VentureCat 2026 Public Showcase

VentureCat is Northwestern’s annual student startup competition and celebrates the University’s most promising student founders.

The program culminates in a pitch competition in which a prize pool of $175K+ in non-dilutive prize money is distributed to student ventures.

Join us on Wednesday, May 27 at 6 PM CT for the Public Showcase where we will feature the six finalist teams and their pitches. You will get the chance to vote to award our audience favorite prize and we will announce our finals prize winners–including the grand prize of $100,000.

Our semifinalist teams will span five tracks - Business Products & Services; Consumer Products & Services; Energy & Sustainability; Life Sciences & Medical Innovation; and Social Impact.

The VentureCat Public Showcase is free and open to the public. If you would like to contribute to this important program, your gift will support VentureCat resources and awards for future participants. Join us in supporting tomorrow's leaders driving forward groundbreaking solutions and fostering a culture of innovation at Northwestern.

See photos from last year's event! ⬇️

VentureCat is made possible through the generous support provided by donors and sponsors.

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Host or Publisher Northwestern University