e-Fest 2027

100
Days Left
to Enter

Description

Welcome to e-Fest 2027!

e-Fest® is a national competition and community supporting undergraduate entrepreneurship. Pitch your venture on a national stage, gain valuable feedback, and connect with industry experts, investors, and student founders from across North America.

The Top 25 teams will come together April 22–24, 2027, in Minneapolis for three days of workshops, networking, and four competitions awarding $250,000 in cash prizes.

It all starts here.
Let’s see what you’re building.

Submit your slide deck and pitch video through this portal. Online judges review submissions and select the Top 25 teams to advance to the in-person finals.

  • Submission deadline: January 31, 2027
  • Selected teams notified: Week of February 19, 2027
  • Top 25 publicly announced: March 2, 2027

Updated judging rubric for 2027

We’ve moved from a 1–5 scoring scale to a 1–4 scale. The judging criteria remain largely the same, with “Overall Evaluation” replaced by “Team Evaluation & Execution.” Review the updated rubric and guidelines as you prepare your pitch.

Find submission requirements, preparation tools, and key dates at efest.biz. Review the Rules & Eligibility before submitting.

Rules

Rules & Eligibility — e-Fest 2027

Before submitting, review the key requirements below with your team and advisor.

This is a summary. All participants must meet the complete Official e-Fest Rules & Eligibility. If this summary differs from the official rules, the official rules govern.

Student & Team Eligibility

  • Teams must include 2–5 eligible undergraduate students from colleges or universities in North America.
  • All members must be enrolled as undergraduates during spring 2027 or have graduated no earlier than fall 2026. Students in direct-to-master’s or five-year programs are eligible if they have not yet received an undergraduate degree.
  • Each team must have an official faculty or staff advisor from one of its members’ institutions.
  • Students may appear on multiple online submissions but may compete with only one team at the finals.

Venture Eligibility

  • Ventures must be student-originated, student-owned, and student-led, with students directing development and operations.
  • Collectively, student team members must own at least 25% of the founder’s equity and meet the official ownership requirements.
  • As of January 31, 2027, ventures must have less than $100,000 in cumulative funding and less than $50,000 in cumulative sales/revenue. Review the official definitions, including how grants, loans, prize money, and in-kind contributions count.
  • Previously selected finalist ventures may not be resubmitted. A new venture must be substantially different; a pivot or minor modification does not qualify.
  • Ventures must be new and independent. Social and hybrid ventures are welcome if they demonstrate a credible path to financial sustainability through earned revenue. Review the full rules for excluded business types.

Submission & Participation

  • Submit your slide deck, short pitch video, and all required application information through this portal by January 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
  • Materials must be accurate and reflect the student team’s own work, ideas, and analysis. Advisors and mentors may provide guidance.
  • If selected, your team and advisor must attend the full event in Minneapolis, April 22–24, 2027, and complete all required confirmation forms.
  • Submission materials and presentations may become public. Judges, staff, and guests are not required to sign nondisclosure agreements.

Review the complete Official Rules & Eligibility before submitting.