The campus field guide
Temple University
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Inside this ecosystem · 8 linked sources
Temple University is a public R1 research university in Philadelphia, PA, founded in 1884, with over 33,000 students across 17 schools and colleges. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the temple-innovation-entrepreneurship-institute (IEI) at the Fox School of Business, which coordinates a flagship business plan competition (temple-be-your-own-boss-bowl, $100K+ prizes), the temple-ideas-impact-challenge (seed funding up to $2.5K), the temple-1810-accelerator (coworking + 8-10 week cohorts), and the temple-innovation-nest (8,000+ sq ft research incubator opened 2024). Tech transfer is managed by the temple-technology-commercialization-office under OVPR. Additional infrastructure: temple-blackstone-launchpad (venture coaching) and temple-entrepreneurship-innovation-management (BBA, certificate, MS). temple-ventures ($100K seed fund) was announced circa 2015 but current status is unconfirmed.
Include. Temple has a well-developed entrepreneurship ecosystem anchored by IEI at Fox School of Business, a flagship $100K+ business plan competition in its 28th year, a new research incubator (iNest) tied to tech transfer, and multiple pitch competitions and venture coaching programs. meaningful startup infrastructure with active competitions, incubation, and tech transfer, but the absence of a confirmed active evergreen venture fund (Temple Ventures status unconfirmed) and limited direct grant/equity programs beyond competitions keep it from.
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-06-24); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
At a glance
Indexed programs
9
8 currently active
Top direct funding
$100,000
Temple Ventures
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
8
Accelerator · Pitch Competition · Venture Education
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
9 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
$40,000
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-04-15
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Verified
Ideas & Impact Challenge
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Innovative Idea Competition, Changemaker Challenge
$2,500
funding range
- Last activity
- 2025-11-14
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Verified
Venture Fund
Temple Ventures
Venture FundAlso: Temple Ventures Fund
$100,000
funding range
- Last activity
- 2015-02-02
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Report Only
Accelerator
1810 Accelerator
AcceleratorAlso: 1810
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-06-24
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Partially Verified
Incubator
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-06-24
- Participants
- Researchers, Faculty +more
- Verification
- Verified
Entrepreneurship Center
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-06-24
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Verified
Tech Transfer
Technology Commercialization Office
Tech TransferAlso: Temple Technology Commercialization, OTCBD
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-06-24
- Participants
- Faculty, Researchers +more
- Verification
- Verified
Academic Program
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management (Academic Programs)
Academic ProgramAlso: EIM BBA, EIM Certificate
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2025-06-24
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
From students
Be the first student from Temple University to post a startup.
Post a startupFunding and Equity
Funding flows through competitions: BYOBB ($100K+ non-dilutive prizes, $40K grand prize, $10K per track), Ideas & Impact Challenge ($2.5K seed). No equity taken in any student-facing program. Temple Ventures may have involved equity-based investments, but current status is unconfirmed. iNest provides incubation without equity. Tech transfer deals negotiate terms per license.
Recent Activity
- 2026 (Apr 15): 28th annual BYOBB — SourceFill (UG), Phyll (Grand Prize). Largest live audience since COVID.
- 2025 (Nov 14): First annual Ideas & Impact Challenge — Vozzy World, Ziefah Health winners.
- 2025: 27th annual BYOBB — AAWE Grand Prize.
- 2024 (Mar): iNest grand opening with Mayor Cherelle Parker.
- 2024 (Nov): iNest named Technical.ly Power Move of the Year.
- 2024: Temple ranked top 100 nationally for patents awarded.
- 2025 (Feb): State senators visit iNest, celebrate $750K investment for life-saving medical device.
- 2026 (Jun): Temple spinout Ladder Bio featured by Technical.ly for oral treatment technology.
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
AAWE
Grand prize
placement
Temple University · Be Your Own Boss Bowl (BYOBB)
AI-Aware Writing Environment. 2025 Temple BYOBB Grand Prize winner by Megan Kane and Stephen Malkowicz.
Accessum LLC
$40,000
prize won
Temple University
2023 Temple BYOBB Grand Prize winner.
Inovele
Temple University
Temple faculty spinout at iNest developing safer EV batteries.
Ladder Bio
Temple University
2026 Temple faculty spinout developing oral treatments for injected medications.
Oral Biolife
Temple University
Temple faculty spinout at iNest developing Ambrilux Dental Gel.
Phyll
$40,000
prize won
Temple University · Be Your Own Boss Bowl (BYOBB)
Infrastructure intelligence app. 2026 Temple BYOBB Grand Prize winner ($40K + $10K) by Ethan Berg (FOX '20).
SFA Therapeutics
Temple University
Temple faculty spinout at iNest developing metabolite-based drugs.
SourceFill
$10,000
prize won
Temple University
2026 Temple BYOBB undergraduate winner ($10K); supply chain platform.
The Light Providers
$40,000
prize won
Temple University
2024 Temple BYOBB Grand Prize winner.
Thrombolex
Temple University
Temple faculty spinout at iNest developing the BASHIR Endovascular Catheter.
Vozzy World
$2,500
prize won
Temple University
2025 Temple Ideas & Impact innovative winner ($2.5K); educational dialogue game.
Ziefah Health
$2,500
prize won
Temple University
2025 Temple Ideas & Impact social impact winner ($2.5K); mental health crisis platform.
Historical winners (research notes)
- Phyll — 2026 BYOBB Grand Prize ($40K + $10K) — infrastructure intelligence app by Ethan Berg (FOX '20).
- SourceFill — 2026 BYOBB UG winner ($10K) — supply chain platform by Erez Yarden.
- AAWE — 2025 BYOBB Grand Prize — AI-Aware Writing Environment by Megan Kane, Stephen Malkowicz.
- Vozzy World — 2025 Ideas & Impact innovative winner ($2.5K) — educational dialogue game.
- Ziefah Health — 2025 Ideas & Impact social impact winner ($2.5K) — mental health crisis platform.
- Thrombolex — Temple spinout at iNest — BASHIR Endovascular Catheter.
- SFA Therapeutics — Temple spinout at iNest — metabolite-based drugs.
- Inovele — Temple spinout at iNest — safer EV batteries.
- Oral Biolife — Temple spinout at iNest — Ambrilux Dental Gel.
- Ladder Bio — 2026 Temple spinout — oral treatments for injected medications.
- The Light Providers — 2024 BYOBB Grand Prize.
- Accessum LLC — 2023 BYOBB Grand Prize.
Research gaps & things to verify
Missing Information
- Temple Ventures current status (2023-2026) — may be inactive.
- Blackstone LaunchPad current activity level for 2023-2026.
- Complete Temple spinout/startup portfolio.
- iNest specific incubator capacity and metrics.
- Year-over-year BYOBB participation numbers.
- Total annual startup creation metrics across all programs.
More about this ecosystem
Temple University
News & articles
8 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Temple University.
8 sources
News & articles(4)
Technical.ly
1810 Accelerator Launch Coverage
Technical.ly article (July 31, 2019) on launch of IEI's 1810 Accelerator. Details 8-10 week cohort program at 1810 Liacouras Walk, free membership-based resources open to all Temple affiliates, first cohort of 15 startups, no direct funding or equity.
Read on Technical.ly
Technical.ly
Blackstone LaunchPad at Temple Coverage
Technical.ly article (Feb 2, 2015) on Blackstone LaunchPad at Temple opening after soft-launch year. Documents 11 ventures created in soft-launch, 7 revenue-generating. Part of $3M Blackstone grant. Also mentions Temple Ventures ($100K fund with Ben Franklin).
Read on Technical.ly
Temple Now (Temple University)
2026 BYOBB 28th Annual Winners Coverage
Temple Now article (Apr 22, 2026) covering 28th annual BYOBB held Apr 15, 2026. Largest in-person audience since COVID. Documents winners: SourceFill (UG), Phyll (Upper/Grand Prize), Mor (People's Choice). $100K+ prizes, $10K per track winner, $40K grand prize.
Read on Temple Now (Temple University)
Temple Now (Temple University)
Ideas & Impact Challenge 2025 Coverage
Temple Now article (Dec 2, 2025) on first annual Ideas & Impact Challenge culminating Nov 14, 2025. Combines former Innovative Idea Competition and Changemaker Challenge. Winners listed for both innovative idea and social impact tracks.
Read on Temple Now (Temple University)
Official sources(4)
27th Annual Be Your Own Boss Bowl Official Page
Fox School of Business, Temple University
Fox School of Business, Temple University
27th Annual Be Your Own Boss Bowl Official Page
Official BYOBB page for the 27th annual competition. Documents eligibility, prize structure ($100K+ total), two tracks (UG/Upper), full winner lists for 27th (2025) and previous years back to 2020. No equity taken; non-diluted seed funding.
Read on Fox School of Business, Temple University
IEI Competitions Official Page
Fox School of Business, Temple University
Fox School of Business, Temple University
IEI Competitions Official Page
Official IEI competitions page listing three main programs: Ideas & Impact Challenge (workshops + pitch with innovative/social impact tracks), Be Your Own Boss Bowl (flagship annual business plan competition), and Innovative Idea Competition (early-stage idea). Also links to 1810 Accelerator and other IEI offerings.
Read on Fox School of Business, Temple University
Innovation Nest (iNest) Official Page
Office of the Vice President for Research, Temple University
Office of the Vice President for Research, Temple University
Innovation Nest (iNest) Official Page
Official iNest page under OVPR. Documents 8,000+ sq ft innovation center at 3223 N. Broad St. for research-based innovation development. Three pillars: Innovate, Incubate, Collaborate. Contact: J. Todd Abrams, Executive Director.
Read on Office of the Vice President for Research, Temple University
Technology Commercialization Office Official Page
Office of the Vice President for Research, Temple University
Office of the Vice President for Research, Temple University
Technology Commercialization Office Official Page
Official Temple Technology Commercialization page under OVPR. Documents support for IP protection, patenting, licensing, startup formation. Contact: Stephen Nappi, AVP of Technology Commercialization and Business Development.
Read on Office of the Vice President for Research, Temple University
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