Explore, Discover, Experiment.

Three phases pair student entrepreneurs with existing classes and student teams to create prototypes and business plans to ultimately market ideas. Students and teams that are actively involved in the SSC process are also able to receive funding support from a pool of $25,000 based on funding requests and approval*.

Who Can Apply?

Student Startup Challenge is open to all current UWM students in all schools and colleges as well as UWM alumni who have graduated within the last two years. Students do not need to be engineering or business students to apply – ideas are sought from all disciplines.

Program Outcomes

Teams become closer to making their ideas reality: We realize that startups develop at different stages. Throughout the duration of the program, we would like to propel your idea forward whether that’s developing a prototyping or incorporating a business.

Growing professional skills that will benefit startups and/or within a company: We want to see our students succeed wherever their next step may be. The Student Startup Challenge practices skills that don’t typically come up in the classroom.

Broaden network: Teams will have countless opportunities to interact with esteemed UWM professors and staff as well as work with Milwaukee business professionals.

Confidentiality & Intellectual Property Protection

Student Startup Challenge is designed to foster better decision making by involving a variety of players. Initial submissions can be treated as confidential upon request; however, the project sponsors reserve the right to share a non-confidential summary of all ideas. Intellectual Property remains the property of the disclosing party unless otherwise agreed separately.