Objective
The Bentley E-Hub Incubator Program aims to assist teams of Bentley community members to develop and refine high-potential startup ventures. Operating locally at Bentley University and in collaboration with Bentley E-Hub partners, this program offers a comprehensive suite of resources over one year to effectively support the early-stage growth of ventures led by Bentley community members.
Purpose
This initiative is designed to support teams interested in nurturing early-stage ideas into startup ventures. It aligns with Bentley E-Hub’s commitment to promoting an entrepreneurial mindset among its students, providing the necessary foundation to explore innovative business opportunities.
Pitch Presentations
When & Where:
Date: October 02, 2025
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Location: LaCava 305ABC
Who can Participate in the Incubator
Open to the entire Bentley community (see Eligibility below).
Just bring an innovative idea with a high potential.
Pitch your idea and what you will do with $1,000 if you are selected.
- Team: A team (2-5) must be led by a Bentley community member.
- Judges: A panel of judges will select teams to move forward to Phase 2. The judges' decisions are final.
- Awardees: About 10 teams will move forward. (Judges may select less or more based on the availability of funds and the number of applications)
- Seed Funding: Each selected team will receive $1,000 to develop the idea further.
- Resources: The teams can access the knowledge-base, the Orbit platform, faculty mentors, and alumni mentors.
- Training: The teams will have access to and commit to participating in the alumni-led training sessions.
- Team Commitment: Each selected team commits to developing their ideas over six weeks to compete in Phase 2.
Pitch Deck Budget Guidelines Seed Funding vs. Prize Money
Judges
Pitch Presentations
When & Where:
Date: November 13, 2025
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Location: LaCava 325ABC
Open to teams that have passed Phase 1
Bring a well developed innovative idea with a high potential
Pitch your idea and what you will do with $3,000 if you are selected.
- Team: A team (2-5) must be led by a Bentley community member.
- Judges: A panel of judges will select teams to move forward to Phase 3. The judges' decisions are final.
- Awardees: About 4 teams will move forward. (Judges may select less or more based on the availability of funds and the number of applications)
- Seed Funding: Each selected team will receive $3,000 to develop the idea further.
- Resources: The teams can access the knowledge-base, the Orbit platform, peer consultants (new for this phase), faculty mentors, and alumni mentors.
- Resources: In addition to the resources from Phase 1, each team will work with a specific mentor to develop their ideas further, and will get access to a shared desk at CIC.
- Training: The teams will have access to and commit to participating in the alumni-led training sessions.
- Team Commitment: Each selected team commits to continue developing their ideas over the next three months, including the winter break, to compete in Phase 3.
Pitch Deck Budget Guidelines Seed Funding vs. Prize Money
Judges:
Pitch Presentations
When & Where:
Date: February 12, 2026
Time: 6pm-8pm
Location: LaCava 325ABC
Open to teams that have passed Phase 2
Bring a well developed innovative idea with a high potential
Pitch your idea and what you will do with $10,000 if you are selected.
- Team: A team (2-5) must be led by a Bentley community member.
- Judges: A panel of judges will select teams to move forward. The judges' decisions are final.
- Awardees: About 2 teams will move forward. (Judges may select less or more based on the availability of funds and the number of applications)
- Seed Funding: Each selected team will receive $10,000 to develop the idea further.
- Resources: The teams can access the knowledge-base, the Orbit platform, peer consultants, faculty mentors, alumni mentors, and entrepreneurs-in-residence (new for this phase).
- Training: The teams will have access to and commit to participating in the alumni-led training sessions.
- Team Commitment: Each selected team commits to continue working on their ideas and developing their plans over the next six months, including summer, to prepare for moving to the next step, which may include making a pitch to early-stage investors in your plan. Each selected team also commits to present their ideas, status, and future plans as we kick off the next cycle (September 2025).
Pitch Deck Budget Guidelines Seed Funding vs. Prize Money
Judges:
- The teams commit to sharing their progress, discussing any challenges faced, and remaining accountable for appropriately spending seed funding and focused on their goals.
- The E-Hub will help connect the selected teams with potential investors as well as additional pitch competitions with our partners which can provide access to additional funds to develop your startup.
- The teams also commit to presenting their ideas, current status, and future plans as we kick off the next cycle in September 2025.
Schedule a meeting with the lead advisor
Eligibility
- The Bentley E-hub Incubator Program is available to teams that are led by a member of the Bentley community (current undergraduate or graduate student, faculty, staff, or a Bentley alum who has graduated within the last 5 years).
- Students may enter the Bentley E-hub incubator program, either by developing their own ideas or by joining teams with compelling ideas.
- Student/s teams who have been developing their ideas (e.g. as part of a class project, as part of another pitch competition on campus, as part of activities in the FDS seminar, as discussions with faculty, alumni, family, and many other) can use the Incubator as an opportunity to build and develop their ideas.
- If you participated in the Incubator in a previous year (but did not win seed funding beyond the First Phase), you can pitch. See the Rules of Engagement.
- Students can use the MIT Orbit Platform to connect with others in the Bentley community (to form your team or join a team), and to develop your idea.
What's new this year!
This year, teams participating in the Incubator will have access to alumni-led sessions that will give them hands-on access to a wealth of knowledge. As one of them says, it is not just about taking classes, you have to engage with those who have done it, you have to participate and experience the excitement and the thrill of building something new!
This year, a team pursuing their startup venture may choose to participate in the Incubator program without indicating a specific track, or they may choose to indicate one or more tracks (see below). Choosing a track / not choosing a track / choosing multiple tracks does not influence your chances of securing seed funding. However, it signals the judges evaluate your pitch presentations and your ideas.