America's Startup is a national collegiate competition designed to identify, support, and showcase early-stage business concepts from student entrepreneurs across the United States. As a signature initiative within America Innovates, the program offers a platform for innovators whose ideas have the potential to contribute to future economic, technological, and societal advancement. Participants engage in a multi-stage review process, which includes submitting a proposal and pitch video, with selected teams advancing to a live pitch event.
Program Timeline and Key Dates
• Application Submission Period: Submissions are accepted from 12:01 a.m. ET on February 15, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. ET on March 31, 2026.
• Initial Review: Submissions are evaluated by the Investor Council in early April.
• Semi-Finalist Notification: Thirty semi-finalist teams will be notified in mid-April.
• Live Pitch Experience: Semi-finalists must be available to travel to San Mateo, CA, to participate in the final competition from May 1-3, 2026, where 10 winners will be selected.
Eligibility Requirements
• Enrollment Status: Participants must be students aged 13 or older who are currently enrolled as undergraduates in an accredited college, university, or trade school located in the United States.
• Residency: Applicants must be legal residents of the United States or its territories.
• Team Composition: Founders may apply individually or as a team of up to five members. Each individual or team is limited to one entry.
• Venture Stage: The competition is open to early-stage ideas, concepts, or ventures across all industries, welcoming founders at the idea or early execution phase.
Application and Submission Guidelines
• Submission Portal: Applications, including a written proposal and a pitch video, must be submitted together through the designated online portal.
• Proposal Components: The written submission must include a mission statement (maximum 100 words) and a section explaining the business entity's necessity (maximum 500 words).
• Pitch Video: A pitch video with a maximum length of two minutes is required.
• Important Considerations: Applicants are advised not to include confidential information, trade secrets, or sensitive intellectual property details in their submissions. The use of AI to generate the proposal or pitch video is prohibited.
Selection Process and Judging Criteria
• Review Process: All submissions are evaluated by a panel of experts using a national scoring rubric. The process is multi-staged, with top teams invited to an in-person pitch experience.
• Scoring: Each proposal is scored on a 1-5 scale across seven equally weighted categories.
• Judging Criteria: The evaluation categories include: Why You — Why This Team; Attractiveness of Market / Market Size; Product (Insight + Direction); Barrier to Entry (Future Moat); Competitive Landscape; Supply Chain / Execution Path; and Business Model.
Awards and Opportunities for Winners
• Grant Funding: Ten winning teams will each receive $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, allowing founders to retain full ownership of their ventures.
• National Recognition: Winners will be recognized nationally for their achievement.
• Industry Visibility: The program provides visibility among a network of investors, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders.
• Additional Support: Further opportunities may be available, including mentorship, educational programming, and consideration for accelerator or incubator support.
Investor Council
• Rosie Rios: Chair of the America250 Commission and former Treasurer of the United States.
• Tim Draper: Founder of Draper Associates, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Draper University.
• Steve Wozniak: Co-founder of Apple.
• Joe Montana: Co-founder and Managing Partner at Liquid 2 Ventures.
• Sarah Friar: Chief Financial Officer at OpenAI and Co-founder of Ladies Who Launch.
This program is subject to official rules which contain full details on entry procedures, eligibility, prize descriptions, and judging processes. No purchase is necessary to enter or win, and the contest is void where prohibited. For specific questions or further information, please contact Startupinquiries@america250.org.