Events
Explore our series of entrepreneurial events, featuring workshops and pitch competitions. Perfect for nurturing innovation and expanding networks within and beyond the academic environment.
May 2026
May 1
UPitchNJ - Sponsored by Nokia Bell Labs
Rowan University
Support NJIT's Student Founder at the 2026 UPitch Competition on May 1st! Gabriele Muratori, founder of Stacks, will represent NJIT at UPitch hosted at Rowan University. Transportation for students will be provided on a first come first served basis (more details to come). Each year, UPitchNJ brings together top student founders from colleges and universities throughout New Jersey to pitch their business ideas and early stage ventures. The event highlights creativity, entrepreneurship, and bold thinking from students who are building solutions to real world problems.
Made possible by the support of Nokia Bell Labs, UPitchNJ provides a platform for student teams to present their ventures, receive feedback from experienced judges, connect with peers and mentors, and showcase the depth of entrepreneurial talent emerging from New Jersey’s higher education institutions.
Students compete by pitching in front of a live audience and judging panel. Teams will be evaluated on the clarity of the problem they are solving, the strength and feasibility of their solution, customer validation, their understanding of the competition and why their venture will succeed, the business model and market opportunity, team capability, and the overall quality of their pitch and Q&A.
In addition to pitch presentations, the event features team demo tables, networking opportunities, and awards recognizing standout ventures.
Each participating university selects an undergraduate student team to compete. Students interested in competing should contact their university’s entrepreneurship center or department for more information.
UPitchNJ is open to students, faculty, families, alumni, entrepreneurs, and community members who would like to attend and support student innovation as part of the audience.
May 4
Propelus I-Corps -NJIT (Applications Open, Deadline: May 4)
Our four-session Propelus program helps researchers explore the customer perspective to inform how a discovery or innovation can become the basis of a successful startup or venture.
Through the program, we provide training and grants to support team-based customer research aimed at investigating the viability and societal impact of scientific and technological discoveries.
To apply to attend the Propelus program, researchers must form a team of at least two people involved with the scientific or technological discovery. The team must include:
- An Entrepreneurial Lead (often a postdoctoral researcher, graduate student or undergraduate) and
- A Technical Lead (usually a faculty member) Please note: Non-university teams are also eligible if they have a tech- enabled innovation.
- (Optional) Industry Mentor (someone from outside the university with close ties to industry or has successfully commercialized a similar technology)
Benefits
- Training: Four sessions introducing the Lean LaunchPad methodology, which focuses on customer discovery research to evaluate the potential of your idea to solve problems and provide value. View a sample course agenda.
- Funding: Stipends of up to $1,500 are provided to each selected team and can be used to fund expenses related to customer discovery research, including conferences and marketing tools.
- Resources: Selected teams will receive mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and innovators. Teams may also utilize many other programs offered by the Hub-affiliated institutions.
- Follow-on opportunities: Upon completion, academic teams are eligible for the national NSF I-Corps Teams program which provides an intensive 7-week training course and a $50,000 grant.
Session dates:
Mandatory Expectation Session: May 7, 3:00pm-6:00pm (Virtual)
May 21, 3:00pm-6:00pm (Virtual)
May 28, 3:00pm-6:00pm (Virtual)
June 4, 3:00pm-6:00pm (Virtual)
June 11, 3:00pm-6:00pm (Virtual)
Our four-session Propelus program helps researchers explore the customer perspective to inform how a discovery or innovation can become the basis of a successful startup or venture.
Location: Virtual
May 4, 1pm - 2pm
Student Mentor Hour
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Looking for guidance on your startup idea or entrepreneurial journey? Drop in for a Student Mentor Hour at the Center for Student Entrepreneurship on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to connect one-on-one with our Peer Entrepreneurs in Residence (Peer EIRs) who can help you refine your business concept, prepare for competitions, access software like Crunchbase or Scroobious and direct you to our ecosystem of resources. Open to all students—whether you’re just starting out or ready to take your venture to the next level. No appointment needed!
May 4, 5pm - 7pm
Mission 50 Pitch Competition
50 Harrison St #206, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (Seminar Room, Suite 213, Mission 50)
Students from Saint Peter’s University, Hudson County Community College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and NJIT will pitch their business ideas for a chance to win the $5,000 Grand Prize. Kushagra Verma, founder of Carbon Forge, will be representing NJIT in the competition.
May 6, 3pm - 5pm
Entrepreneurship Open Office Hours
Leir Data Observatory (2nd Floor of the Library)
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Open to all NJIT students.
May 8
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship (Application Deadline)
The Center for Student Entrepreneurship is excited to spread the word about a wonderful opportunity available only to NJIT students: the Paul V. Profeta Foundation Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship. This fellowship aims to support talented undergraduate students involved in entrepreneurship at NJIT. This prestigious fellowship is an $8,000 award: $3,000 in the form of a summer stipend and $5,000 in tuition support. Recipients are expected to participate in entrepreneurship-related programs organized by NJIT, particularly those offered by the Center for Student Entrepreneurship.
Eligibility: Undergraduate enrolled at NJIT for the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters. Preferably (not required) majoring or minoring in entrepreneurship at the Martin Tuchman School of Management.
May 13, 3pm - 5pm
Entrepreneurship Open Office Hours
Leir Data Observatory (2nd Floor of the Library)
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Open to all NJIT students.
May 27, 3pm - 5pm
Entrepreneurship Open Office Hours
Leir Data Observatory (2nd Floor of the Library)
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Open to all NJIT students.
May 27
Business Today Conference - Impact Challenge (Applications Open, First Deadline June 7, Rolling Basis)
Passionate about social entrepreneurship? Have a vision for a startup that would jumpstart positive social change? Whether your company is alpha testing or simply a concept, we want to hear it!
The Impact Challenge is a premier pitch competition for undergraduate social entrepreneurs. Once selected, the top five finalists will receive pre-conference mentorship from top VCs and operating executives. Afterwards, up to three team members will have the opportunity to attend Business Today's 52nd International Conference in full, culminating in the chance to pitch their startup to a panel of prestigious judges from all areas of the innovation economy. Past competitors have gone on to join Y-Combinator cohorts, become major VC portfolio companies, and even be recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 founders!
Application Requirements:
Teams may consist of up to arbitrarily many members; however, only two are permitted to attend the competition. Only one member must apply for the team.
The Impact Challenge will take place in person in New York, NY, on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Finalists will be invited to attend the events of the International Conference from November 6 to 8, 2026 with all travel expenses and stay covered by Business Today.
Application Deadlines:
Regular Application: June 7th, 2026
Feel free to reach out to impactchallenge@businesstoday.org with any questions. Best of luck!
Application Here
June 2026
June 3, 3pm - 5pm
Entrepreneurship Open Office Hours
Leir Data Observatory (2nd Floor of the Library)
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Open to all NJIT students.
June 7
Business Today Conference - Impact Challenge (First Deadline June 7, Rolling Basis)
Passionate about social entrepreneurship? Have a vision for a startup that would jumpstart positive social change? Whether your company is alpha testing or simply a concept, we want to hear it!
The Impact Challenge is a premier pitch competition for undergraduate social entrepreneurs. Once selected, the top five finalists will receive pre-conference mentorship from top VCs and operating executives. Afterwards, up to three team members will have the opportunity to attend Business Today's 52nd International Conference in full, culminating in the chance to pitch their startup to a panel of prestigious judges from all areas of the innovation economy. Past competitors have gone on to join Y-Combinator cohorts, become major VC portfolio companies, and even be recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 founders!
Application Requirements:
Teams may consist of up to arbitrarily many members; however, only two are permitted to attend the competition. Only one member must apply for the team.
The Impact Challenge will take place in person in New York, NY, on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Finalists will be invited to attend the events of the International Conference from November 6 to 8, 2026 with all travel expenses and stay covered by Business Today.
Application Deadlines:
Regular Application: June 7th, 2026
Feel free to reach out to impactchallenge@businesstoday.org with any questions. Best of luck!
Application Here
June 10, 3pm - 5pm
Entrepreneurship Open Office Hours
Leir Data Observatory (2nd Floor of the Library)
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Open to all NJIT students.
June 11, 4:30pm - 7pm
Pitch & Power Juice
Motto Juice - 58 Norfolk Street, Newark, NJ 07103
Do you have a startup idea? Do you need a space to test your skills? Get personalized feedback and stand a chance to win prizes. Limited spots, register today! Open to All NJIT Students.
Fill out the form below to secure your spot!
June 17, 3pm - 5pm
Entrepreneurship Open Office Hours
Leir Data Observatory (2nd Floor of the Library)
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Open to all NJIT students.
June 24, 3pm - 5pm
Entrepreneurship Open Office Hours
Leir Data Observatory (2nd Floor of the Library)
Second floor of the Library in the Leir Data Observatory Room (drop in and innovate)
Open to all NJIT students.
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