Graphic for the Elon Innovation Challenge with honeycomb design

Elon Innovation Challenge 2026

Graphic of the Grand Prize amount which is $2,500The Elon Innovation Challenge is a dynamic innovation competition designed to inspire and empower students across campus to create innovative solutions to real-world challenges. The competition serves as a platform for students to showcase their early-stage entrepreneurial ideas, receive valuable feedback from industry professionals, and potentially secure funding to take their ventures to the next level. At its core, the Elon Innovation Challenge fosters a culture of innovation, problem-solving and entrepreneurship among Elon students.

Key Features of the Elon Innovation Challenge:

  • Entrepreneurial Focus:
    The challenge provides a platform for student-led business ideas to be presented, evaluated and supported by a panel of investors and industry experts.
  • Pitch Competition Format:
    The competition centers on a pitch contest where student entrepreneurs present their business ideas to a panel of judges, vying for funding and mentorship to bring their ideas to life.
  • Networking and Support:
    Beyond the pitch, the Elon Innovation Challenge connects students with investors, mentors and fellow entrepreneurs, fostering a collaborative environment to grow ideas and build lasting professional relationships through a series of engaging workshops.

The event highlights the importance of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in tackling today’s most pressing challenges, offering a valuable opportunity for students to turn their vision into reality.

The competition is open to students across all disciplines, from social sciences and technology to business and beyond.

Interested in the 2026 Challenge? Please fill out the survey and confirm attendance at the Information Session on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

 

Guidelines for the 2026 Elon Innovation Challenge

Eligibility and Team Rules

  • All currently enrolled Elon students in good standing with Elon University are eligible to apply. No more than five students on a team.
  • All applications must be for an idea or an early-stage startup.
  • All past Elon Innovation Challenge grand prize winners are not eligible to apply to the 2026 competition with the same or a significantly similar idea/venture. Applicants proposing a different idea or venture may be eligible. Please get in touch with the Doherty Center team with any questions.

Key Dates and Required Participation

  • The application deadline is 8 a.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • All applicants are strongly encouraged to attend all workshops to ensure progress toward a successful application. If you are not able to attend, you must contact Doherty Center staff to arrange at least one check-in between kick-off on Tuesday, March 3 and the submission deadline on Friday, April 3.
  • All applicants must commit to presenting their business in person during the semifinals on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, if selected.

Workshop Schedule

Schedule of Elon Innovation Challenge Workshops:

  • Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – Information Session – Sankey 308, 4:30–6:00 pm.
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026 –Business Model Canvas and Testing– Sankey 308, 4:30 – 6:00 pm. Led by Professor Jose Cerecedo Lopez
  • Tuesday, March 17, 2026– Executive Summary and Pitch – Sankey 308, 4:30 – 6:00 pm. Led by Professor Sean McMahon
  • Tuesday, March 31, 2026 – EIC Pitch Practice with Elon Sales Team– Location TBD, 4:30 – 7:00 pm. Led by Professor George Talbert Jr. and Executive in Residence Ann Fritchman.
  • Tuesday, April 7, 2026 – EIC Semi Finals – Sankey 102 to Check In, 4:30 – 6 pm.
  • Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – EIC Finals and Networking Reception – Location TBD and Time TBD

What to Submit

The application requires the following:

  • Executive Summary—two pages in .doc, .docx or .pdf format.
  1. Overview
  2. Market Opportunity
  3. Business Model
  4. Target Market
  5. Customer Discovery/Testing
  6. Team
  7. Basic Financial Projections
  8. Challenges/Next Steps
  • Slide deck—maximum 6 slides in .pptx, .ppt or .pdf format. The 6-slide limit includes any cover slides or appendix slides. The slide deck must cover the following:
  1. Description of Venture/Opportunity
  2. Target market
  3. Business Model
  4. Team
  5. Challenges and Next Steps
  6. The overall potential of the opportunity
  • The two-page limit for the executive summary and the 6-slide limit for the slide deck are strict limits. Applicants who exceed the limits may be disqualified.

Original Work and Intellectual Property

  • All applicants must agree that the materials they are submitting are their original work.
  • Any disclosure of patentable details of the IP (Intellectual Property) in the executive summary or presentation would generally be considered a public disclosure. You are not required to disclose any details of your IP in your application or at the competition. You should be able to talk about general concepts of your IP, not patentable details, in a manner that makes you comfortable.
    • If protection is at all a consideration, or if you are at all worried about disclosing specific details about your IP in the application or at the competition, please consider doing some research on the filing, starting the process to file, getting legal advice on filing, actually filing a patent application or not participating.

How to Submit and Confirmation Required

  • To be considered for the Elon Innovation Challenge, the application files (executive summary and slide deck) must be emailed to: innovation@elon.edu by 8 am. on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • If you have not received an e-mail confirmation by 3 pm. on Friday, April 3, 2026, please text 919-423-2770. You must receive an email confirmation to be considered for the Elon Innovation Challenge.

Judging, Prizes and Feedback

  • By participating in the competition, applicant(s) give the Elon Innovation Challenge organizers the right to share the executive summary and slide deck with faculty reviewers, and judges.
  • Applicants may be contacted via email at any time during the competition if more information is needed by the Doherty Center.
  • All applicants will be asked to sign a media release form.
  • The review process for the Elon Innovation Challenge is structured as follows: All applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by faculty. All teams will present to a panel of expert judges in the semifinal on April 7th. Up to eight teams will advance to the final rounds on April 21st. Afterward, the finalists will present their pitches to a panel of expert judges. The winners of the Elon Innovation Challenge will be announced following the presentations.
  • Prize money will be distributed to the grand prize winner and runners-up. Winners must submit any requested documents in a timely manner. Recipients are responsible for all taxes, if any.
    • Grand Prize – $2,500 to the top team
    • Dean’s Prize – $1,500
    • Two Runner-Ups – $750 to each team
    • Up to 10 teams will receive a “Get Started Prize” of $250.
  • The winner(s) of the Elon Innovation Challenge will be determined by a panel of expert judges who will judge based on the overall potential of the venture, feasibility, impact, and the ability of the team to execute the idea.
  • The Doherty Center will forward feedback to applicants upon the completion of judging. Feedback is anonymous unless otherwise indicated.