HawkTank Business Pitch Competition
Key numbers
Funding range
$10,000
Non Dilutive Grant
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-04
High confidence
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HawkTank Business Pitch Competition
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HawkTank Business Pitch Competition
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Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Program details
HawkTank Business Pitch Competition
Program Type
business-plan-competition
Institutional Scope
Monmouth University, all schools and majors.
Description
Annual campus-wide pitch competition organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship. Active since at least 2013; reinvigorated ~2022 under director Alison Gilbert. Student-led ventures pitch to a panel of judges for cash prizes. Finalists work with Gilbert in the months leading up to competition on business models, financial projections, value propositions, and market opportunities. Winners frequently advance to external competitions (e.g., LINK won HawkTank, then UPitchNJ statewide). 22 teams served in 4 years since reinvigoration.
Key Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Active since | ~2013 (reinvigorated ~2022) |
| Prize pool | ~$10,000 (2024) |
| 2023 winner | Division One Fitness ($2,500) |
| 2024 winner | LINK (clinical trial platform) |
| 2026 finalists | 7 (A Grain, LearnAI, Pedro's Pastelería, DeedDrive, Pop-u-list, OriginPay, Striper Log) |
| Teams in 4 years | 22 |
Resources Provided
- Mentorship and pitch coaching
- Cash prizes
- Pathway to external competitions (UPitchNJ, NSF I-Corps, NJIT BPC)
Funding Details
~$10,000 total prize pool (2024). Non-dilutive. Winners receive cash checks.
Curriculum / Structure
Annual spring cycle. Fall application → spring preparation → April/May competition. Finalists work with director for several months before pitching.
Eligibility
Monmouth University undergraduate and graduate students from any major.
Related Programs
Additional research notesShow
Evidence
- 2026-06-23-monmouth-hawktank-2026
- 2026-06-23-monmouth-link-upitchnj
- Monmouth University — Startup Infrastructure Research Report
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting HawkTank Business Pitch Competition at Monmouth University.
2 sources
HawkTank 2026 — Monmouth University Pitch Competition
Monmouth University
Monmouth University
HawkTank 2026 — Monmouth University Pitch Competition
# HawkTank 2026 Source: https://outlook.monmouth.edu/2026/04/hawktank-2026-showcases-student-innovation/ — captured 2026-06-23. Annual campus-wide pitch competition. 2026 featured 7 finalists (A Grain, LearnAI, Pedro's Pastelería, DeedDrive, Pop-u-list, OriginPay, Striper Log). 22 teams total in 4 years since reinvigoration. **Raw capture:** `raw/institutions/monmouth-university/sources/2026-06-23-monmouth-hawktank-2026.md`
Read on Monmouth University
LINK Wins UPitchNJ 2025 — Monmouth University News
Monmouth University
Monmouth University
LINK Wins UPitchNJ 2025 — Monmouth University News
# Alex Kalina '25 Wins UPitchNJ 2025 Source: https://www.monmouth.edu/news/alex-kalina-25-wins-first-place-in-nj-pitch-competition/ — captured 2026-06-23. Monmouth startup LINK (clinical trial matching platform) won 10th annual UPitchNJ statewide competition at Rutgers University, beating 13 universities. $2,000 prize. Developed via HawkTank, NSF I-Corps, and CFE coaching. **Raw capture:** `raw/institutions/monmouth-university/sources/2026-06-23-monmouth-link-upitchnj.md`
Read on Monmouth University