Innovation Challenge

Ready to pitch your big idea? After spending the academic year learning, testing, and refining their ventures, students take the stage to present their startups to a panel of expert judges. Each team submits a business model canvas and executive summary—prototypes are welcome and encouraged! Every startup has four minutes to pitch, followed by a live Q&A with the judges.

The competition occurs in person at Old Chapel, and winners from the Innovation Challenge: Preliminary Round advance to the Final later this month. There, they’ll compete for up to $65,000 in equity-free funding

This competition takes place during the spring semester.

Application coming soon!

It all comes down to this! The Innovation Challenge: Final is the ultimate showcase of UMass Amherst’s most promising student startups. The top teams from the Preliminary Round take the stage to deliver their final pitches to a panel of expert judges and a live audience—competing for up to $65,000 in equity-free funding.

Each finalist submits an updated business model canvas and executive summary and gives it everything they have in one last, high-stakes pitch.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of innovation, creativity, and hard work as we crown this year’s Innovation Challenge champions!

This signature competition takes place during the spring semester.

All competitions are open to UMass students and graduates of the last decade (GOLD alums). Startups with for-profit, nonprofit and hybrid business plans are welcome. 

Participants are coached to develop their ideas, create start-up plans, and scale their start-ups through boot camps, advice from industry experts, mentors’ guidance and celebrity judges’ feedback. 

Click here for the full eligibility requirements.