NYU Tech Venture TeamUp Pitch Fest 2026

2026-12-10 · New York

Closing out the NYU Tech Venture TeamUp program on December 10, 2026, paired research and business teams pitch deep-tech and life-science commercialization ventures.

Culminating Pitch Fest of NYU's Tech Venture TeamUp program, where NYU research teams paired with Stern MBA/Masters students pitch deep-tech and life-science commercialization ventures (incubation Oct 8-Dec 10).

Founder brief

Who should attend

NYU research faculty, postdocs, PhDs, and Stern MBA or Masters students collaborating on deep-tech or life-science innovations should plan to take part. Outside founders and ecosystem builders curious about emerging university intellectual property and spinouts will find commercialization-stage projects to track.

What happens

Teams conclude their multi-week incubation by delivering final presentations to a panel of investor judges, mentors, and peers. By the end of the session, judges select two winning teams to receive twenty-five hundred dollars in reimbursable expenses dedicated to customer development.

Who's in the room

Investor judges, mentors, university peers, and organizers from the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute assemble to evaluate the ventures. The presenting cohort consists of NYU researchers across various STEM disciplines teamed up with business graduate students who have spent the autumn testing commercial potential.

How to prepare

Review your commercialization roadmap and practice distilling complex scientific mechanisms into clear value propositions for market application. Be ready to explain your customer development milestones, address questions from early-stage venture investors, and detail exactly how additional non-dilutive capital will advance your venture validation.

Organizer: NYU Entrepreneurial Institute

Register

At a glance

Format
The program runs in phases: Phase 0 info sessions (Sep 8 and Sep 17), Phase 1 applications (due Sep 10 for researchers, Sep 28 for students), Phase 2 kickoff on Oct 8, Phase 3 incubation from Oct 8 to Dec 10 with workshops and office hours, and Phase 4 Innovation Pitch Fest on Dec 10.
Who can apply
For NYU Research Teams: Led by NYU research faculty, PhDs and postdocs; at least one person must dedicate time and have interest in starting a company; working on deep tech/life science innovation from any STEM sector; ideally Technology Readiness Level 3+ (Level 2+ may apply); underlying IP must be
Prizes
Two winning teams receive an additional $2,500 in reimbursable expenses for customer development.
Attendance
10-20 research teams/projects and 20-40 MBA/Masters students will be selected for the kickoff.
Sectors
Deep tech, Life sciences

Agenda

  1. Sep 8 · Faculty/Researcher Info Session — Attend the faculty/researcher info session to learn more about Tech Venture TeamUp.
  2. Sep 17 · Student Info Session — Attend the student info session to learn more about Tech Venture TeamUp.
  3. Oct 8, 5-7pm · Kickoff — Featuring pitches from research teams, introductions from MBA/Masters students, and structured networking over food & drinks.
  4. Dec 10 · Innovation Pitch Fest — Final presentations to a panel of investor judges and an audience of mentors and peers. Two winning teams receive an additional $2,500 in reimbursable expenses.

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