Innovation Challenge
Open to: All UMass students and graduates of the last decade
The Innovation Challenge is an opportunity for students and recent alumni to win up to $65,000 in equity-free funding to kick-start their business idea. Startups will work alongside Berthiaume Center experts to polish their pitch decks and present before a live audience.
| Prize Pool: | $65,500 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline: | TBA |
| Semester/Event Date: | Spring/TBA |
HackUMass
At UMass Amherst’s annual hackathon, students team up to design, build, and test tech-driven solutions with real-world impact. This beginner-friendly hackathon provides hands-on workshops and dedicated mentorship, teaching the skills needed to apply technology in any field.
Hack(H)er 413
This annual hackathon and innovation challenge is designed to empower women and gender-diverse students in technology. Through hands-on workshops, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving, participants build technical skills, develop creative solutions, and connect with a supportive community of innovators.
More Competitions
The Tech Challenge
Present your idea or prototype to a panel of judges for the chance to win from a $15,000 prize pool. All student innovators will receive valuable feedback from esteemed experts on their technology ideas and inventions. Applications for this tech challenge, cohosted by the Berthiaume Center and the Riccio College of Engineering, typically open in early fall.
| Prize Pool: | $15,000 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline: | TBA |
| Semester/Event Date: | Fall/TBA |
Executive Pitch
Open To: All UMass students and graduates of the last decade
Perfect your boardroom-style long-form pitch for the Executive Pitch contest. After forming your business plan, you’ll convince a board of judges how and why your startup will be successful. The judges’ favorites will have the chance to win up to $15,000 in seed money.
| Prize Pool: | $15,500 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline: | TBA |
| Semester/Event Date: | Fall/TBA |
Minute Pitch Competition
Open To: All UMass students and graduates of the last decade
Can you share your startup vision in under 60 seconds? The Minute Pitch Competition from the Berthiaume Center’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy welcomes new ideas for a prize pool of $2,500, including an audience choice prize. Present just your elevator pitch—no written business plan or executive summary is required.
| Prize Pool | $2,500 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | TBA |
| Semester/Event Date | Fall/TBA |
Food Science and Technology: Innovate for Tomorrow Challenge
Open To: All UMass students and graduates of the last decade
Everybody eats, and now more than ever the world needs innovations in food science and technology. Whether you’ve developed an invention to fight food waste or a technology to support food security, your food science-related idea could earn you a cash prize.
| Prize Pool | $13,000 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | TBA |
| Semester/Event Date | Fall/TBA |
Hult Prize Challenge
Open To: All UMass students and graduates of the last decade
The Hult Prize Challenge is a year-long social entrepreneurship competition. In this challenge, more than 100,000 young people across the globe create startups that address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The UMass competition has a prize pool of $10,000, and winners can go on to compete for $1 million in funding in the global competition.
| Prize Pool | $10,000 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | TBA |
| Semester/Event Date | Fall/TBA |
Business Plan Competition
Open To: All UMass students and graduates of the last decade
A slick pitch can go a long way, but real entrepreneurs know that a solid business plan is the foundation of every great startup. Submit your plan to the UMass Amherst Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship’s Business Plan Competition for a chance to win startup funding. No pitch is required.
| Prize Pool | TBA |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | TBA |
| Semester/Event Date | Fall/TBA |
Any Questions?
Our university-wide network of innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity advisors and mentors is here to help you grow your ideas—whether you’re exploring a new interest or preparing to launch. Reach out to find support, guidance, and opportunities to get started.