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University of New Mexico
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Inside this ecosystem · 3 linked sources
The University of New Mexico runs student startup contests through the Innovation Academy and UNM Rainforest Innovations. Current pages describe the Rainforest Student Pitch Competition and a Pitch Deck Competition open to students at New Mexico colleges and universities, with cash prizes.
This page is a researched, unclaimed directory listing. It is not school-verified or director-verified.
Include. State flagship with two live, cash student pitch contests and a named innovation academy.
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
$10,000
UNM Pitch Deck Competition
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
2
Pitch Competition · Entrepreneurship Center
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
3 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Rainforest Student Pitch Competition
Pitch Competition$2,000
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-10-08
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
UNM Pitch Deck Competition
Pitch Competition$10,000
funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
Entrepreneurship Center
UNM Innovation Academy
Entrepreneurship Center—
funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Partially Verified
From students
Be the first student from University of New Mexico to post a startup.
Post a startupFunding and Equity
The Rainforest pitch page says the pool is over $10,000 and that the audience-choice winner receives $2,000, with additional judge-selected winners and a cash award for every finalist. The Pitch Deck page says $20,000 total: $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and two finalist awards of $1,250. An Innovation Academy programs page still describes a $2,000 Rainforest pool; this listing follows the current contest pages and notes the conflict. Neither page says the university takes equity.
Recent Activity
Rainforest applications for fall 2026 are due October 20, 2026, with finals November 4, 2026. A Rainforest Innovations story says the spring 2026 pitch was the 10th year and 20th competition. The Pitch Deck page describes a 2026 contest.
Known Startups and Winners
The spring 2026 story does not name placers in the captured text.
Research gaps & things to verify
Missing Information
Full Rainforest place amounts besides the $2,000 audience prize are not printed. The Pitch Deck 2026 final date is not in the captured rules text.
More about this ecosystem
University of New Mexico
News & articles
3 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of New Mexico.
3 sources
Official sources(3)
University of New Mexico
UNM Innovation Academy
The Innovation Academy, with UNM Rainforest Innovations, hosts the Rainforest Pitch Competition each semester and the Pitch Deck Competition for early-stage student ventures. The programs page describes both as student entrepreneurship opportunities.
Read on University of New Mexico
UNM Rainforest Innovations
UNM Pitch Deck Competition
The 2026 Pitch Deck Competition is an early-stage contest for teams led by students enrolled at a New Mexico college or university. The page says the cash pool is $20,000 and that no full business plan is required.
Read on UNM Rainforest Innovations
UNM Rainforest Innovations
Rainforest Student Pitch Competition
The Rainforest Student Pitch Competition invites students from any major at any New Mexico university to pitch a product, service, or technology. The fall 2026 page says the prize pool is over $10,000. Finalists give a 90-second live pitch.
Read on UNM Rainforest Innovations
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