America 250: 'America’s Startup' national entrepreneur competition returns with $1 million in prizes
$1 million up for grabs in college entrepreneurs competition
College entrepreneurs have a chance to win $1 million in the "America's Startup" competition, backed by America 250. The organization's chair, Rosie Rios, talks about the competition.
Following the success of its inaugural competition earlier this year, America 250 is once again looking for collegiate student innovators and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality with the America’s Startup national competition with an expanded prize pool of over $1 million.
America 250, the national, nonpartisan organization charged by Congress with leading the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, says nearly 200 colleges and universities across 42 states took part in the spring competition, with student-led ventures spanning AI, healthcare, biotech, semiconductors, sustainability and consumer technology.
The fast-paced, high-stakes competition seeks college students across the country to pitch bold ideas and early-stage ventures with more than $1 million in prizes.
"We launched it as a pilot program last spring to spotlight the next generation of entrepreneurs and change makers. It was a huge hit beyond what we ever imagined. We received applications for almost 200 colleges and universities in almost all 50 states," said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250.
$1 million in prizes available for America’s Startup fall national competition
Winners of the Spring 2026 America’s Startup Contest, pictured at Draper University in San Mateo, California during the three-day pitch competition in May. (America 250)
What they're saying:
"This fall’s competition builds on the incredible momentum we saw during our May 2026 inaugural program. We're doing something a little different this time. So what we did in the first round: We had the top 100 semi-finalists who had the ability to have an equity investment reviewed and possibly happened by our investor counsel. From there, we went to the 30 semi-finalists for the pitch weekend and then the top 10 winners for the $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding. This year, we're doing it again, but also adding three winners who will receive an additional $25,000 of grant funding. And these participants also get to take advantage of mentorship," said Rios.
Several of America’s Startup spring competition winners were AI applications
The spring contest saw numerous AI ventures win, including Sanjana Kavula and Adhira Tippur from Rice University who co-founded Kairos Health which automates patient intake with AI to reduce the administrative burden in independent healthcare clinics to convert demand into completed care.
What they're saying:
"The U.S. is uniquely positioned when it comes to innovation, especially for student founders. An idea can start as a very personal problem and become a real company because the infrastructure exists to support it. Programs like America250’s America’s Startup play an important role in giving young founders the resources, exposure and support to keep building," said Tippur.
America’s Startup fall competition features enhanced awards
Finalists will get face time with the America’s Startup Investor Council which includes prominent venture leaders and industry visionaries, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar, Liquid 2 Ventures co-founder Joe Montana, and venture capitalist Tim Draper.
The fall America's Startup features enhanced awards:
- The Top 100 entries will be shared with the Investors Council for an opportunity to review optional equity investments and receive an invitation from NVIDIA to apply to join the NVIDIA Inception program for startups.
- 30 semi-finalist Teams will be invited to Washington, D.C. to pitch live to a panel of judges, networking and mentorship opportunities.
- 10 Finalist Teams will each receive $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding (i.e., money given to a business or person that does not require them to give up shares or ownership).
- 3 Grand Prize Winners will earn an additional $25,000 grant for total awards of $50,000 each.
- Mentorship & Ecosystem Access for participants to gain national visibility among investors, educational programming, and consideration for accelerator or incubator support.
Who can participate in America’s Startup competition?
America’s Startup is open to:
- U.S. students enrolled as undergraduates in accredited U.S. colleges, universities, or trade schools
- Founders working individually or in small teams
- Early-stage ideas, concepts, or ventures across industries
Participants must be legal residents of the United States or U.S. territories and meet eligibility requirements outlined in the Official Contest Rules.
How to enter the America’s Startup competition
To enter, students submit a written proposal and a two-minute pitch video at America250.org. The application deadline is October 8, 2026.
America’s Startup competition timeline
Timeline:
By October 8, 2026, submit a written proposal and a short pitch video together through the online submission portal.
In mid-October, the submissions will be evaluated by the Investor Council using a national scoring rubric focused on innovation, feasibility, market potential, and team strength.
In early November, 30 semi-finalist teams will be notified and will move forward through additional stages of review, including a live pitch experience.
In mid-December, semi-finalists will participate in a live pitch experience in Washington, DC. with 10 finalists and three winners chosen.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by America250. This story was reported from Orlando.