Competitions
The Shea Center runs two major competitions each year: the Elevator Pitch Competition and theÌýStrakosch Venture Competition. Both of these competitions are open to all Boston College undergraduate students.Ìý
Elevator Pitch Competition
Got an idea that will change the world? Here’s your chance to get started. Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and Facebook were all founded by students. 91¸£Àûµ¼º½ alumni have consistently been involved in high-impact ventures ranging from the founding of Netscape to the creation of the iPod.
Ready. Set. Pitch!
60 seconds
15 Teams
$1,500 in Awards
Each team will prepare a 60 second pitch for their business idea and will present it in front of a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists, who will determine the best pitches. Cash prizes will be given to the winners. It’s just as easy, and fun, as it sounds.
2024 Winners
1st
Lorraine Library
Emma Mooney '28
2nd
Wohlsein
Lucas SchmidtÌý'26
3rd
RAGTime
Henry Wang '25
Crowd Choice
Domani
JP DargatiÌý'28
The Strakosch Venture Competition is a university-wide business plan competition designed to promote and support entrepreneurship at Boston College.
With mentoring from experienced alumni and faculty, students develop and implement the skills necessary to start successful businesses. Several sessions throughout the year offer additional coaching and advice from entrepreneurs, law partners, venture capitalists, and other executives.Ìý
Bring Your Idea to Life
Mentoring
From experiences alumni and faculty
Business Plans
Learn how to develop a detailed plan to implement your idea
Awards
$20,000 in Awards
Ìý
Business plans are submitted for judging and finalists are chosen to present their plans to a panel of judges consisting of executives and entrepreneurial experts. The first place team will receive $10,000, second place $5,000, third place $3,000, and the crowd favorite team will receive $2,000. ÌýMany participants have gone on to leverage their ideas and learning to launch and grow real businesses!
Ìý
2025 Winners
1st
To The Trade
Emma MooneyÌýCSOM ’28
Ìý
2nd
JO by Juliana
Juliana Owen, CSOM ’25
3rd & Crowd Favorite
WriteAway
Drake Cote, MCAS ’28 & Dominic Landry, CSOM ’28
2024 Strakosch Venture Competition
Watch the 2021 finalist pitches and announcement of the winners