BIG EAST Startup Challenge
Each year, the most promising student venture team from each BIG EAST Conference school pitches to judges for prizes and tickets to a Big East Basketball game!
Each Startup Challenge team is comprised of currently enrolled undergraduate students at one of the 11 BIG EAST institutions. Details about the 2025 competition will be announced towards the end of the Fall semester.
Each team/company must fulfill the following criteria:
- Less than $50,000 in revenue
- Less than $50,000 in investment
- Not incorporated for more than one year
- Nonprofit and for-profit businesses are eligible; however, the criteria will be the same for all
- All presenting students must be currently enrolled undergraduate students at a BIG EAST institution.
- The presenting students must have a majority ownership of the business they are presenting. The students cannot just be employees or agents of a company for which they are not founders.
- A maximum of four students from each team can present in the competition
IDEA/CONCEPT
- Has the team presented a relevant problem? Does their idea solve that problem?
MARKET NEED
- Does the pitch answer the need in a marketplace? Does the pitch show that the idea/innovation is necessary?
VALUE PROPOSITION
Has the team shown why their idea has value and that their innovation is the best suited for solving the market need?
FEASIBILITY
- Has the team shown that their idea/innovation can be simply implemented and used by their target consumer?
SUSTAINABILITY
- How will the venture sustain itself financially to achieve its mission?
PASSION AND PRESENTATION
- Did the team confidently and professionally deliver a clear, concise message?
The top three teams will receive an honorarium and an invitation to a women鈥檚 basketball tournament game where they鈥檒l receive a trophy on the arena floor.