Spelpreneur Jane E. Smith 10-Day Start-up Competition
Build, Launch and Win!
Spelpreneur presents... the 2026 Jane E. Smith 10-Day Start-up Competition.
- Competition Dates: Feb. 16-26, 2026
- Next steps: Feb. 27, 2026
The Jane E. Smith 10 Day Startup Competition is a prestigious event at Spelman College that honors Dr. Jane E. Smith, C'68, a beloved alumna and mentor to the College community. The competition encourages student entrepreneurs to present their business ideas in a pitch format, similar to a reality TV show. Teams compete for a chance to win $8,000 in stipends, with the first-place winner presented by notable mentors and presenters. The competition is open to all currently enrolled Spelman students and requires a time commitment over 13 days. It exclusively accepts for-profit business ideas and is open to teams of 2 to 4 Spelman students, with a preference for teams that include current or past Spelpreneur cohort members. The competition is a significant opportunity for students to develop an entrepreneurship mindset and networking skills.
Pitch Night 2025
Spelpreneur hosted its annual Pitch Night of the 10-day Startup Competition in February.
Eleven student teams gathered in the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D., Auditorium to participate in an exciting Shark Tank-style pitch night where they presented bold business ideas, aimed at solving real-world problems. Teams competed for a chance to win $8,000 in stipends.
The Winning Teams
- The first-place winner, Akyn, was presented by Alexandria Howard, Aubrey Patton and Kennedy Sharperson.
- Second-place winner, Unda, was presented by Makaila Parks, Zarah Vrooman, and Qari Headley.
- Third-place winner, Med Meets Mind, was presented by Kyra Wagner and Raven Downing.
- The Viewer’s Choice Award Winner, Med Meets Mind, was presented by Kyra Wagner and Raven Downing.
Spelpreneur Presents: Jane E. Smith 10-Day Start-up Competition
Read More About the Pitch Competition Visit the Spelpreneur Homepage
Watch Spelpreneurs Pitch
Spelpreneur hosted its annual Pitch Night of the 10-day Startup Competition this past February. Eleven student teams participated in an exciting Shark Tank-style pitch night where they presented bold business ideas, aimed at solving real-world problems. Teams competed for a chance to win $8,000 in stipends.