HEARTLAND CHALLENGE STARTUP COMPETITION

The Heartland Challenge is designed to simulate the process of raising venture capital for a high-growth venture. This graduate student competition allows students to gain valuable experience and networking opportunities, while developing new ventures that may be based on their own ideas/technologies or those developed by others.

Congratulations to our first place team

Intero Biosystems from the University of Michigan

Intero Biosystems team

 

2025 Competition Results:

Main Competition

Investor Roundtables

1st Place - $40,000

Intero Biosystems, University of Michigan

2nd Place - $20,000

MabLab, Columbia University & Harvard University

3rd Place - $10,000

Xatoms, Western University & University of Toronto

4th Place - $5,000

Humimic Biosystems, University of Arkansas

5th Place - $2,000

DioTex Diagnostics, Johns Hopkins University

Cadron Capital - $3,000

Intero Biosystems, University of Michigan

Dickson & Main - $3,000

CounselAI, Johns Hopkins University

Physician's Capital Fund - $3,000

Imagine Devices, University of Texas at Austin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elevator Pitch Competition

Startup Expo

Special Awards

1st Place - $3,000

PulseArk Technologies, University of Arkansas

2nd Place - $2,000

MabLab, Columbia University & Harvard University

1st Place - $5,000

Humimic Biosystems, University of Arkansas

Most Investable Business Award - Walton Masters of Finance program - $3,000

Intero Biosystems, University of Michigan


Eligibility

‍The competition is for student-created, managed, and owned ventures. Students must play a major role in conceiving the venture by having key management roles and owning significant equity in the venture (50 percent or more of the equity allocated to the management team and key advisers). The objective of this rule is to exclude ventures formed and managed by non-students who have token student representation to compete. Competition directors and faculty advisers are responsible for ensuring and attesting that their teams meet these requirements. The teams are also responsible for ensuring their own eligibility. Read the official competition rules and policies HERE for more information.

Team Composition

This is a competition for graduate students, however exceptional undergraduate teams will be considered. Students from any graduate program (not just MBAs) are eligible to participate, including executive and evening format programs. Non-students may be members of the venture's management team and may participate in planning the venture. However, only students may participate in the competition. 

The competition is overseen by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

If you have questions about the competition, please email Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Manager, Maddy Stricklen, at startup@uark.edu.


2025 Competition Powered By:

2025 Competition Sponsors

Interested in Sponsorshop Opportunities  ? Reach out to Deb Williams (dswillia@uark.edu).