Competitions/Challenges/Workshops

 

TechCrunch- Battlefield

Founders: if you’re ready to go big, step up to the Startup Battlefield 200. The original and most legendary startup competition that has launched companies including Dropbox, Cloudflare, and Fitbit. If you're chosen, you'll be able to exhibit on the Disrupt show floor and you could be one of the 20 finalists who receive advice, coaching, and the chance to pitch a panel of top-tier investors on the Disrupt stage. There is no downside: It’s free to enter, TC doesn't take any equity and you can win a $100,000 cash prize. Participation is free and open to all pre-Series A startups. Applications for the Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt 2022 are now open through July 31. Student ticket/entry $95.

MassChallenge (accelerator)

MassChallenge uses a competition model to select our startups. Prospective MassChallenge startups submit an application(s) for the MassChallenge accelerator program(s) they would like to join. After submitting the application, startups will participate in one or two rounds of judging. At the end of these judging rounds, the highest-impact and highest-potential startups are invited to participate in the accelerator as Finalists. Ongoing application period.

Emerging Enterprise Center's Swim with the Sharks

The 10th Annual Swim with the Sharks Pitch Competition will be taking place during the 5th Annual Entrepreneurial Summit (Date October TBA). Stay tuned for updates on applying, judges, prizes and more. Applications will open in August.  keep watch for developing information https://eecincubator.com/swim-with-the-sharks 

Baylor New Venture Competition

The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise will host the twelfth annual Baylor New Venture Competition on March 24-25, 2023 at Baylor University's Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. This business plan and elevator pitch competition showcases collegiate student-created, managed, and led ventures from across the globe with startups competing for more than $250,000 in prizes. Learn more and apply Sept 1- Nov.1.

The SXSW EDU Launch Startup Competition

The SXSW EDU competition provides a platform for entrepreneurs seeking feedback, investment, strategic partnerships, and exposure, to present their early-stage company before a panel of industry experts, early adopters, investors, and educators as well as the live SXSW EDU audience. The event takes place March 10-19, 2023 in Austin, TX, and online for the 2023 SXSW Conference & Festivals. Join the ranks of SXSW Pitch alumni with over 82% receiving funding and acquisitions in excess of $14.5 billion.

SXSW Pitch / SXSW EDU Launch

Pitch your innovative startup at the annual SXSW Pitch competition in front of a live audience and panel of expert judges. Plus, be a part of product demonstrations by the most ambitious talents in the world with the creative new ideas to change it. Applications Open June 28, 2022. On the website link to “register now”, select interactive.

Xathon by Henkel dx Ventures

The ideation hackathon for female entrepreneurs is gearing up for its third edition with a hybrid event for a global connection of women entrepreneurs. From Sept 1-3, 2022,  in Berlin. Our goal is not only to empower 100 female talents to develop and shape their entrepreneurial mindset and ideas but also give them chance to win 25.000 EUR. The application period starts. Apply before Jul 31, 2022

Founders with Disabilities Pitch Competition 

Watch this page for the upcoming third event application period for fall 2022 with a prize total of 75K  https://www.viscardicenter.org/Entrepreneurship/

The event date is typically in November and is sponsored by JP Morgan and other big names.  Learn more about the viscardicenter here: ViscardiCenter.org   

Baylor Business New Venture Competition for recent graduates

Must have graduated within 15 months of the deadline to register which is November. Rated in the top 20 collegiate Entrepreneurship Competitions
registration opens in September. The event is in February. Open to all universities, details coming to the website soon
https://www.baylor.edu/business/newventurecompetition/

U.PITCH

A prestigious national elevator pitch competition where top collegiate founders showcase business ideas to accomplished entrepreneurs and investors.
Applications for U.Pitch will open in the summer. Click the link to join our contestant waitlist and be the first to know when applications open up.
Other workshops and events  are offered through this foundation, future founders for the 18-30-year-old age group.
 

 

Upcoming at Horn

Apply this summer for fall opportunities: 

Hen Hatch - Learn More

REEF - Learn More

Make it Happen Challenge - Learn More

 17 & 43 Awards - more information 

Watch websites for updates and application periods.

Ongoing Grants

SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant

SoGal Foundation has teamed up with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, and other sponsors to make the Black Founder Startup Grant, which will provide several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs. Awardees will also receive help navigating the fundraising environment, scaling their ideas, and more resources. Learn more and apply.

DE Relief Grants by The Delaware Division of Small Business

The DE Relief Grants are a joint effort between the State and New Castle County to assist Delaware small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the pandemic. Funded by the federal CARES Act, the program plans to offer grants of up to $100,000. Apply for a DE Relief Grant here.

Amber Grants

Each month,  judges from WomensNet award one or more Amber Grants of $4,000 to women entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs selected to receive a $4,000 grant are then automatically chosen to be finalists for the $25,000 year-end Amber Grant. Apply by the end of each month here to be considered.

Pepperdine University Most Fundable Companies Competition

Pepperdine University's Most Fundable Companies Competition is an annual event, not a competition that mentors and rewards companies by featuring them at a showcase event in Malibu, CA in October, giving them national press, with great funding success and a profile in Entrepreneur Magazine. Learn more and apply.

VentureWell E-Team Grant Program

VentureWell is now accepting applications for their E-Team Grants! Student innovator teams who are developing science and engineering-based inventions that can have a positive impact on a significant social, health, or environmental challenge are encouraged to apply. The program offers up to $25K in catalytic funding, along with entrepreneurship training, to help teams bring their innovation to market! Opening in August for fall submission

VentureWell E-Team grant program is ongoing and includes calls for applications for specialty focus grants.  Watch this opportunities page. It updates frequently  https://venturewell.org/events-and-opportunities/

Young Edison Awards

Application Aug to mid-November.  The event takes place the following March. Students are awarded gold, silver and bronze, recognition and funding opportunities with fortune 500 companies., no cash prize. Student Innovator category for a lower entry fee of $100.

https://edisonawards.com/news/congratulations-2022-young-edison-challenge-winners/  get notified of application dates

 

Ongoing Opportunities

SOLVE- MIT Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation with a mission to drive innovation to solve world challenges.

MIT Solve Challenges- MIT’s Solve platform launches multiple innovation 2022 challenges. Anyone is eligible to apply, but all solutions must be tech-based. Submit an application for the opportunity to join their 9-month program as a Solver team and receive over $10,000 in funding. Apply ​​https://solve.mit.edu/become-a-solver

Application Clinic: Novel Measurement for Performance Improvement Challenge on July 12 Register here to join us on Tuesday, July 12: 11am-12pm EDT (New York time) to learn more about the Challenge, selection criteria, funding, and more.

 

Hatch Pitch competition in March each year but registration is open onb a rolling application system. tech startups that fit in our broad categories of Connected World, Digital Health, Mobility/Transportation. The HATCH pitch interest form

 

Kenny Family Stores' Aisle Trials

University of Delaware alum and CEO & President of Kenny Family Stores Chris L. Kenny has launched an initiative called Aisle Trials to give local food entrepreneurs a chance to have their products sold at the company's six Shoprites located in Delaware. To be considered, applicants must submit a 60-second pitch video about their product to the Aisle Trials website, where they will be voted on by a panel of judges to decide which product will be chosen. Find out more. Ongoing deadline

 

Wednesday nights at Horn is all about Entre[fellow]ship 

> If you are new to Horn start here: Finding your starting point

eClub for students interested in entrepreneurship. More information. 

Venture Development Center Community (VDCC) Sessions. More than a club for students developing their interest in startups who seek to network, develop and explore. No registration needed; open door policy. Wednesdays 6-7 PM, VDC. SUMMERTIME SESSIONS start July 6. More Information.

Have an opportunity you want to share?

Reach out to Vanessa Spence (megm@udel.edu) with details regarding your opportunity.