Stella Zhang New Venture Competition
About the program · 1 linked sources
The Stella Zhang New Venture Competition is a seven-month startup competition run by the Beall Center. Teams submit a concept paper, pitch in one of five tracks, and finalists compete at a Grand Finale. The page says accepted teams receive mentorship, workshops, and prize money, and that participants own their idea entirely.
Also known as: Stella Zhang NVC, UCI New Venture Competition
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-10-08); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
Key numbers
Funding range
Not listed
Equity
Varies by investment
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-10-08
High confidence
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Stella Zhang New Venture Competition
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Stella Zhang New Venture Competition · Oct 27, 2026 · Unverified
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Application and Timing
The page lists a kick-off on October 27, 2026, and a Grand Finale on May 20, 2027. Concept-paper, early-interest, and board-room dates are marked TBD. Applications for 2027 are described as coming soon.
Participants
Open to UC Irvine students, faculty, researchers, staff, and community members. A team needs 2-6 members, including at least two enrolled UC Irvine students. Business-school affiliation is not required. Students graduating in May 2026 or later are eligible. The venture must be an original idea less than two years old, still pre-incubator, and must not have received more than $10,000 in external funding.
Funding and Equity
The competition page says teams compete for over $100,000. Each track awards $10,000 for semi-final first place and $5,000 for the runner-up. The Grand Finale awards a $20,000 grand prize and a $5,000 runner-up prize. The page also names specialty prizes, including a $1,000 fan-favorite bonus and a $2,500 MIE specialty prize in the 2026 results. It says participants own their idea entirely. It does not state that the university takes equity.
Recent Activity
The page, observed October 8, 2026, publishes 2026 Grand Finale winners and the 2026-27 calendar.
Known Startups or Winners
The 2026 results name Pipeline as grand prize winner ($20,000) and consumer-services track winner ($10,000). Other named awards include Simly and RestWing ($10,000 track prizes; RestWing also a $1,000 fan-favorite bonus), LAMON ($10,000 plus an unpriced BAI bonus), BrickCycle ($10,000), and several $5,000 second-place teams including Abner Computing, PAQQ, CuraVoice, NeuroStrat, and Ascend First. Ascend First also received a $2,500 MIE specialty prize. NeuroStrat also received the $5,000 runner-up award.
Research gaps & things to verify
Verification Gaps
The Beall Center homepage says $100,000 in cash prizes, while this page says over $100,000 and shows stacked awards. Several interim deadlines are TBD.
Additional research notesShow
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Stella Zhang New Venture Competition at University of California, Irvine.
1 source
Stella Zhang New Venture Competition
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
Stella Zhang New Venture Competition
The competition page publishes eligibility, the prize schedule, the 2026-27 kickoff and finale, and 2026 winners.
Read on University of California, Irvine