: must be student led, must have less than $100,000 in outside funding
Location: Boston & New York
Application: Ongoing (multiple events)
Competition: Ongoing
Grand Prize: $20,000 plus servies
Notes: focused on energy and software