Boston is considered the hub of higher education, and there is no shortage of pitch competitions and student-led events for business-savvy students to prove their technical prowess.
Here's a roundup of the spring semester's top events for students to kick-start their entrepreneurial dreams and compete for real capital.
Harvard Business School New Venture Competition
What: Teams participating in this competition can choose from two tracks: business and social enterprise. Student teams will receive feedback at multiple stages of judging, and the final round will take place in mid-April. Up to $300,000 in cash prizes will be awarded at the competition's finale.
Who: Teams may include Harvard Business School (HBS) students for the business track and graduate students from across Harvard for the social enterprise track. Eligibility requirements vary depending on the participant's chosen track.
When: The final registration deadline is Feb. 26. A series of pitching events for both tracks will take place in late March and early April, with the final round taking place on Apr. 16.
Where: Harvard Business School, location TBD, Boston
Register here.
Boston University New Venture Competition
What: Hosted by Innovate@BU, the New Venture Competition gives early-stage Boston University (BU) entrepreneurs a chance to win up to $18,000 to kick-start their ideas. Participants can pitch their tech or social impact ideas in a three-round competition. First-place winners will receive $18,000, followed by $8,000 for second place and $6,000 for third.
Who: The competition is open to any BU undergrad, graduate student or recent alumnus whose startup is in the seed, start-up or early growth stages of development.
When: Round one consists of a pitch and pizza night. Tech ideas will be pitched on Feb. 27, and social impact ideas will be pitched on Feb. 20 or Mar. 5. Semi-finals will take place on Mar. 31 and Apr. 2, and the competition will culminate with a final round on Apr. 17.
Where: BUild Lab, 730 Commonwealth Ave., Brookline
Learn how to get involved here.
MIT Bitcoin Expo 2020: Building the Stack
What: Three events fall under the umbrella of the MIT Bitcoin Expo. The expo itself will feature discussions about the burgeoning Bitcoin and blockchain ecosystem. The MIT Bitcoin Hackathon is a 24-hour event (separate registration required) that will focus on building out the components of a blockchain stack. The inaugural Cryptoeconomic Systems journal conference will analyze and evaluate peer-reviewed original research about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
Who: Any university student or professional over 18 is welcome to participate.
When: The 7th annual Bitcoin Expo will take place on the weekend of Mar. 7.
Where: MIT main campus, 32 Vassar St., Cambridge
Register here.
Global Case Competition at Harvard
What: All participants will be sent a finance case and given three weeks to solve it. The top 10 teams will then be invited to present their work in front of a panel of esteemed judges at Harvard's campus in April. The grand finale weekend will consist of networking events and a gala, along with other on-campus activities.
Who: The case competition is open to undergrad and grad students from anywhere in the world with finance and business backgrounds. Participants have the opportunity to win a $10,000 cash prize.
When: The case details will be released on Feb. 24, and the deadline to sign up is Feb. 28. Teams must submit their finished work by Mar. 13. The finale weekend will take place on the weekend of Apr. 24.
Where: Harvard main campus, location TBD, Cambridge
Learn how to get involved here.
EnergyBar Cleantech Intern Fair
What: Greentown Labs will host its annual EnergyBar Cleantech Intern Fair for students interested in meeting entrepreneurs and professionals in the cleantech community. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and explore job opportunities. Students are encouraged to bring resumes.
Who: College students and soon-to-be graduates are welcome to attend, as well as entrepreneurs, investors and anyone interested in the cleantech industry.
When: The event will be held on Mar. 5 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Greentown Labs, 444 Somerville Ave., Somerville
Learn more here.
MIT Fintech Conference 2020
What: The 6th annual MIT Fintech Conference is a student-run event featuring keynote speakers and panelists who are leaders in fintech. Panelists will discuss the latest trends and innovation in fintech, and the conference will serve as a forum for discussion between some of the brightest minds in the industry. The event will also include a startup pitch competition.
Who: The event is geared toward entrepreneurs, students, investors and financial professionals, as well as anyone interested in learning more about fintech.
When: The event will be held on Mar. 6 from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Aloft Boston Seaport District, 401-403 D St., Boston
Register here.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect accurate eligibility information for the Harvard Business School New Venture Competition.
