Deadline: February 1, 2026
Applications are open for the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre Arena Pitch Competition 2026. This isn’t just any competition—it’s a high-energy, adrenaline-pumping showdown where student entrepreneurs across Canada go head-to-head to showcase their brilliance for the title of the nation’s top innovator. This year, 64 students from 37 post-secondaries have been selected to battle it out for glory, with each round bringing them one step closer to victory with a grand prize of $10,000!
These 64 contenders will compete in a dynamic head-to–head pitch competition modelled after the NCAA March Madness. Students will showcase their innovative ideas to panels of expert judges over six rounds starting with round one on March 3 and concluding on April 1.
Prizes
The prize money will be invested towards the best student entrepreneur’s idea or business with total cash prizes of $17,000 provided by Metronomics.
- $10,000 for the winner
- $5,000 for the runner up
- $1,000 for the third and fourth place
Eligibility
- Open to currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within the past year) from a recognized post-secondary institution (Undergraduate, Graduate, or PhD);
- Must be the founder or co-founder of the business idea;
- Business has earned less than $10,000 in total revenue to date;
- Has received less than $10,000 in external support or investment (including grants, investors, and pitch competitions).
Application
After being selected, students will be provided with the date and time of pitch, a pre-existing pitch rubric, and list of questions that will be randomly posed at presentation time. Development sessions will be provided for participants to prepare them for their month-long battle to victory.
For more information, visit Arena Pitch Competition.
