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Miami University
Oxford, Ohio·University
At a glance
Indexed programs
8
8 currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
7
Incubator · Entrepreneurship Center · Tech Transfer
Research verdict
Research in progress.
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
8 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition
Pitch CompetitionAlso: RedHawk Pitch Competition
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funding range
- Last activity
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- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Techstars Startup Weekend Miami
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Startup Weekend Miami
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funding range
- Last activity
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- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Chalk
Miami University · RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition
Solution addressing gambling addiction; Fall 2025 Miami RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition participant.
Ember
Miami University · RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition
One-on-one mentorship app for women experiencing postpartum depression; Fall 2025 Miami RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition participant (all-female founding team).
Her Turn
Finalist
placement
Miami University · RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition
Women's health venture; Fall 2025 Miami RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition finalist.
HERO Glucose
Miami University · John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship
Orally dissolvable glucose strips; Miami University student venture (Amanda Simeone).
KCD Cosmetics
Miami University · John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship
Miami University student cosmetics venture founded by Kamilah Dotson.
Mad Rabbit Tattoo
$500,000
prize won
Miami University · John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship
Tattoo aftercare and skincare brand; $16.7M sales, appeared on Shark Tank with a $500K Mark Cuban deal. Founded by Miami alumni Oliver Zak and Selom Agbitor.
Mithril Exchange
$5,000
prize won
Miami University · RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition
Spring 2026 Miami RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition winner ($5K).
ModMobility
$5,000
prize won
Miami University · RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition
Attachable motor that converts manual wheelchairs into powered ones; Fall 2025 Miami RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition winner ($5K).
OxVegas Chicken
Miami University · John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship
Miami University student food venture founded by Tyler Storer.
PsyBio Therapeutics
Miami University · Miami University Technology Transfer
Psilocybin biosynthesis company built on licensed Miami University IP.
StepUp Social
Miami University · John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship
Miami University student venture founded by Emil Barr.
Miami University
Miami University, founded in 1809, is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio with approximately 21,600 undergraduates. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship (#1 public undergraduate entrepreneurship program, Princeton Review, 17 years) and the Fisher Innovation College@Elm (39,000 sq ft incubator opened 2023), featuring a student-led venture capital fund (RedHawk Ventures, $25K investments), a $25K pitch competition ($12M+ raised by participants), and a nationally-ranked VCIC program.
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship — #1 public undergrad entrepreneurship (Princeton Review 17 yrs), housed in Farmer School of Business
- Innovation center: Fisher Innovation College@Elm — 39K sq ft incubator opened 2023, $17.55M public-private partnership
- Accelerator: RedHawk Launch Accelerator — seed-stage, up to $2.5K operating capital, mentorship, culminates in Demo Day
- Venture fund: RedHawk Ventures — student-led, one of nation's first undergrad VC funds, up to $25K per investment
- Pitch comp: RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition — $25K bi-annual prizes, $12M+ raised by startups
- Pitch comp: Startup Weekend Miami — 48-hr Techstars event, only US university embedding in core curriculum
- VC program: Venture Capital Immersion / VCIC — 8-week course in Cincinnati OTR, teams in Global Top 3 4 of 7 years
- Tech transfer: Shared services with UD, $400K TVSF grant, AFRL partnership
Known Startups
- Mad Rabbit Tattoo — Tattoo aftercare, $16.7M sales, Shark Tank (Mark Cuban $500K)
- HERO Glucose — Orally dissolvable glucose strips
- PsyBio Therapeutics — Psilocybin biosynthesis (licensed Miami IP)
- ModMobility — Wheelchair motor, 2025 RedHawk Pitch winner ($5K)
- StepUp Social — Emil Barr
- OxVegas Chicken — Tyler Storer
- KCD Cosmetics — Kamilah Dotson
Assessment
Recommendation: Include Tier: 2 Confidence: High Key Factors: Well-structured ecosystem anchored by top-ranked academic entrepreneurship program (#1 public, 17 years), student-run venture capital fund (RedHawk Ventures, one of nation's first, $25K investments), dedicated innovation hub (College@Elm, 39K sq ft, $17.55M), substantial pitch competition ($25K, $12M+ raised by participants), only US university embedding Startup Weekend in core curriculum, and nationally-ranked VCIC program (Global Top 3, 4 of 7 years). Lacks comprehensive internal incubator beyond College@Elm, standalone tech transfer powerhouse, and large-scale venture fund.
News & articles
8 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Miami University.
8 sources
Official sources(8)
Miami University
John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship
# John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship Central hub for entrepreneurship at Miami. #1 public undergrad entrepreneurship program (Princeton Review, 17 yrs). Houses RedHawk Ventures, RedHawk Launch Accelerator, pitch competitions, VCIC program, Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Altman Summer Scholars, EiR program.
Read on Miami University
Miami University
Fisher Innovation College@Elm
# Fisher Innovation College@Elm 39,000 sq ft innovation center and incubator opened 2023. $17.55M public-private partnership. Houses RedHawk Launch Accelerator, RedHawk Ventures, 1809 Capital, SBDC, makerspace. VP ASPIRE: Randi Thomas. Targets 3 startups/year.
Read on Miami University
Miami University
RedHawk Launch Accelerator
# RedHawk Launch Accelerator Seed-stage startup accelerator for Miami student-led startups. Up to $2,500 operating capital. 1-on-1 mentorship. Culminates in RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition Demo Day. Open to students and alumni.
Read on Miami University
Miami University
RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition
# RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition $25K prize pool, bi-annual (fall/spring). Demo Day format pitching to angels, VCs, accelerators. $12M+ raised by participants. 550+ students, 120+ startups over 4 years. 2025 winner: ModMobility ($5K).
Read on Miami University
Miami University
RedHawk Ventures
# RedHawk Ventures Student-led venture capital fund. One of nation's first undergraduate student-led VC funds. Founded pre-1997. Invests up to $25K in pre-seed/seed Miami-affiliated startups. Student analysts conduct due diligence. 6-week New Member Education program.
Read on Miami University
Miami University
Techstars Startup Weekend Miami
# Techstars Startup Weekend Miami 48-hour weekend event, fall semester. Sponsored by Techstars. Only US university integrating Startup Weekend into core curriculum. Students pitch, form teams, develop prototype/demo by Sunday.
Read on Miami University
Miami University
Miami University Tech Transfer
# Miami University Tech Transfer Shared services IP agreement with University of Dayton. $400K Ohio Third Frontier TVSF grant (2018). MU-AFRL Tech Commercialization Accelerator. Notable spinout: PsyBio Therapeutics (psilocybin biosynthesis).
Read on Miami University
Miami University
Venture Capital Immersion Program / VCIC
# Venture Capital Immersion Program / VCIC 8-week VC course at Union Hall in Cincinnati OTR. Launched 2017. Students conduct due diligence on real startups. Top performers compete in VCIC. Miami: Global Top 3 in 4 of 7 years, regionals wins 7 straight years.
Read on Miami University
This profile lists 8 programs for Miami University. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.
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