Submit Your Startup Idea!
We use Submittable to allow Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to craft and submit their startup ideas. Click here to begin your application:
Weekly Tuesday Workshops Starting January 20th
Come take part in weekly workshops, held in UC329 (3rd floor of the UC) every Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Workshops re offered through Tuesday February 25th.
These workshops allow Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to ask any questions, receive help with submissions, work on any component of the application and learn more about entrepreneurial ventures.
Submission Guidelines for New Applicants
Information and deadlines for the April 26, 2024 event. Please check this page for future updates.
Description |
Dates |
| Wednesday Workshops | Beginning Tuesday, January 20 |
| Written Submission Deadline (Submittable Form) | Friday, February 28, 2025; 11:59 p.m. |
| Finalists Announced | March 3, 2025 |
| Mentor Match | March 3-10, 2025 |
| Finalist Tuesday Workshops | Every Tuesday March 4-April 1, 2025 |
| Competition Day | Friday, April 4, 2025; 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
| Competition Public Event | Friday, April 4, 2025; 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
Link to Submission Application
Submissions are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Review below requirements prior to applying.
Eligibility
To compete in the Startup Challenge, you must have at least one person on your business team who meets all of the following criteria. ONLY PERSONS MEETING THESE CRITERIA ARE PERMITTED TO PRESENT IN THE COMPETITION AND Q&A. Individuals who do not fit the eligibility criteria are welcome to participate in planning the venture as well as travel to Missoula and attend the event and cheer on their team.
Ventures that have already received more than $50k in angel or VC funding (not friends and family) are not eligible to compete.
The teammate who presents must:
- Be a full or part-time undergraduate or graduate level student.
- Have been enrolled in one of the select colleges or universities located in the state of Montana sometime during the current academic year.
Submission Requirements
Submissions must be:
- Original work of the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ on the team.
- New ventures, “not for profits,” social entrepreneurship organizations, or existing firms with new and/or expansion opportunities. Ventures built around private sector licensing of existing commercially viable technologies from universities or research labs are encouraged.
- Ventures which have previously competed in the Startup Challenge may compete again if they did not reach the final four. It is anticipated that such ventures would have made significant progress with their startup between competition years.
- For UM teams, you should notify Erik Guzik of your intent to compete (erik.guzik@umontana.edu). We strongly recommend scheduling a meeting to seek guidance and advice on your entry prior to submission.
- For non-UM teams, we encourage you to seek the support of a faculty advisor from your institution. We will require you to submit the name and contact details of faculty advisor from your institution when you submit your entry.
If you experience a technical issue while submitting, please contact Erik Guzik, erik.guzik@umontana.edu.
How To Win
- Join us at our Tuesday workshops from 4-5:30 on UC329! Contact Erik Guzik!!
- Work on launching your business (not winning the competition)
- External validation: customers, suppliers
- Tangible progress: customers (or commitments/waiting list), products, designs/prototypes, websites, social media engagement
- Tell a story
- Keep it simple, concise and avoid jargon
- Develop your written submission and pitch deck EARLY and ITERATE
- Practice your elevator pitch early and often (DON'T LEARN A SCRIPT)
- Practice your pitch (deck) delivery EARLY AND OFTEN
- Recommended deck outline:
- Pitch deck tips:
- Anticipate questions and in some instances tee them up and have supporting slides ready