Brandeis Innovation

Deadline: Pre-registration is now open. For the Complete timeline of dates check it out at https://www.herox.com/EnergyTechUP/timeline

The American-Made EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) 2025 offers student teams the opportunity to win cash prizes by creating and presenting a business plan centered around promising energy technologies. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Technology Transitions, the competition provides mentorship and resources, with over $450,000 available for students, and an additional $100,000 dedicated to faculty who elevate energy entrepreneurship at their institutions. This new faculty track incentivizes educators to engage students in energy technology commercialization and entrepreneurship, further enhancing the impact of the competition.

The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) offers an opportunity for students who manage their own businesses while attending college or university. This global competition challenges student entrepreneurs to compete against their peers in a series of local and national contests, all competing for a spot in the Global Finals. Take advantage of this chance to showcase your entrepreneurial skills on the world stage!

The MassChallenge Healthcare Challenge Program offers an exciting opportunity to engage in transformative healthcare innovation. This program connects startups with leading corporate partners to collaboratively solve some of the industry's most pressing challenges, including digital and mobile health, AI in healthcare, health equity and access, medical devices and wearables, and chronic disease management.

Participants will work alongside prominent industry partners like MassMutual, Novo Nordisk, and Point32Health, focusing on innovative solutions that enhance health and financial well-being. Key challenges include developing scalable wellness services, non-invasive health measurement methods, and strategies for transparent data usage. Additionally, participants will explore solutions in value-based care, cost management, and addressing social determinants of health.

This program is ideal for startup founders aiming to drive meaningful change in healthcare. Join the global network to advance your innovative ideas and contribute to solving critical health challenges.

The Global EdTech Startups Awards (GESAwards) represents the largest global competition and community for educational technology, involving over 6,000 startups from more than 130 countries since its inception in 2014. The awards aim to foster international collaboration and global expansion within the EdTech sector, offering startups from diverse regions the opportunity to showcase their innovations globally, connect with industry leaders, and potentially win the title Edtech Startup of the Year. The program includes regional semifinals leading up to a final event in London each January and a two-day boot camp providing finalists with significant networking and growth opportunities. Startups at various stages are encouraged to apply, especially those with products ready for the market but not yet widely distributed.

The 2023/2024 Hult Prize program cycle has been launched, inviting students globally to participate in a challenge that combines competition with a cause. This program encourages young entrepreneurs to develop startups that address critical global issues, fostering a spirit of social entrepreneurship. This prestigious program enables students to develop startups with the potential for real-world impact, offering a chance to join a global network of peers, mentors, and experts. Competitors strive to reach the Global Finals, with a grand prize of $1 million in funding to realize their innovative ideas.

Participants can elevate an existing startup or create a new venture through this program. To be eligible, you must be a currently enrolled student in a degree program, part of a team of 3-5 members from the same university (with an allowance for one member from a different institution), and at least 18 years old. Engage in this opportunity to bring your impactful business ideas to life with the Hult Prize.

Explore the Equity Fund, presented by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, dedicated to empowering Black-owned businesses in Greater Boston. With a particular focus on entrepreneurs from Cambridge and Somerville, this initiative seeks to strengthen long-term racial and economic equity through grants and low-interest loans. The Equity Fund is set to provide initial technical assistance grants aimed at the development and sustainability of Black enterprises in Cambridge, Somerville, and the broader Greater Boston region. Dive into this opportunity to support and grow your business.

The Power Forward Small Business Grant is targeted at black-owned small businesses that can showcase how they intend to use the grant to further their impact on their community. Approved applicants receive $25k in funding, along with the opportunity to be featured in natural programming and resources for both marketing and design. There is no deadline; rewards are granted on a rolling basis.

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P&G Ventures is an early stage startup studio within Procter & Gamble that partners with entrepreneurs to  accelerate billion dollar ideas that improve consumers’ lives. Focus areas include nontoxic home and garden, women’s health, anti-aging, daily wellness, and cleaning/sanitizing.

The Seed Investments Program is a two-stage investment program that provides up to $250,000 in convertible notes to pre-seed or seed-stage clean energy startups. The program exists to support companies as they advance and commercialize clean energy technologies and business models.Massachusetts-based applicants whose primary business fits the MassCEC definition of “clean energy” (defined in the MassCEC Enabling Legislation), and that are currently based in, or intend to relocate to Massachusetts, are eligible to apply.

For: Undergraduate and graduate-student entrepreneurs
Rolling Deadlines

The .406 Ventures Student Fellowship is a two-year program for exceptional student entrepreneurs. Selected students are given access to mentorship from experienced venture capitalists, $20k+ in vendor credits, and a dedicated network of founders. Former fellows have gone on to IPOs, acquisitions, and top companies such as Google and Amazon. Please note that this fellowship is only for students who have already started a company or plan to within the next two years; students with a primary interest in Venture Capital should look elsewhere. To apply, you must have at least two years left at your current academic institution.

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For: University researchers in a range of disciplines, including data science, epidemiology, biochemistry, and more

Deadline: Rolling

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases are critical to both the patient and the broader community. Early Notification to Act, Control, and Treat (ENACT) partners with innovators to develop disruptive technologies that detect, prognosticate outcomes, and enable early intervention following exposures to both natural and man-made infectious threats.

Are you an inventor, entrepreneur, or startup founder interested in accessing the resources, networks, and knowledge of a multibillion-dollar company? If so, you may be interested in applying for a partnership with the Procter & Gamble studio. They are specifically interested in startups in the fields of chronic conditions, non-toxic home and garden, personal performance, male and female wellness, sleep, active aging, or menopause with patents or pathways for such.

They describe themselves as a different type of Venture Capital firm that is interested in a partnership rather than a traditional VC investment. Many of the details of said partnership are left up in the air and open for negotiation.

Join iFundWomen if you are a Boston-area women-led startup to fundraise for your business and get your ideas launched.