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Innovation Challenge

The Innovation Challenge is a series of competitions designed to assist and reward UMass students and young alumni pursuing a novel idea and developing it into a marketable product.

About Compete Sponsor Past Events

The Four Events

The Innovation Challenge is a four-part cross-campus entrepreneurship competition that launches promising ventures to the next levels of startup. Mentors will be on hand to provide feedback. Prize money is awarded at three stages of the Innovation Challenge.

The Minute Pitch Competition: 60 seconds ... $1,000. Sound good? Get started and test venture ideas in front of a panel of judges. Mentors will be on site to provide feedback. No written business models or plans required. $2,500 in seed money awarded to the four teams, the top three and the audience choice winner, as determined by the judges.

The Seed Pitch Competition: Form your business model and perfect your elevator pitch. Convince the judges how and why your venture will be successful. $15,000 in seed money awarded to select teams as determined by the judges.

The Semifinal: Simulate the investor boardroom experience. Present your venture to a panel of judges in a closed-door setting and compete for a spot in the final.

The Final: The best of the best vie for significant financial contributions to move their venture forward. $65,000 in seed money awarded to select teams as determined by the judges.

Teams may enter at any point of the competition.

Compete!

Questions? Contact Molly O'Mara (momara@isenberg.umass.edu)

Connect

Reach Out

Incubator Space: 301/302 Bartlett Hall
Executive Offices: Business Innovation Hub N175

UMass Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003
berthiaume@isenberg.umass.edu

Main line: 413-545-9482
Communications, Marketing and Events: 413-545-5546
Operations, Space and Student Engagement: 413-545-9283

Student Organizations

The Berthiaume Center supports the Entrepreneurship Club and Social Entrepreneurship Club and the Hult Prize at UMass.

Alumni Engagement

Entrepreneurship curriculum is heavily supported by bringing in entrepreneurs like you that have a story to offer UMass students. Good or bad, we want to hear your experiences.

Contact Us