Sponsorship
Featured partner placement
Sponsor Texas Christian University once and your brand appears on the Texas Christian University page and across every one of its programs and student-startup pages — not just this page.
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas·University
At a glance
Indexed programs
6
6 currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
No equity on indexed programs
Program mix
6
Accelerator · Venture Education · Student Club
Research verdict
Research in progress.
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
6 programs indexed
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
AirBoot
$16,000
prize won
Texas Christian University · CREATE Accelerator
Silicone bottle boot with Apple AirTag tracker; CREATE 2026 ($16,000 total including Judges' Choice).
Bakame AI
Texas Christian University · CREATE Accelerator
Mobile offline English learning for Rwanda; CREATE 2025 funded venture.
EzCoder
$14,000
prize won
Texas Christian University · CREATE Accelerator
AI app builder for non-technical founders; CREATE 2026 ($14,000); Colby Clark, MBA.
Island Interactive
Texas Christian University · CREATE Accelerator
Roblox gaming experience with 30M+ play sessions and 8M users; CREATE 2026 cohort; Blake Swenson.
Lucy's Loops
$9,500
prize won
Texas Christian University · CREATE Accelerator
Small-batch sourdough bagels; CREATE 2026 ($9,500 total with People's Choice); Olivia Webb.
Historical winners (research notes)
- EzCoder — AI platform for non-technical founders to build apps via natural language; CREATE 2026, $14,000 (Colby Clark, MBA)
- AirBoot — Patent-pending silicone bottle boot with Apple AirTag tracker; CREATE 2026, $16,000 total ($14K + $2K Judges' Choice) (Colby Ackerman)
- Lucy's Loops — Small-batch sourdough bagels; CREATE 2026, $9,500 total with People's Choice (Olivia Webb)
- Island Interactive — Roblox gaming experience, 30M+ play sessions, 8M users (Blake Swenson, CREATE 2026 cohort)
- Métopi — Values and Ventures 2025 grand prize winner (University of Virginia)
- PlatoAI — Values and Ventures 2024 grand prize winner (University of Texas)
- Bakame AI — Mobile offline English learning for Rwanda; CREATE 2025 funded venture
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private research university in Fort Worth, Texas, with approximately 12,000 students. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Neeley School of Business, connecting cross-campus venture development through the CREATE Accelerator, the globally recognized Values and Ventures Competition, ranked academic programming, and student community through the Entrepreneurship Club.
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Rodney D'Souza, Managing Director) at Neeley School of Business
- Accelerator: CREATE — year-long cross-campus program, up to $50K Shaddock Seed Fund pool, all majors
- Pitch competition: Values and Ventures — global undergrad social entrepreneurship, $100K+ prizes, $40K grand prize, since 2011
- Founder funding: Shaddock Seed Fund — non-dilutive grants powering CREATE (Bill Shaddock patron)
- Academic: BBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation — USASBE Model Program 2025, Princeton Review #5 Southwest 2025
- Student club: Entrepreneurship Club — all majors, speaker events, networking, company visits
- Investment platforms: Horned Frog Investment Network, Legacy Frogs
- Campus sales: Shaddock Marketplace — semester events for CREATE participants and student entrepreneurs
- No dedicated university venture fund: Strong non-dilutive grant and competition funding but no equity venture fund
Assessment
Recommendation: Include Tier: 2 Confidence: Medium Key Factors: Dedicated institute hub at Neeley with cross-campus reach; nationally ranked undergraduate program (Princeton Review Southwest #5, USASBE Model Program 2025); distinctive CREATE accelerator with $50K Shaddock Seed Fund pool; premier global Values and Ventures competition ($100K+ prizes); strong non-dilutive funding pathway. No dedicated university venture fund, formal tech transfer office, or large-scale incubator infrastructure comparable to Tier 1 flagships.
News & articles
7 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Texas Christian University.
7 sources
Official sources(6)
TCU Neeley School of Business
CREATE Accelerator Program
URL: https://neeley.tcu.edu/centers-institutes/institute-for-entrepreneurship-innovation/create-program.php Captured: 2026-07-01 CREATE is TCU's year-long cross-campus accelerator powered by the Shaddock Seed Fund. Open to all students and majors. Up to $50,000 in funding at final pitch. Fall college competitions feed 10-team spring cohort.
Read on TCU Neeley School of Business
TCU Student Affairs
Entrepreneurship Club at TCU
URL: https://what2do.tcu.edu/event-organization/entrepreneurship-club-at-tcu/ Captured: 2026-07-01 The Entrepreneurship Club at TCU is open to all majors, fostering interest in entrepreneurship through speaker events, networking, company visits, and leadership opportunities. Complements CREATE accelerator.
Read on TCU Student Affairs
Entrepreneurship and Innovation BBA
TCU Neeley School of Business
TCU Neeley School of Business
Entrepreneurship and Innovation BBA
URL: https://neeley.tcu.edu/research-faculty/academic-departments/entrepreneurship-innovation.php Captured: 2026-07-01 TCU Neeley Entrepreneurship & Innovation Department offers BBA, minor, and graduate certificate. USASBE Model Program Award — Large Institution (2025). Princeton Review #5 Southwest (2025).
Read on TCU Neeley School of Business
Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
TCU Neeley School of Business
TCU Neeley School of Business
Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
URL: https://neeley.tcu.edu/centers-institutes/institute-for-entrepreneurship-innovation/index.php Captured: 2026-07-01 The Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is TCU Neeley's central entrepreneurship hub, connecting CREATE Accelerator, Values and Ventures, Horned Frog Investment Network, Venture Builder internships, and the Entrepreneurship Certificate.
Read on TCU Neeley School of Business
TCU Neeley School of Business
Shaddock Seed Fund
URL: https://www.neeley.tcu.edu/News/SuccessStories/CREATE-story2024 Captured: 2026-07-01 The Shaddock Seed Fund, established by Bill Shaddock (Shaddock Development Company), powers CREATE with non-dilutive grant funding up to $50K annually and funds Shaddock Marketplace campus sales events.
Read on TCU Neeley School of Business
TCU Neeley School of Business
Values and Ventures Competition
URL: https://neeley.tcu.edu/centers-institutes/institute-for-entrepreneurship-innovation/values-ventures/index.php Captured: 2026-07-01 Values and Ventures® is TCU's global undergraduate social entrepreneurship competition. $100K+ annual cash prizes. Since 2011: 194 semifinalist universities, 225 companies launched. 2025 grand prize: UVA Métopi.
Read on TCU Neeley School of Business
This profile lists 6 programs for Texas Christian University. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.
Claim & correct this page·Takes about 5 minutes — no payment required.