Tiger Cage, Halloween Pitch Competition kickoff meetings Sept. 2 and Sept. 4

Students interested in turning innovative ideas into viable startups are encouraged to attend the Tiger Cage Business Idea and Halloween Pitch Competition kickoff meetings on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and Thursday, Sept. 4, at 4:30 p.m. in Horton-Hardgrave Hall’s Innovation Lab (Room 012).

Presented by the Harbert College of Business and Auburn University’s New Venture Accelerator, the Tiger Cage gives students opportunities to develop business plans, sharpen pitch skills and compete for up to $100,000 in startup capital, including a $5,000 innovation award from the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management.

The kickoff sessions will introduce students to the competition’s format, resources and timeline. Administrators will explain how to prepare the required submission materials, which include:

• A 250-word business idea summary describing the concept, target market and problem it solves.
• A business model canvas outlining how the idea will function as a business.
• A three-to-five slide pitch deck highlighting the core elements of the venture.
• A three-minute video presentation introducing the team and showcasing the product or service.

Tiger Cage submissions are due Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 11:59 p.m. After the initial round, judges will select 20 quarterfinalist teams, which will receive feedback and mentorship as they refine their ideas. Semifinalists and finalists will be announced in the spring, culminating in a live pitch competition before a panel of investors and industry professionals.

The quarterfinal round will take place on January 30, 2026, where 20 teams will pitch their business ideas to a panel of industry professional judges. From there, select teams will advance to the semifinal round on February 27, 2026. The competition culminates in the final round on March 25, 2026, where the top teams will present their ventures in a public event in Horton-Hardgrave Hall's Broadway Event and Space Theater.

Students are also invited to participate in the Halloween Pitch Competition, a one-day event held on Oct. 30 in the Broadway Event and Space Theater. Open to students from Auburn University, Auburn University-Montgomery and Southern Union State Community College, the competition awards $6,000 in startup capital, including a $1,000 special category award from the Thomas Walter Center.

To enter, students must submit a one-page summary and a three-minute video pitch by Oct. 13 via Auburn’s InfoReady platform. Finalists will deliver a three-minute elevator pitch before a panel of judges.

“It’s been incredible to watch entrepreneurship evolve into one of Auburn’s premier platforms for student innovation,” said Lou Bifano, director of the New Venture Accelerator. “Each year, we see more students from across campus bringing stronger, more sophisticated ideas to the competition. Our programs are more than just pitching to judges. They are about helping students learn how to think like entrepreneurs. They gain experience in building business models, communicating their vision and working with mentors who’ve launched ventures themselves. Those skills are invaluable, whether they go on to start their own companies or lead innovation inside existing organizations.”

For more information on competition rules, submission requirements and resources, visit the Tiger Cage Business Idea Competition website and Halloween Pitch Competition page.