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.
Beyond E-Hub Incubator
Hult Prize
After completing the E-Hub Incubator Program, select teams may be considered for next-stage opportunities, including the new E-Hub × Hult Prize partnership. The Hult Prize is a global competition offering founders the chance to pitch for up to $1 million in funding and connect with international investors and entrepreneurial leaders.
Learn more here👉 Hult Prize
Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC)
A global competition showcasing top university startups, offering founders the opportunity to pitch to leading investors and compete for $1M+ in prizes, including non-dilutive funding and in-kind support. Particularly strong for ventures in Life Sciences, Healthcare, and MedTech, but open to a wide range of student-led startups.
Eligibility: Early-stage, student-led ventures seeking funding, with 2+ student team members (including 1 graduate student).
Learn more here👉 Rice CompetitionApplication Deadline: January 31
TiE U Boston Pitch Competition
A regional accelerator and pitch competition designed to fast-track startups from idea to market-ready ventures. TiE U Boston connects student founders with mentorship, investment readiness support, and global exposure through the TiE network.
Selected teams will pitch at the TiE Boston Regional Pitch Competition (May 2, 2026), with winners advancing to the TiE U Global Pitch Competition at the TiE Global Summit.
Eligibility: Open to student-led startups at any stage, from ideation to revenue (at least one current student or recent graduate).
Learn more here 👉 TiE U Boston CompetitionApplication Deadline: March 15, 2026
Stu Clark New Venture Championships
An international business plan competition hosted by the University of Manitoba, bringing together top undergraduate and graduate student founders from around the world. Teams pitch to experienced judges, receive in-depth feedback, and compete for cash prizes ($72,000+) while gaining exposure to investors and entrepreneurial leaders.
Date and Location: April 30 – May 2, 2026 in Winnipeg, Canada
Eligibility: Student-led ventures (undergraduate or graduate teams) from any discipline.
Learn more here 👉 Stu Clark New Venture ChampionshipsApplication Deadline: March 10, 2026
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.