Compete at e-Fest® to win your share of over $250,000
e-Fest® is a three-day, action-packed celebration of undergraduate entrepreneurship—featuring workshops, networking, and four competitions that award $250,000 in cash prizes.
In 2026, e-Fest marks its 10th year—and the milestone of $2 million awarded to student startups. Becoming one of the 25 finalist teams is an elite achievement on its own. But e-Fest goes further: finalists connect with the nation’s top student entrepreneurs, gain national media exposure, attend workshops led by industry leaders, and compete for awards that recognize grit, innovation, and impact.
Over the course of the weekend, students step onto four different stages:
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Pitch Slam! – A fast-paced 90-second pitch competition where one member from each team makes their case.
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Innovation Challenge – Cross-university teams tackle a real-world issue and deliver fresh solutions.
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Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge – The signature business plan competition with $175,000 in prizes at stake.
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Special Recognition Awards – Honoring creativity, resilience, and ventures that stand out.
In total, $250,000 is awarded across all competitions—cementing e-Fest as one of the largest and most impactful undergraduate entrepreneurship events in the world.
Online Submissions
e-Fest kicks off each January with the online submission round.
Student teams showcase their ventures through a slide deck and pitch video uploaded to the e-Fest portal. Judges review each submission using the competition rubric and select the 25 most compelling and impactful ventures to advance.
The Top 25 Finalist Teams earn the chance to travel to Minneapolis and take part in the ultimate capstone experience for founders—three days of workshops, networking, and four competitions awarding $250,000 in cash prizes.
The e-Fest Competitions
Pitch Slam!
1st Place: $10,000
2nd Place: $5,000
3rd Place: $2,500
We hit the ground running on Thursday evening. After a welcome by Dick Schulze, the 25 finalist teams will each get 90 seconds to deliver their business plan elevator pitches to fellow student competitors. Teams must elect one person to deliver their pitch. No slides or props may be used during the pitch slam, just a verbal pitch. Everyone in attendance will vote for the 3 venture teams they would most want to meet with as a potential investor.
Innovation Challenge
1st Place: $15,000
2nd Place: $10,000
3rd Place: $5,000
Friday sparks fresh ideas and new collaborations. All student competitors are mixed into cross-university teams of 4–5 and given just three hours, creative supplies, and their collective brainpower to tackle a surprise challenge. Advisors hear the pitches, cast their votes, and the top three teams take home cash prizes.
The Innovation Challenge was my favorite memory because I was able to meet 3 other incredible founders and create an incredible solution, LinkedUp. That challenge was incredibly eye-opening because I realized how much of a skill being an entrepreneur really is.
Nicole Toole, e-Fest 2022 – Social Impact Award and 1st Place Innovation Challenge
ECGO (fka Conserve)
Georgia State University
Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge
Championship Round
1st Prize: $50,000
2nd Prize: $30,000
3rd Prize: $20,000
4th Prize: $15,000
5th Prize: $10,000
Qualifying Round
2nd Prizes (x 5 teams): $4,000
3rd Prize (x 5 teams): $3,000
4th Prize (x 5 teams): $2,000
5th Prize (x 5 teams): $1,000
Saturday morning will feature the finals round. One team from each group will advance from the finals round to the championship round on Saturday afternoon with a new set of judges. The morning finals will be closed to spectators, but the championship round will be open to watch. Team presentation times and room assignments will be provided with your welcome packets on Thursday.
Each room has 5 teams competing. Each team presents their business plan to a panel of 4-5 judges. Presentation format: 15-minute presentation / 10-minute Q&A and feedback / 5-minute transition. Following the last pitch, judges will deliberate and rank teams from first to fifth place. The teams winning first place from each judging group will move on to the Championship Round.
Special Recognition Awards
Top 25 Finalist Teams e-Fest® are invited to apply for consideration for three additional cash prizes recognizing ventures and student founders who are driving measurable impact, demonstrating innovation, and excelling in key areas of entrepreneurial success.
Social Impact Award: $10,000
The Social Impact Award honors ventures that are creating meaningful, measurable, and sustainable change for people or the planet. This award recognizes teams whose mission-driven business models place impact at the core of their success — proving that doing good and doing well can go hand in hand.
Go-To-Market Award: $10,000
The Go-to-Market Award celebrates ventures on the verge of becoming viable companies. This $10,000 prize is intended to be truly instrumental — providing the critical funding that allows a team to build product, complete development, move into production, or take another essential step toward market launch. The award recognizes teams that are prepared, focused, and ready to turn their vision into a fully functioning business.
Brand Builder Award: $5,000 – 1st Place | $2,500 2nd Place
The Brand Builder Award recognizes the student founders who best understand how to tell their story, connect with an audience, and market their venture effectively. Teams will create a short, high-impact video that captures their venture’s purpose and appeal. Videos will be shared for public voting, allowing audiences to engage directly and help determine the winners. The winning teams will demonstrate creativity, clarity, and the ability to make their brand stand out.
