Tulane Business Model Competition 2027

The Tulane Business Model Competition (TBMC) is run by the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tulane University's Freeman School of Business in New Orleans. It is for student-led ventures, and the three finalists split a cash prize of US$125,000 (about ₹1.19 crore). Applications for 2027 close at 11:59 PM on Sunday, 10 January 2027.

This is a student competition. The team must be one to five degree-seeking college students, each enrolled at least part-time during the competition year, with a faculty mentor from their own institution. The page does not restrict entry by country, but the semi-final and final are held at the Freeman School in New Orleans.

What the program offers

The three finalists share a cash prize of US$125,000 (about ₹1.19 crore), with first, second and third place decided in the final round. The split between the three places is not published by Tulane. The prize pool figure comes from the listing on record, and the eligibility page we could read does not mention prizes, so check Tulane's competition pages for the full prize details.

It is a competition prize, not a loan or an investment, and we found no mention of equity being taken. Beyond money, entrants get the chance to pitch in front of judges and to have their business model tested against what customers actually say.

Who can apply

The student team is one to five degree-seeking college students, enrolled part-time (at least 6 credit hours) or full-time during the competition year. A student should generally be the CEO, COO or President, or students should hold at least half of the management positions that report to that person. The student team must own at least 20% of the venture and control at least 51% of the voting rights.

Some ventures are ruled out: buyouts, expansions of an existing company, real estate syndications, tax shelters, franchises, geographic licensing deals and spin-outs from an existing corporation. If a venture has very high revenue or investment, the organisers decide whether it is still eligible. Licensing university or research-lab technology that has not been commercialised before is encouraged. Ventures may compete more than once if they still meet the rules.

For an Indian student founder, the page does not say that applicants must be from the United States, so a team enrolled at an Indian institution may be able to enter, but confirm this with the organisers. It does not suit founders who are not students, or ventures where the founders hold less than the stated ownership and control.

How to apply

Find a faculty mentor at your college or university, since every team needs one. Then complete the 2027 Tulane Business Model Competition application through the link on the eligibility page. The application opened on 21 September 2026 and closes at 11:59 PM on Sunday, 10 January 2027. The page does not give a time zone. The final round is listed in US Central time, so we assume Central time, which would be 11:29 AM IST on 11 January 2027. A practical tip: submit at least a day early to avoid any doubt. The page does not list the application questions or documents.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Judges read the applications and pick six ventures for the semi-final round on 8 March 2027, then three finalists who pitch in the final round on 9 March 2027, which runs from 10 AM to 1:30 PM Central. The final decides first, second and third place. The page calls the dates subject to change. It does not publish the judging criteria. The competition describes its aim as rewarding founders who test their business model hypotheses with customers and adapt, so evidence from customer conversations is likely to matter. A team that accepts a place and then withdraws or fails to compete is disqualified, together with its university, for that year and the following year.

About the Lepage Center

The Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is part of the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. It runs programmes for students, including a venture accelerator course, an incubator and a pitch series, and programmes for small businesses in the community.

Things to check before you apply

• Both rounds are held at the Freeman School in New Orleans. The page we read does not state whether travel costs are covered, whether remote pitching is possible or whether there is an entry fee.
• Withdrawing after accepting a bid carries a penalty for your university as well as your team.
• A practical tip: write down who owns what share and who holds the voting rights now, since you must show at least 20% ownership and 51% voting control.