NYU $300K Entrepreneurs Challenge

2026-05-01 · New York

NYU Stern

The Final Pitch-Off of the 2026 NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge features 12 finalist student startup teams competing across three tracks (New Venture, Digital Tech Venture, and Healthcare Venture). The teams will pitch on stage for more than $225,000 in cash prizes and pro-bono services.

Organizer: NYU Entrepreneurial Institute

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At a glance

Format
Finalists deliver 9-minute presentations followed by 20 minutes of intensive Q&A with judges. Evening Showcase and Awards Ceremony includes brief pitches from each finalist and audience choice voting.
Prizes
More than $225K in prize funding and pro bono services; track grand prizes and audience choice awards.
Attendance
hundreds of guests from across the NYU and NYC startup community
Sectors
Ai ml, Healthtech, Consumer

Agenda

  1. Judges Orientation and Networking Lunch — Judges connect by track ahead of the pitches.
  2. Final Pitch-Off — Twelve finalists deliver 9-minute presentations followed by 20 minutes of Q&A with judges.
  3. Judges Deliberations — Guests and teams transition to Showcase while judges deliberate.
  4. Showcase and Awards Ceremony — Opening remarks, brief pitches from each finalist, audience choice voting, and award presentations.

Speakers, judges and hosts

  • Anna Barber — Digital Tech Track Judge (Speaker)
  • David Rose — Digital Tech Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Jay Tapper — Digital Tech Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Brian Cohen — New Venture Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Michelle Larivee — New Venture Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Christopher McKelvy — New Venture Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Joe Borrello — Healthcare Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Sadhana Chitale — Healthcare Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Joe Landolina — Healthcare Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Lisha Yang — Healthcare Track Judge (Speaker)
  • Bharat N. Anand — Dean of NYU Stern (Speaker)
  • Cynthia Franklin — Executive Director of the Berkley Center (Speaker)
  • Paul Hardart — Director of NYU Stern's Entertainment, Media & Technology program and Academic Director of the Berkley Center (Speaker)
  • Dawn Barber — Mentor of the Year Award recipient, co-founder of NY Creative Tech Week (Speaker)
  • Kyle Bergman — Mentor of the Year Award recipient, founder and Chief Swoveralls Officer of Swoveralls (Speaker)
  • Steph Shyu — Associate Director at Berkley Center (Speaker)

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