America’s greatest innovations often begin as bold ideas — dreamed up in classrooms, garages, labs, and communities across the country. America’s Startup is designed to spotlight, support, and celebrate those ideas at their earliest stages.
As a signature program within America Innovates, America’s Startup provides a national platform for student founders, young entrepreneurs, and early-stage innovators whose ideas could help shape the next 250 years of American ingenuity, creativity, and progress.
America’s Startup is a national collegiate startup competition created to spotlight early-stage business ideas with the potential to drive America’s future economic, technological, and societal progress.
Participants submit a proposal and pitch video outlining their business idea, with selected teams advancing through a multi-stage review process that includes a live pitch experience.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest begins at 12:01 am ET on 2/15/26 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on 3/31/26. Open to U.S. students who are 13+ and enrolled at an accredited university, college or trade school located in the U.S. Semi-Finalists must travel to San Mateo, CA, from May 1-3, 2026. See Official Rules for full details including how to enter, eligibility requirements, prize description/restrictions and judging procedure. Void where prohibited.