2026 Innovation Challenge: Preliminary Round

After working closely all year with the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship team to hone their startup and create a polished pitch deck, teams will present their startup plan to a panel of esteemed judges and compete for a coveted spot in the Innovation Challenge Final. All competitors must submit a business model canvas and executive summary; prototypes are welcome and encouraged! Each startup will have five minutes to pitch their idea with slides, with a Q+A from the judges to follow.

The winners from the Innovation Challenge: The Preliminary Round will be announced shortly following the competition, and move on to the Final later in the month to compete for up to $65,000 in equity-free funding!