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Ithaca College Startup Idea Demo Day / Business Pitch Demo Day
Also known as: IC Demo Day, Ithaca College Startup Business Pitch Demo Day, Startup Idea Demo Day
Ithaca College · Ithaca, NY
Ithaca College's annual pitch competition for student entrepreneurs, organized by the School of Business. The competition has two documented formats: the Startup Business Pitch Demo Day (spring semester, $15,000 prize pool) for students with fully formed business plans, and the Startup Idea Demo Day (fall semester, $5,000 prize pool) for earlier-stage ideas. Both are hosted at Rev: Ithaca Startup Works in downtown Ithaca.
The Dean of the School of Business described Demo Day as "a Business School sponsored event, but more importantly, it's an Ithaca College event — a community that learns together with alums, community members, and faculty, helping to grow that entrepreneurial mindset."
Quick fit check
- Offers direct funding
- No equity required
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
$5,000 – $15,000
Non Dilutive Grant
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-04-23
High confidence
Application and Timing
- Spring Startup Business Pitch Demo Day: April, applications via engage portal and Brad Treat
- Fall Startup Idea Demo Day: November/December, applications via School of Business
Participants
Open to any Ithaca College student in any program at any level. Typically 5-8 student teams compete per event, with 4-8 minutes each to pitch followed by Q&A from a panel of judges.
Funding and Equity
Non-dilutive cash prizes. No equity taken. Startup Business Pitch Demo Day: $15,000 total pool (2024, 2025). Startup Idea Demo Day: $5,000 total pool (November 2024).
Recent Activity
- April 2025: Startup Business Pitch Demo Day, $15,000 pool at Rev
- November 2024: Startup Idea Demo Day, $5,000 total, 8 teams, all took home a portion
- April 2024: Startup Business Pitch Demo Day, $15,000 pool at Rev
- November 2023: Startup Idea Demo Day, 6 teams, prizes $400-$1,000
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
All American Wrestling
$1,000
prize won
Ithaca College
Wrestling simulation video game. First-place winner ($1,000) at the 2023 Ithaca College Startup Idea Demo Day.
Homes 2 Hearts
$800
prize won
Ithaca College
Custom care packages for homebound patients. Second-place winner ($800) at the 2023 Ithaca College Startup Idea Demo Day.
Historical winners (research notes)
2023: MOON RABBIT ($600, sensory plush toy), Homes 2 Hearts ($800, care packages), Clicks ($400, multi-sport cleats), War Weight ($800, weigh-in scale), White Willow Delights ($800, anti-inflammatory baked goods), All American Wrestling ($1,000, wrestling game)
Verification Gaps
- Exact allocation of $15,000 across teams not publicly documented per event
- Total applicant pool size not disclosed
- Post-competition venture outcomes not tracked
- Consistency of naming (Startup Idea vs Startup Business Pitch) and whether these are distinct tracks
Ithaca College Startup Idea Demo Day / Business Pitch Demo Day
Additional research notesShow
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Ithaca College Startup Idea Demo Day / Business Pitch Demo Day at Ithaca College.
2 sources
# Rev: Ithaca Startup Works Partnership
Multiple official IC events pages and news coverage documenting the Startup Idea Demo Day / Startup Business Pitch Demo Day, including 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 events. The competition is organized by the School of Business and hosted at Rev: Ithaca Startup Works. Prizes are non-dilutive cash awards ($5,000-$15,000 total pool).