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Spelpreneur Jane E. Smith 10-Day Start-up Competition

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Build, Launch and Win! 

Spelpreneur presents... the 2026 Jane E. Smith 10-Day Start-up Competition.

  Jane E. Smith Spelpreneur Pitch Night Competition 2026

  • Competition Dates: Feb. 16-26, 2026
  • Next steps: Feb. 27, 2026 

The Jane E. Smith 10 Day Startup Competition is a prestigious event at 糖心传媒 that honors Dr. Jane E. Smith, C'68, a beloved alumna and mentor to the College community. The competition encourages student entrepreneurs to present their business ideas in a pitch format, similar to a reality TV show. Teams compete for a chance to win $8,000 in stipends, with the first-place winner presented by notable mentors and presenters.

The competition is open to all currently enrolled Spelman students and requires a time commitment over 13 days. It exclusively accepts for-profit business ideas and is open to teams of 2 to 4 Spelman students, with a preference for teams that include current or past Spelpreneur cohort members. The competition is a significant opportunity for students to develop an entrepreneurship mindset and networking skills.

The Startup Competition kicks off on February 16. Over ten days, 16 Spelman student teams will participate in a fast-paced, immersive experience, tackling real-world problems, building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and pitching their solutions in a Shark Tank-style finale. The competition culminates in Pitch Night on February 26, where three winning teams will receive prizes totaling $7,500. A Viewer’s Choice Award of $500 will also be presented, and all participants will receive an educational stipend.

This year, Pitch Night will include both a preliminary and final round:

  • Preliminary Round: 5:30 p.m. in the Albo Falconer Manley Science Center. Sixteen teams will be divided into three groups and will pitch concurrently in Rooms 130, 232, and 233.
  • Limited in-person and virtual viewing will be available for the groups.
  • Final Round: 7:30 p.m. in the Living Learning Center II Auditorium. Five teams will advance to compete in the finals.
  • In-person and virtual viewing will be available.

Pitch Night 2025

First Place WinnersSpelpreneur hosted its annual Pitch Night of the 10-day Startup Competition in February.

Eleven student teams gathered in the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D., Auditorium to participate in an exciting Shark Tank-style pitch night where they presented bold business ideas, aimed at solving real-world problems. Teams competed for a chance to win $8,000 in stipends. 

The Winning Teams

  • The first-place winner, Akyn, was presented by Alexandria Howard, Aubrey Patton and Kennedy Sharperson.
  • Second-place winner, Unda, was presented by Makaila Parks, Zarah Vrooman, and Qari Headley. 
  • Third-place winner, Med Meets Mind, was presented by Kyra Wagner and Raven Downing.
  • The Viewer’s Choice Award Winner, Med Meets Mind, was presented by Kyra Wagner and Raven Downing.

Spelpreneur Presents: Jane E. Smith 10-Day Start-up Competition

 


Read More About the Pitch Competition  Visit the Spelpreneur Homepage 

Watch Spelpreneurs Pitch

Spelpreneur hosted its annual Pitch Night of the 10-day Startup Competition this past February. Eleven student teams participated in an exciting Shark Tank-style pitch night where they presented bold business ideas, aimed at solving real-world problems. Teams competed for a chance to win $8,000 in stipends.