How It Works

 
Applications, November 2024 through January 17, 2025
  • Submit an application.
  • Submit your 1-2-page executive summary.
  • Submit short answers to questions.
  • 90-second video pitch
  • Judging is based on video pitch, executive summary, pitch deck and short answers
Innovator Round 2, February 10, 2025
  • Semi-finalist teams selected, announced and invited to campus.
  • Investor Challenge Begins. Each semi-finalist team is given a bracket with all competing semi-finalist ventures.
    • Watch the 90-second pitches.
    • Select the ventures you think will move on in each round, including the Grand Prize winner.
Innovator Round 3, April 5, 2025
  • Semi-finalist teams pitch on campus.
  • Teams get 7 minutes to pitch and 7 minutes of Q&A with judges.
  • Judging is based on live pitches, Q&A, pitch deck, application, executive summary and short answers.
  • The top team from each of the 5 flights moves on to the final round on April 6, 2025.
 Lightning Round, April 5, 2025
  • The second place team from each flight that pitched earlier in the day will have the opportunity to pitch again to a different set of judges.
  • Teams get 7 minutes to pitch and 7 minutes of Q&A with judges.
  • Judging is based on live pitches, Q&A.
  • The top 2 teams from the Lightning Round will move on to the final round on April 6, 2025.
Innovator Round 4, April 6, 2025
  • Finalist teams pitch to finalist judges.
  • Teams get 10 minutes to pitch and 10 minutes of Q&A with judges.
  • Judging is based on live pitches, Q&A and pitch deck.
Winners Announced, April 6, 2025