As part of programming for the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI), the Ideas & Impact Challenge consists of a series of workshops, a keynote speaker and expert mentoring. During these workshops, participants will actively engage in problem-solving, innovation exercises, and other activities that enable you to develop sustainable standout solutions. The culminating event for the Ideas & Impact Challenge will be a day-long event featuring two pitch competitions, networking, speakers, and seed-funding for finalists. 

There are two focuses within the Ideas & Impact Challenge: Innovative Idea Focus & Social Impact Focus. Those with a non-for-profit idea or one that on social entrepreneurship should submit to the Social Impact Focus. Social Entrepreneurship is defined as the practice of building and leading ventures that use innovative, sustainable business models to solve a wide range of social problems. All other for-profit ventures should submit to the Innovative Idea Focus.

The Ideas & Impact Challenge is open to all members of the Temple University community – degree-seeking students, alumni, faculty, and staff from all 17 of the University’s schools and colleges.

Submission portal open now! (portal closes: October 27th at 11:59pm )

Eligibility & Rubric

The Ideas & Impact Challenge is open to Temple University undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff from all 17 schools and colleges within the University.  

Participants are encouraged to work in teams but may also enter as a solopreneur. The designated team leader must be a Temple University degree candidate (undergraduate or graduate), alumni, faculty, or staff, and the designated team leader must be part of the founding team. 

Submissions may include a new or an existing idea/business, but companies submitting to the Innovative Idea Competition must be less than two years old as of September 1, 2025.    

Existing businesses must be less than two years old; have gross sales less than $25,000; and have raised less than $5,000, including institutional funding from any accelerator programs, angel investors, venture groups, VCs, pitch competitions, foundations, or grants, as of September 1, 2025.