Big Idea Competition

The University of Texas at Dallas’ Big Idea Competition (BIC) is one of the most celebrated events of entrepreneurship in North Texas. Hosted annually by the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship the BIC brings the best undergraduate and graduate students together from all disciplines, alongside top research faculty and alumni to pitch the most innovative startups and ideas in front of their peers and a panel of esteemed judges for cash and scholarship awards. *Occurs in the Spring

Program highlights include:

• Over 1,000 attendees each year
• Tens of thousands in prize money and scholarships
• Past winners have gone on to win other state or national competitions and formed companies that have raised venture capital, generated revenue, and created jobs

Alumni Track 

Are you a UT Dallas alumni with the next big idea?
Open to UTD alumni in ideation or active businesses.

Student Track

Are you a current UT Dallas student (undergraduate, graduate, or P.h.D) with the next big idea?

Alumni Track 

Eligibility

• The startup team must have a UT Dallas alumni serving as the founder, co-founder, C-suite leader, or significant shareholder (i.e., founder’s shares)
• Only those who have officially graduated from a degree-awarding program will be considered (taking classes but without graduation, certificate programs, extracurricular programs will not be considered)
• Startup has not raised more than $2,000,000 in equity capital prior to March 2024
• Startup has not earned more than $1,000,000 in annual revenue prior to March 2024
• Startup was founded within the past three years 
• Startup is seeking funding and is a potentially viable investment opportunity that would be considered by angel investors or venture capitalists
• The UT Dallas alumni from the startup team must be the one to pitch throughout the process
• Past Big Idea Competition award and prize winners are not eligible to compete again

Steps to Apply

• Create a user profile on StartupTree if you don’t already have one
• Create a Venture or Project Profile on StartupTree (any privacy setting is acceptable)
• Begin planning your pitch and create a pitch deck/concept deck
• Prepare a short biography for the founder or person pitching (a paragraph)
• Get a high-resolution headshot photograph of the founder or person pitching
• Once you have prepared everything above, complete and submit the application

Student Track

Eligibility

• Must be a currently enrolled UT Dallas student in a degree-seeking program, any major, any classification as founder or co-founder 
• The UT Dallas-affiliated team member from the startup team must be the one to pitch throughout the process
• Past Big Idea Competition award and prize winners are not eligible to compete again

Steps to Apply

• Create a user profile on StartupTree if you don’t already have one
• Create a Venture or Project Profile on StartupTree (any privacy setting is acceptable)
• Begin planning your pitch and create a pitch deck/concept deck
• Prepare a short biography for the founder or person pitching (a paragraph)
• Get a high-resolution headshot photograph of the founder or person pitching
• Once you have done everything above, complete and submit the application

Alumni Track

• Applications Open: January 30, 2025
• Alumni Track Applications Close: March 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM
• Semifinalists Announced: March 7, 2025
• Semifinals: March 27, 2025
• Finals: April 16, 2025

Student Track

• Applications Open: January 30, 2025
• Student Track Applications Close: March 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM
• Semifinalists Announced: March 7, 2025
• Semifinals: March 27, 2025
• Finals: April 16, 2025

Main Track Prizes

Specialty Awards

• Most Innovative Idea: Awarded to the startup with the most groundbreaking and original concept.
• Best Social Impact: Given to the startup that demonstrates the greatest potential to positively impact society or the environment.
• Audience Choice: Selected by the audience, this award goes to the startup that receives the most votes from attendees.
• Best Pitch Presentation: Recognizes the startup with the most compelling and well-delivered pitch.
• Best Use of Technology: Awarded to the startup that leverages technology in the most effective and innovative way.

Each specialty award is worth $2,500.

SPRING 2024

• Student Track Winner, $10,000: FoodiFy, Anisha Holla
• Student Track Runner Up, $8,000: Step Up, Asad Moulvi
• Student Track Third Place (tie), $1,000: Yong Bros, Ralph Yongoueth
• Student Track Third Place (tie), $1,000: Sesame, Ananya Sammidi and Aditi Mungale
• Alumni Track Winner, $10,000: Glydr, Rick Tett, MS’21
• Alumni Track Runner Up (tie), $5,000: Prosper AI, Andrew Denton, BS’15, MS’20
• Alumni Track Runner Up (tie), $5,000: PriceTect, Sahil Patel, MA’23

SPRING 2023

• Student Track Winner, $25,000: Routora, Tom Vazhekatt, BS’24
• Student Track Runner Up, $5,000: Manta Systems, Tamara Marshall
• Student Track Third Place, $5,000: Buildquota, Xavier Madison
• Alumni Track Winner, $25,000: Creator Camp, Jacky Chao, BS’22
• Alumni Track Runner Up, $5,000: Ekusso, Karlin
• Alumni Track Third Place, $5,000: Catenate, Sameer Ranjan

FALL 2021

• Student Track Winner, $25,000: Bonsai, Shashank Vinay Kumar, BS’22
• Student Track Runner Up, $5,000: Forgot of Knot, Jason Hendricks, MS’22
• Student Track Runner Up, $5,000: Food Magnet, Mercedes Johnson, MBA’23
• Student Track Runner Up, $5,000: Bright Owl, Sofia Babool, BS’22
• Alumni Track Winner, $25,000: Tangible Intelligence, Matthew Coburn, BS’13 and Austin Howard, MS’09, PhD’14
• Alumni Track Runner Up, $5,000: Nuooly, Rosalie Taylor-Robinson MS’15
• Alumni Track Runner Up, $5,000: Hermtac, Kevin Patel BS’06, MBA’10

If you are interested in or have any questions about Big Idea Competition, please contact: