We’re proud to announce this year’s finalists for the 2026 Startup Challenge.

This year’s competition received applications from student founders across schools at the University of Pennsylvania, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of innovation at Penn. The finalist teams are developing ventures across a range of industries, including travel and hospitality technology, food and beverage technology, cybersecurity, government technology, robotics and automation, industrial and agricultural technology, and media and entertainment technology.

The finalists will compete for more than $200,000 in cash prizes and in-kind awards at the live finals on May 1, 2026.