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Note: Most competitions included below are held annually, see each link for up-to-date deadlines and eligibility.
Rutgers Competitions:
Rutgers ScarletPitch – UpitchNJ and Hult Prize celebrated 10 years in 2025! Go here for details on ScarletPitch, an exciting new Rutgers-wide competition for both undergraduate and graduate students that encompasses UpitchNJ and Hult Prize. The competition is typically hosted in late February or early March. A series of training workshops is available to Scarlet Pitch applicants.
The Rutgers Business School Annual Business Plan Competition is a great opportunity to transform your business idea into reality. Get a chance to win total cash prizes worth $50,000.The first step is to send in a 1-page executive summary to Professor Brownstone anytime from early September to mid-December. The earlier you submit, the better. Several executive summaries will be chosen and asked to submit a full business plan per the rules on the competition website. These business plans will be presented at a pitch day in April for the $50,000 in prizes. Open to all RBS students. Some restrictions apply for team leadership roles. Applications are typically due by mid-December.
New Jersey Competitions:
New Jersey Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) – Global competition for current undergraduate and graduate students with entrepreneurial minds, a growing business, and a desire to connect, the GSEA Awards offers chosen applicants exposure and networking opportunities with top entrepreneurs in their respective fields. Regional competitions are held in January. Regional finalists have a chance to compete in the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards held each Spring. Join the mailing list at the above link to learn more. Applications are typically due in early January. Apply at https://gsea.org/apply/
Nationwide Student Competitions:
MIT Climate and Energy Prize – The 2025 MIT Climate and Energy Prize (MIT CEP) features nine tracks for prospective teams. The purpose of these tracks is to encourage a diversity of clean energy technologies and solutions, as well as to pair teams with appropriate industry mentors to maximize their chances of success. Tracks include Energy; Food and Land Use; Built Environment;Transportation; GHG Capture & Removal; Water Resources; Industrial Decarbonization; Climate Services & Software; Climate Adaptation. Final application deadline is usually in early January. Apply here
TCU’s Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures® Competition – This competition is limited to undergraduate college students; team must have at least 2 members. Ventures submitted must be for-profit, values-centered enterprises. Nonprofit ventures are not allowed. Plans must demonstrate a societal or environmental need to be filled, as well as the profitability of the business. Teams must have a faculty/staff sponsor who will authenticate that the business plan was prepared under faculty supervision or as part of regular university coursework. $100k grand prize. The application deadline is typically in January,; you must create an account to apply. The final competition is held in April.
E-fest (formerly Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge) – Undergraduate students in North America are encouraged to form teams and submit their Social Venture pitches for a chance at $250K in Cash Prizes. e-Fest is a 3-day event each April in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. Development Grant Applications close in January. Competition applications open in January, and close in late March.The Competition is typically held in late April. Details and sign-ups are here.
The Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge – The Fowler GSIC inspires student social entrepreneurs around the world to connect and create business solutions that address social and environmental challenges. The Global Finals are held in May in Minneapolis, MN. How it works: Teams should have 1 – 5 members; a solution to a social or environmental challenge and a prototypes ready or already launched. Pitch your idea for up to $75,000+ in funding. The application deadline is typically early Feb. See details and apply here
Rice Business Plan Competition – This is the World’s richest and largest graduate-level student startup competition. The 2021 Competition will be announced early in the year. Registration will typically open in mid-May. Add RBPC@rice.edu to your contacts for news, updates, and reminders. The Rice Business Plan Competition takes place in Houston, Texas. $1.5 million in cash and prizes. The application deadline is typically late January. The event is held in April. See key dates here.
New Venture Championship – https://www.futurefounders.com/u-pitch/ – date not announced, sign up for their mailing list