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Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI)
Also known as: IEI
Temple University · Philadelphia, PA
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI) is the central entrepreneurship hub at Temple's Fox School of Business. It promotes entrepreneurial spirit across all 17 Temple schools and colleges. IEI runs the 1810 Accelerator, Be Your Own Boss Bowl, Ideas & Impact Challenge, Innovation Digest, Innovation Leaders Speaker Series, and various workshops and mentoring programs. Managing Director: Alan Kerzner.
Quick fit check
- Indirect support only
- No equity required
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
—
Equity
None
Application
Varies
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-06-24
High confidence
Application and Timing
Rolling events with competition-specific deadlines. BYOBB registration in fall, applications due March, live event April. Ideas & Impact Challenge runs fall semester. 1810 Accelerator operates in cohort cycles.
Participants
Open to all Temple students (undergraduate and graduate), alumni, faculty, and staff from all 17 schools and colleges.
Funding and Equity
IEI does not directly fund ventures but connects participants to competitions with cash prizes (BYOBB: $100K+; Ideas & Impact: $2.5K seed) and external resources. No equity taken at the center level.
Recent Activity
- 2026: 28th annual BYOBB (April 15) — SourceFill (UG winner), Phyll (Grand Prize).
- 2025: First annual Ideas & Impact Challenge (Nov 14) — Vozzy World, Ziefah Health winners.
- 2025: 27th annual BYOBB — AAWE Grand Prize.
- 2024–2026: Active Instagram (@templeiei) and YouTube with event recordings and workshops.
- 2024: 26th Innovative Idea Competition.
Known Startups or Winners
- Phyll — 2026 BYOBB Grand Prize ($40K + $10K) — infrastructure intelligence app.
- SourceFill — 2026 BYOBB UG winner — supply chain platform.
- AAWE (AI-Aware Writing Environment) — 2025 BYOBB Grand Prize.
- Vozzy World — 2025 Ideas & Impact Challenge innovative idea winner.
- Ziefah Health — 2025 Ideas & Impact Challenge social impact winner.
Verification Gaps
- Complete list of all IEI-supported startups not compiled.
- Year-over-year metrics (participants, ventures launched) not centralized.
Additional research notesShow
Evidence
- IEI Competitions official page.[1]
- BYOBB official page with 27th year winners and history.[2]
- Temple Now coverage of Ideas & Impact Challenge.[3]
- Temple Now coverage of 28th BYOBB.[4]
- Research report consolidating all findings.[5]
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI) at Temple University.
5 sources
News & articles(3)
Technical.ly
1810 Accelerator Launch Coverage
Technical.ly article (July 31, 2019) on launch of IEI's 1810 Accelerator. Details 8-10 week cohort program at 1810 Liacouras Walk, free membership-based resources open to all Temple affiliates, first cohort of 15 startups, no direct funding or equity.
Read on Technical.ly
Temple Now (Temple University)
2026 BYOBB 28th Annual Winners Coverage
Temple Now article (Apr 22, 2026) covering 28th annual BYOBB held Apr 15, 2026. Largest in-person audience since COVID. Documents winners: SourceFill (UG), Phyll (Upper/Grand Prize), Mor (People's Choice). $100K+ prizes, $10K per track winner, $40K grand prize.
Read on Temple Now (Temple University)
Temple Now (Temple University)
Ideas & Impact Challenge 2025 Coverage
Temple Now article (Dec 2, 2025) on first annual Ideas & Impact Challenge culminating Nov 14, 2025. Combines former Innovative Idea Competition and Changemaker Challenge. Winners listed for both innovative idea and social impact tracks.
Read on Temple Now (Temple University)
Official sources(2)
27th Annual Be Your Own Boss Bowl Official Page
Fox School of Business, Temple University
Fox School of Business, Temple University
27th Annual Be Your Own Boss Bowl Official Page
Official BYOBB page for the 27th annual competition. Documents eligibility, prize structure ($100K+ total), two tracks (UG/Upper), full winner lists for 27th (2025) and previous years back to 2020. No equity taken; non-diluted seed funding.
Read on Fox School of Business, Temple University
IEI Competitions Official Page
Fox School of Business, Temple University
Fox School of Business, Temple University
IEI Competitions Official Page
Official IEI competitions page listing three main programs: Ideas & Impact Challenge (workshops + pitch with innovative/social impact tracks), Be Your Own Boss Bowl (flagship annual business plan competition), and Innovative Idea Competition (early-stage idea). Also links to 1810 Accelerator and other IEI offerings.
Read on Fox School of Business, Temple University