The campus field guide
Auburn University
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Inside this ecosystem · 4 linked sources
Auburn University's Harbert College of Business runs a campus entrepreneurship program built around the New Venture Accelerator and the Tiger Cage business-idea competition. The 2026 Tiger Cage page documents a $130,000 startup-capital pool and published place amounts, including a $40,000 first prize.
Include. Auburn has a staffed accelerator and a large, currently scheduled student startup competition with published awards.
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-10-08); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
At a glance
Indexed programs
3
All currently active
Top direct funding
$40,000
Tiger Cage
Equity
Equity terms unknown
Program mix
3
Entrepreneurship Center · Accelerator · Pitch Competition
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
3 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
$40,000
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-10-08
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Partially Verified
Accelerator
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-10-08
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Partially Verified
Entrepreneurship Center
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-10-08
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
From students
Be the first student from Auburn University to post a startup.
Post a startupFunding and Equity
Tiger Cage teams compete for a share of $130,000 sponsored by Harbert, plus a $5,000 innovation award from the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management. The page says 2026 first place received $40,000, second $30,000, third $20,000, fourth $15,000, and fifth $5,000. Awards are paid in stages against milestones. The page does not say the university takes equity. Teams with prior outside investment are ineligible.
Recent Activity
The Tiger Cage page lists first-round pitches for November 16 and 17, 2026, quarterfinals on January 29, 2027, semifinals on February 26, 2027, and finals on April 9, 2027. It also publishes 2023 through 2026 winners.
Known Startups and Winners
2026 place teams named on the page are Sophie Sweets, Side Kit, Builder Help, Glory EV Charging Solutions, and SCAP Athletics. Earlier named teams include Protector Innovations, Planet of Snacks, Tradition Apparel, Polar Docks, AbGlo, Mammoth Super Sod, Early Bird, and Focus Friends.
Research gaps & things to verify
Missing Information
Whether milestone payments are grants or purchases of equity is not stated. Innovation Lab terms and the entrepreneurship minor curriculum were not fully captured.
More about this ecosystem
Auburn University
News & articles
4 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Auburn University.
4 sources
Official sources(4)
Auburn University
Auburn entrepreneurship program
Harbert entrepreneurship page linking the Innovation Lab, New Venture Accelerator, and Tiger Cage.
Read on Auburn University
Auburn University
New Venture Accelerator about page
Accelerator about page naming director Lou Bifano, a 2020 opening, and full dedicated-office occupancy.
Read on Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn New Venture Accelerator
Harbert page for the New Venture Accelerator, including the 7,000-square-foot facility and selection process.
Read on Auburn University
Auburn University
Tiger Cage
Official Tiger Cage page with the $130,000 pool, 2026 place amounts, eligibility, and the 2027 finals date.
Read on Auburn University
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