UPitchNJ 2026

UPitchNJ is New Jersey’s annual statewide collegiate startup pitch competition and 2026 marks its 11th year of celebrating student innovation across the state.

Each year, UPitchNJ brings together top student founders from colleges and universities throughout New Jersey to pitch their business ideas and early stage ventures. The event highlights creativity, entrepreneurship, and bold thinking from students who are building solutions to real world problems.

Made possible by the support of Nokia Bell Labs, UPitchNJ provides a platform for student teams to present their ventures, receive feedback from experienced judges, connect with peers and mentors, and showcase the depth of entrepreneurial talent emerging from New Jersey’s higher education institutions.

Students compete by pitching in front of a live audience and judging panel, and are evaluated on the clarity of the problem they are solving, the strength and feasibility of their solution, customer validation, competitive landscape, business model and market opportunity, team capability, and the overall quality of their pitch and Q&A. In addition to pitch presentations, the event features team demo tables, networking opportunities, and awards recognizing standout ventures.

Each participating university selects an undergraduate student team to compete. Students interested in competing should contact their university’s entrepreneurship center or department for more information.

UPitchNJ is open to students, faculty, families, alumni, entrepreneurs, and community members who would like to attend and support student innovation as part of the audience.

Date: May 1, 2026
Host University: Rowan University
Location: Rowan University Business Hall
201 Mullica Hill Rd. Glassboro, NJ

Cost: Free. Advance registration is required.

Student teams will represent the following institutions:

Centenary University
Drew University
Georgian Court University
Monmouth University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Princeton University
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Rowan University
Rutgers University Newark
Rutgers University Camden
Rutgers University New Brunswick
Seton Hall University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stockton University

9:30 – 10:30 AM
Team, university, and guest check-in. Competing teams set up demo displays

10:30 – 11:00 AM
Welcome and Keynote Address from Thierry Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia Bell Labs

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Student pitch presentations

12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch, networking, and team demo tables

1:00 – 2:10 PM
Student pitch presentations continue

2:10 – 2:40 PM
Judges deliberate. Teams at demo tables for networking with attendees

3:00 PM
Winners announced and photos

Free parking will be available in Lot F (Triad), which is approximately a 5 minute walk to Rowan University Business Hall.

For GPS or Google Maps, use the following address:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LuZ7Lqc97xtqJouGA

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Host or Publisher Jessica Wolk