News & Events

  • 07 Nov
    2024
    Rhode Island Elevator Pitch Contest

    Participants present their idea in 90 seconds to a panel of judges and get immediate feedback - and the chance to win cash prizes. This in-person event will begin at 5:30pm and is free and open to the public.

    Sign Up
  • 16 Jan
    2025
    Workshop: TBD

    This in-person event will begin at 5:30pm and is free and open to the public.

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  • 13 Feb
    2025
    Workshop: Discovering Your Best Customers

    Without paying customers you don’t have a business. But how do you find them? The earlier you start to talk to customers, the more focused your products and services will be on what they want. Talking to customers is essential to the success of your business. During this workshop, you will learn the techniques that work for talking to customers and powering up your business for success.
    This in-person event will begin at 5:30pm and is free and open to the public.

    Sign Up
  • 26 Feb
    2025
    Student Pitch Contest

    Hosted by the RI Business Competition, this Student Pitch Contest is open to all college and university students. This event is being held at Bryant University on February 26, 2025 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM.

    TO ATTEND OR PITCH, go to the Eventbrite sign-up page (COMING SOON) and click on 'Reserve a spot' under General Admission. Enter your contact info and click on 'Register' and you will be sent to a page where you can enter your school and pitch information, if you are pitching.

    The Pitch Contest gives participants a chance to make a business pitch, much as if they’d met a funder and wanted to explain their business proposal – with maybe 90 seconds to explain their business. Presenters must speak without PowerPoints and the like.

    Sign Up
  • 27 Mar
    2025
    Workshop: Find Those Funds

    Join our expert panel as they discuss various strategies for finding funding for your business or project. From traditional funding sources like loans and venture capital, to crowdfunding and alternative financing options, the panel will explore different paths for securing the capital you need to take your ideas to the next level. Get insights and advice from experienced professionals who have successfully navigated the funding landscape, and leave with actionable steps you can take to finance your next big idea. This in-person event will begin at 5:30pm and is free and open to the public.

    Sign Up
  • 24 Apr
    2025
    Awards Ceremony for 2025 Competition

    Finalists of the 2025 Competition present to a public audience and the winners are announced. This in-person event will begin at 5:30pm and is free and open to the public.

    Sign Up
  • 06 Jan
    2025
    Application process is open for 2025 Competition.
  • 25 Mar
    2025
    Applications due by 5 pm, Eastern time (U.S.).
  • 02 Apr
    2025
    Semi-finalists notified.
  • 09 Apr
    2025
    Complete business pitch decks due from semi-finalists by noon.
  • 16 Apr
    2025
    Semi-finalists make 5-minute presentation to judges; finalists selected.
  • 22 Apr
    2025
    Finalists meet with judges.
  • 24 Apr
    2025
    Awards Ceremony where all finalists present and winner is announced.
  • American Ecotech
    2011 Green Winner
    • Completed developing the nation’s most advanced truly mobile 4WD air pollution monitoring vehicle.

    • Working on developing the world’s first environmental testing chamber that is able to mimic any ambient air environment and integrates references sensors in order to test small sensor technologies accurately.

    • Developed the first versatile data acquisition technologies deemed suitable for networking ambient air monitoring applications under $2,000.

  • Aten Energy Conservation
    2010 Green Semi-finalist
    • Since competing in 2010, Aten Energy Conservation has worked on more than 1,000 Rhode Island homes to make them more energy efficient.

    • Won U.S. Department of Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR ‘Century Club Award’

    • Purchased a 7,200-square-foot facility moved operations to Pawtucket.

  • BioIntraface
    2009 Entrepreneur Track Winner
    • Co-developed a medical device applicator for dispensing its coating technology to create a liquid wound dressing to combat infection.

  • CompNet Insurance Solutions
    2014 Entrepreneur Track Winner
    • On track to write $5 million in premiums in 2017.

    • Launched a marketing partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

    • Established partnerships with the Retail Association of Massachusetts, Retail Association of New Hampshire, Virginia Chamber Commerce, and National Payroll Services.

  • Dear Kate
    2009 Student Track Finalist
    • Was the focus of a high profile article in The New Yorker that detailed the ins and outs of doing photo shoots for women’s underwear.

  • Farsounder
    2002 Entrepreneur Track Winner
    • Authored an article on forward-looking sonar for Sea Technology.

    • Received a 2015 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

  • goTeff
    2018 Student Track Finalist
    • One of 40 teams, out of 100,000 applicants worldwide, to compete in the Hult International Business Prize Accelerator program

  • Grindz
    2014 Entrepreneur Track Semi-finalist
    • Signed a partnership/branding deal with Strider Sports International, Inc., the world’s premier manufacturer and marketer of efficient, no-pedal balance bikes for all ages and abilities.

    • Grindz’s protective pants named “a must have for anyone with active children” by examiner.com.

    • Grindz products called “cool protective gear for kids” by momtrends.com.

  • Hannah Daye & Company
    2013 Entrepreneur Track Winner
    • Successfully raised funds via a Kickstarter campaign earlier this year to develop its 2015 fine jewelry collection.

    • Co-founders Alison Cariati and Haverhill Leach lauded for their business model in ltd blog.

  • Maternova
    2011 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    • Partnering with a team in Brazil to run a trial of the CRADLE vital signs monitoring device.

    • Partnering with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to introduce the Pratt Pouch to 40,000 HIV-positive mothers in Uganda.

    • Sending thousands of rapid schistosomiasis test kits to the Philippines to equip a Brown University team.

    • Partnering with a major humanitarian organization and sending thousands of rapid dengue test kits to their teams for the first time.

  • Mighty Well
    2016 Student Track Winner
    • Won $250,000 in Babson Breakaway Challenge, to help scale the business in Rhode Island.

    • Hired 2 full-time, 2 part-time staff, 2 part-time consultants, and 5 interns.

    • Manufacturing with Pyramid Case Co in Olneyville, and hired McGarry&Sons to help build out a 5-piece capsule collection.

  • Neurotecnix
    2016 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    • Signed partnership agreements with Psychogenics and another company that is a global leader in animal health care.

  • Newport Biodiesel
    2010 Green Track Winner
    • Employing 35, and growing rapidly.

    • Now helping 3,000+ New England kitchens manage their cooking oil.

    • Producing and selling millions of gallons of biodiesel, derived from used cooking oil, annually.

  • NuLabel Technologies
    2009 Student Track Semi-finalist
    • Developed national partner network

    • Named a "Rising Star" by SBANE

    • Raised more than $5 million from investors.

  • PowerDocks
    2018 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    • Won the 2018 Electric & Hybrid Marine Industry Innovation of the Year Award for its floating solar power supply dock.

  • Premama
    2011 Student Track Winner
    • Hired VP of strategy and a controller.

    • Raised $4.6M. Actively raising more funds.

    • Launched in CVS and GNC stores nationwide in 2015.

    • Its four products sell at CVS, GNC, Amazon, and Target.com.

  • ProThera Biologics
    2010 Entrepreneur Track Winner
    • Established a key alliance for the manufacture of Inter-Alpha Inhibitor Protein (IAIP) with a world leading producer of plasma proteins for clinical use.

    • Completed two commercial development agreements to advance IAIP into clinical use.

    • Won $2 million Small Business Innovation Research Fast Track grant from the National Institutes of Health in June 2019 to study a new prognosis assessment test.

  • Response Technologies
    2016 Entrepreneur Track Winner
    • Won SBIR award of $1M for using its technology to improve the U.S. military’s and federal government’s Willard Boat.

    • Won DoD Manufacturing Technology Innovation Award.

    • 3 full-time, 2 part-time employees.

  • ShapeUp
    2007 Student Track Winner
    • Acquired in February 2016 by Virgin Pulse, part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group.

  • Siren Marine
    2012 Technology Award Winner
    • Sold more than 1,000 boat monitoring and tracking systems to date.

    • Raised $1.5 million in seed funding for development of next-generation products.

    • Signed deal with Vodafone to be Siren’s global cellular provider.

    • Launched second generation products in Q2 2017.

  • Social Enterprise Greenhouse
    2012 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    Current Sponsor
    • Launched its first food accelerator in February 2016.

    • Introduced its sixth cohort of Impact Accelerator program participants.

    • Cited as a key element in helping to make Providence a top startup market in the U.S.

  • Splitwise
    2012 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    • Named one of Top 100 Free Finance Apps on both iPhone and Android.

    • Launched a Spanish translation of its product.

    • Hired its seventh full-time employee.

  • Spotter
    2017 Entrepreneur Track Semi-finalist
    • Expanded to San Francisco to open first West Coast branch.

    • Launched new spot acquisition platform Cash positive.

  • StormTree
    2014 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    Current Sponsor
    • Now selling nationally – California, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan.

    • Became an SBA-certified, woman-owned small business.

  • TextUp
    2018 Student Track Winner
    • Named a 2018 Tech10 Award winner in the Entrepreneur/Start-up category.

    • Finalist in the 2018 Get Started Rhode Island pitch competition.

  • The Compost Plant
    2015 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    • Now serving as Rhode Island's first full-service commercial composting facility.

  • Tvar EdTech
    2017 Student Track Winner
    • Won $30,000 in the inaugural 2018 MassChallenge Rhode Island accelerator.

    • Won $25,000 grand prize in the 2017 Get Started Rhode Island business pitch competition.

  • XactSense
    2016 Entrepreneur Track Finalist
    • Raised $200K to launch pilot programs with major cell tower owners, carriers, and engineers in the U.S.

    • New prototypes and full working systems in use now.

    • 4 full-time employees.

  • Zapdot
    2007 Student Track Finalist
    • Collaborating with Pleasant Dreams, a Dutch game designer, that took the company to conferences, including PAX East in Boston, Boston FIG, PAX Prime in Seattle, and IndieCade in Los Angeles.

    • 5 full time employees.