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McCloskey New Venture Competition
Also known as: McCloskey Competition
University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, Indiana
Forbes-recognized business plan competition with 25+ year history at Notre Dame. Open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Features $100K+ in cash prizes with 160+ entries and 16 semifinalists annually. The 26th annual competition was held in 2026.
Quick fit check
- No equity required
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
—
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Institution Wide
Last activity
2026-07-13
High confidence
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Accedar Salud
$2,500
prize won
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey New Venture Competition People's Choice Award ($2,500).
Anaphero
$10,000
prize won
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey Best Graduate Student-Led Venture ($10K) and Overcoming Adversity Award; wearable device detecting early signs of allergic reactions in children (Tiarnan O'Rourke, ESTEEM).
Azam Health
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey New Venture Competition Community Impact Award winner.
Geddit
$10,000
prize won
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey Best Undergraduate Student-Led Venture ($10K); digital addressing for homes and businesses across Africa (Akhente Borotho).
Lantern Network
$5,000
prize won
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey Defense Tech Prize ($5K); advanced passive sensors that detect and track drone activity in real time (Joseph Pugsley).
Nullpoint
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey New Venture Competition Most Innovative Venture winner.
Petrine Properties
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey New Venture Competition Catholic Mission Award winner.
RETRN Bioworks
$65,000
prize won
University of Notre Dame
2026 McCloskey New Venture Competition Grand Prize ($50K) plus Wray-O'Brien Innovation Prize ($5K) and Marmon Most Innovative Venture Prize ($10K); biopolymers from agro-industrial plant waste (Kristin Mannion '12).
Key Details
- Established: ~2000 (25+ years)
- Prizes: $100K+ cash, $50K grand prize
- 2025 total: Nearly $1M in cash and in-kind prizes
- Format: 160+ entries, 16 semifinalists
- Eligibility: Notre Dame students, faculty, staff, alumni
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting McCloskey New Venture Competition at University of Notre Dame.
3 sources
McCloskey New Venture Competition 2026 Winners
University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
McCloskey New Venture Competition 2026 Winners
The 2026 McCloskey New Venture Competition (26th annual) closed at Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on April 24, 2026. Five finalists competed for $100K+ in prizes. RETRN Bioworks won the $50,000 Grand Prize (plus the Wray-O'Brien Innovation Prize and Most Innovative Venture – Marmon Prize).
Read on University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
IDEA Center
IDEA Center homepage — central hub for Notre Dame entrepreneurship and innovation.
Read on University of Notre Dame
McCloskey New Venture Competition
University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
McCloskey New Venture Competition
McCloskey New Venture Competition page — Forbes-recognized pitch competition.
Read on University of Notre Dame