Inc.U Competition
About the program · 1 linked sources
Annual undergraduate pitch competition administered by Invent Penn State. Six finalist teams pitch live during Penn State Startup Week in March. Prize pool: $30K total — 1st $15K, 2nd $10K, 3rd $5K, Startup Spark Award $1K. Finalists also receive mentorship, professionally produced marketing video, and promotional opportunities.
Also known as: Invent Penn State Inc.U
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-06-24); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
Key numbers
Funding range
$15,000
Grant
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-03-30
High confidence
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Reminders
Inc.U Competition
Get an email before a director-verified deadline for this program, this school, or this state. The program never sees your address.
Student experiences · Read or add a note
Student notes
Inc.U Competition
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Application and Timing
Annual cycle. Applications open January, due mid-January. Virtual info session in December. In-person interviews in late January. Finalists announced February. Live pitch event during Startup Week in March.
Participants
Current undergraduate students at any Penn State campus in Pennsylvania with a PA-based company. Must be 51%+ owned by eligible PSU undergrads. Must form legal entity with EIN to receive prizes.
Funding and Equity
$30K total non-dilutive prize pool. No equity taken. Prizes paid to the company, not individuals.
Recent Activity
- March 2026: Competition held with six finalists. Winners: SlammedU ($15K), Now You Know ($10K), The Eleventh Round ($5K), Pillar Cabins ($1K Spark), Surge, Vayla, Whirl Pong.
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Historical winners (research notes)
- 2026: SlammedU (1st, $15K) — college student social community platform.
- 2026: Now You Know (2nd, $10K) — social card game.
- 2026: The Eleventh Round (3rd, $5K) — combat sports athlete platform.
- 2026: Pillar Cabins (Spark, $1K) — park model home purchasing guidance.
- 2026: Surge — AI website builder.
- 2026: Vayla — biodegradable hair accessories.
- 2026: Whirl Pong — spinning cup pong game.
Research gaps & things to verify
Verification Gaps
- Historical winner data (pre-2025) not captured.
- Post-competition startup outcomes not tracked publicly.
Additional research notesShow
Evidence
- Inc.U Competition official page documenting 2026 winners, rules, and judging criteria.[1]
- Research report confirming program details.[2]
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Inc.U Competition at Pennsylvania State University.
1 source
