Calling all innovators, dreamers, and doers:
Gaels Ignite Startup Pitch Competition is back!
The competition is open to all undergrads, graduate students, and alumni from every discipline. Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or just someone with a cool idea you’ve been mulling over, this competition is for you. It’s designed to be fun, collaborative, and a great way to get your creative juices flowing.
Who can join?
Undergrads from ANY major
Whether you study biology, business, or art, we want to hear from you!
Graduate students and alumni
You'll have your own separate group to compete in, so this is your chance to dive back into the startup world!
No business experience required
If you’ve never even thought about starting a business before, that’s totally fine. We’re here to help you develop your idea from scratch!
How you can participate
We’ve made it super flexible for everyone to get involved in one of three ways:
Already have a startup idea?
Great! You’ll have the chance to pitch your concept and even build a team around it.
Interested but need help developing an idea?
If you’re passionate about a certain industry or just have an itch to create something but aren’t sure what, we’ve got your back! We’ll help guide you in finding and developing your startup concept.
No idea yet, but want to join a team?
No worries! If you're eager to get involved, you can join someone else’s team and contribute your skills to help make a startup idea a reality.
Participant Selection
The Gaels Ignite Pitch Competition will feature a two-stage selection process this year.
After applications are submitted by October 15, an initial group of participants will be selected for Stage One. These participants will receive mentorship and support as they refine their startup ideas, conduct stakeholder interviews, and develop key materials—including a customer call summary and draft business model.
Based on progress and submissions, a final group will be chosen to advance to Stage Two, where they will present their ventures live at the competition event on February 18, 2026.
Key Dates
Get Info
Get the rundown on everything you need to know about the competition. It’ll be super informative and a lot of fun!
Apply
Submit your application October 15th with your idea (or interest in joining a team), and we’ll select participants to move on to the next round.
Workshops
After the selection process, we’ll host a series of fun, hands-on workshops to help you shape your idea, build a solid business model, and craft an epic pitch. Plus, you’ll get mentorship from entrepreneurs and faculty to help you along the way!
Pitch Day!
Mark your calendars for February 18, 2026, when you’ll get to pitch your startup idea to a panel of judges. This is where all your hard work pays off, and you'll get to show off your creativity and business savvy.
Why should I participate?
1) It's Fun!
Be part of a super creative and energetic community, working alongside fellow students and alumni.
2) Connections
Connect with potential co-founders, mentors, and maybe even investors.
3) Learn a TON
From idea development to pitching, this competition is a great way to gain real-world startup experience in a low-pressure, supportive environment.
4) $$$
Who doesn’t want the chance to win some money while turning their dreams into reality?
So, whether you’re bursting with ideas or just want to dive in and be part of something exciting, we want YOU to be a part of this startup journey. Let’s come together, create something amazing, and have a blast doing it!
FAQs
Gaels Ignite is an exciting startup idea pitch competition open to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as alumni from Saint Mary's College. It's a chance for participants to pitch their business ideas, develop them with guidance, and compete for cash and in kind prizes.
The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students from any discipline, as well as alumni. Whether you have a business background or not, everyone is welcome to apply.
No, there are multiple ways to participate. You can enter with a business idea, join a team that already has an idea, or receive help developing a startup concept from scratch.
Absolutely! No prior business experience is required. The competition is designed to support students and alumni from all fields, with plenty of resources to help you along the way.
You can sign up by submitting an application through the competition’s official website. Applications will be reviewed, and selected participants will move on to the pitch phase.
If you have an idea, describe the problem you’re solving, your proposed solution, and any progress you've made. If you're joining a team or seeking help to develop an idea, simply share your skills and areas of interest.
Yes, you can apply either as an individual or as part of a team. If you don’t have a team, we’ll help connect you with other participants who have complementary skills.
The info sessions will be held virtually on September 25th at 6-7pm and October 8th 6-7pm. RSVP here. All applications are due by October 15th with the final pitch event taking place on February 18th, 2026 at 5:30-9:00pm.
Selected participants will have access to a series of workshops and mentorship sessions covering key topics like idea validation, business modeling, pitching, and more. Mentors will include experienced entrepreneurs and faculty members.
Participants will compete for a share of $5,000 in cash prizes, as well as mentorship, networking opportunities, and potential investor interest.
A panel of judges, including entrepreneurs, investors, and faculty, will evaluate pitches based on criteria such as the clarity of the problem, the feasibility of the solution, market potential, and the strength of the pitch.
No, you do not need a complete business plan. A well-thought-out idea and a basic understanding of how your solution could work is enough for the initial stages. You’ll develop your concept further through the workshops.
Yes! The competition is open to all students, no matter their year. First-year students are encouraged to participate, whether they have an idea or want to join a team.
No, Gaels Ignite welcomes ideas from all industries, from tech startups to social enterprises. What matters most is the strength of your idea and its potential impact.
You can submit only one idea for the competition, so choose the one you’re most passionate about or that you believe has the strongest potential.
Alumni can participate both as competitors and mentors. If you’d like to serve as a mentor, please reach out to the competition organizers for more details.
No, participation in Gaels Ignite is completely free.
Participating in the competition offers valuable experience, mentorship, networking opportunities, skill development, and exposure to potential investors — all of which are beneficial even if you don’t take home the top prize.
Yes, there will be opportunities to network with mentors, judges, and other participants throughout the workshops and the final pitch event.
You can attend the info session on September 25th or October 8th, or check out the event page on the Saint Mary’s College website for detailed information. You can also reach out to the competition organizers via email with any specific questions.