Regis Innovation Center
The Innovation Challenge
Build and run an innovative business that is desirable, feasible, and viable. Compete for up to $10,000 and co-working space for your business.
How You're Judged
Judging Criteria
We evaluate businesses based on four key pillars that ensure innovation and sustainability.
Judges score every pitch live
Desirability
30%Has the team shown how their product/service addresses a real problem that their intended customer base has? Teams should demonstrate how their business idea is innovative and different from what is currently available in the market.
Feasibility
30%Has the team conducted proper research such as strictly identifying proper market fit? Does the team have the right skills and support to build and gain traction in the market place?
Viability
30%Has the team tested their business to see if the business is viable? Did the team make any prior sales, add clientele, or bring in revenue? Has the team clearly explained the next steps moving forward? What will the funding be used towards?
Presentation
10%Did the team successfully and compellingly explain how their idea will solve a problem and/or need? Prepare a 4-5 minute presentation with a slide deck.
What You're Competing For
Awards & Prizes
A total prize pool of $17,000 plus exclusive co-working opportunities.
- Cash Prize
- Co-working Space
- Cash Prize
- Co-working Space
- Cash Prize
- Co-working Space
Journey to Success
Pitch Preparation Roadmap
Navigate your path to victory with expert guidance at every stage.
Foundation Stage
Open House Events
Begin your journey with personalized guidance and expert insights. Connect with past winners and refine your initial pitch concept.
- One-on-one pitch coaching
- Winner Q&A sessions
- Network with entrepreneurs
First Evaluation
Qualifying Pitches
Present your vision to our expert panel. Top 10 teams will advance to receive intensive mentorship and compete for the grand prize.
- 4-5 minute presentation
- Professional slide deck
- Expert judge evaluation
Growth & Development
Mentor Saturdays
Accelerate your growth with personalized mentorship from industry leaders. Gain strategic insights on finance, marketing, and business development.
- 3:1 mentorship ratio
- Expert-led workshops
- Pitch refinement
Penultimate Round
Semi-Final Pitches
Showcase your refined business model to advance to the finals. Demonstrate growth, traction, and readiness to scale.
- Enhanced presentation
- Ongoing mentor support
- Finals qualification
Grand Finale
Finals
The ultimate stage. Deliver your polished pitch for the grand prize of $10,000 and premium co-working space. This is your moment to shine.
- In-person event required
- Polished presentation
- Compete for upwards of $10,000
Pitch Tips
Make your pitch unforgettable
Expert insights to help you prepare, present, and stand out.
How do pitches work in the Innovation Challenge?
We do three rounds of pitches throughout our competition.
The first pitch is a 5-minute business/idea pitch to qualify for our competition.
You will then pitch again in early March after completing 2 Mentor Saturdays.
There will be up to 4 teams chosen from the Second Round of Pitches.
Those 5 teams will attend the 3rd Mentor Saturday and pitch in the Finals for a chance to win $10,000 and office space.
Before You Pitch
Suggestions when preparing for your pitch
Include a slide dedicated to finances
Provide a projection of your primary costs and potential sources of revenue. We understand this may be an inexact science, and it's okay if you don't have revenue or detailed cost figures yet - just be prepared to briefly explain the financial side of your business.
Clarify your goals for the Challenge
Share what you hope to gain from participating in the Innovation Challenge and how the experience could benefit you and your business.
Plan for prize money
Outline how you might allocate $10,000 in prize funding to grow your business or achieve your goals.
Define your market
Be ready to explain the market you intend to serve and why your solution meets its needs.
Showcase your fit
Explain why you are the right person to tackle the problem your business addresses and why your team is uniquely positioned to succeed.
Sharpen Your Thinking
Questions you should ask yourself
- What is the problem that the business/idea addresses?
- How does your business/idea solve that problem/make it better?
- Identify the market for your business/idea
- Who are your customers?
- Where are they (are they geographically bound?)
- What is the market for your business/idea –
- Market size (how much money is out there to be spread around to this idea?)
- How much will each customer spend on your business?
- How many customers will your business get?
- How your business/idea/product will actually work when the customer uses it (how does your business work?)
- Where do you make money/generate revenue? Might consider how much does it cost to run your business/idea
- Who are you competitors in this space
- Who are you? Who is on your team? What skills do you bring?
- How could you use the prize money from the innovation challenge?
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the Innovation Challenge.
Yes! We strongly encourage you to apply. This is what our competition is all about, taking ideas and small businesses to their highest potential.
The deadline to enter the Innovation Challenge is in early November. Please check our events calendar for the exact date.
It depends. Starting and running a business takes a lot of time and effort. We expect our teams to be fully committed to improving their business during our competition. When students are partnered with a team, it is up to the founder and student to decide how much time is appropriate for their collaboration.
Congratulations on your business' success! Sadly, your gross revenue surpasses our eligibility limit. We limit our competitors to businesses with under $100,000 in gross revenue to focus on small, community businesses.
Each business is required to have a student team member once events start in the Spring. Participants selected to advance past the qualifying round will be asked to provide brief business descriptions. Those descriptions are shared with students who have signed up. They let us know which businesses they are interested in and they provide a resume. We then make an email intro to the founders and founders decide if there is a fit.
We require local participants to attend our events in person. We offer a hybrid option to competitors, team members, and mentors if they reside outside of Colorado. Our Finals take place in the spring and are strictly an in-person event. We collaborate with our participants to ensure their attendance.
Every year, the Innovation Challenge begins with the fall Kickoff and continues until the Finals in April. For the calendar of events, visit our events page.
This is one of many ways we meet the mission of Regis University. We are committed to giving back to local businesses and want the Regis community to succeed—students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
A new Innovation Challenge competition kicks off every fall.
Ready When You Are
Turn your idea into reality
Join the next Innovation Challenge, meet mentors and past winners, and compete for up to $10,000 and co-working space.