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.
PROGRAM UPDATE
The Heartland Challenge will pause in 2026 as we take time to evaluate and refresh the competition for future years. Since its launch in 2020, the event has grown into a national platform for student founders and a showcase of Northwest Arkansas’ entrepreneurial energy. The competition will return in 2027 with a renewed approach and enhanced experience for all participants.
Thank you for your continued support — a new chapter is ahead.
Congratulations to our 2025 Heartland Challenge first place team
Intero Biosystems from the University of Michigan
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 the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at startup@uark.edu.
A very special thank you to our sponsors since our first competition in 2020 — your partnership has made this journey possible.
Interested in Sponsorshop Opportunities ? Reach out to Deb Williams (dswillia@uark.edu).