April 16, 2025 | 6:00pm
Metcalf Ballroom, George Sherman Union
Boston University
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of innovation and excitement! Watch as the 10 New Venture Competition finalists deliver fast-paced, thrilling pitches, competing for $80,000 in prizes. You’ll even get to play a part in the action by voting for the audience choice winners—cheer on the teams that light up the room!
Meet inspiring student entrepreneurs from across Boston, and celebrate the winners of the Student Innovator of the Year Award, the Henry Morgan Community Member Award and more. Enjoy delicious food and refreshments, lively music, and plenty of opportunities to connect with some of Boston’s brightest minds in innovation.
If you’d like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, don’t forget to bring a valid 21+ I.D.
This is a free, public event, and we welcome everyone to join in the celebration. Don’t miss it!
Who can attend Innovators' Night?
Is there a cost to attend?
What time should I arrive?
How long will the event last?
Will food be provided?
What about drinks?
Will there be ID checks for alcoholic beverages?
Where is the Metcalf Ballroom located?
Is the venue accessible?
Where can I park?
Is there a dress code?
How are the $80,000 in prizes distributed?
Can I interact with the presenting teams?
How does the Audience Choice voting work?
Will there be opportunities to network with industry professionals?
Is pre-registration required?
Can I register at the door?
Last night, 500+ innovators from Boston University and beyond gathered at Innovator’s Night to connect, celebrate, and find out who won the 2025 New Venture Competition! The awards didn’t stop at the New Venture Competition, however. From Students Innovators of the Year, to incredible mentors, to the cohorts of Innovate@BU’s selective summer programs, entrepreneurs from […]
Leon has been recognized as the 2025 School of Hospitality Administration Student Innovator of the Year! When Jiayou “Leon” Lin (SHA'24) was working as a bartender both in the United States and abroad, one task consistently dampened his enthusiasm for the job: juicing citrus before each shift. That frustration sparked an idea that would eventually […]
Luca has been recognized as the 2025 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Student Innovator of the Year! When Luca Pungan (ENG'25) transferred to Boston University as a sophomore, he found himself playing catch-up with his peers. Originally a molecular biology major, he switched to biomedical engineering and spent his early years at BU taking freshman-level classes […]
When Ben Gardiner (CAS'25) was interning at a mid-sized tech company, he witnessed firsthand a problem that plagues modern hiring: a single job posting attracted thousands of applications over a weekend, leaving his hiring manager overwhelmed with the impossible task of reviewing them all. "The way we hire is a little broken," Ben explains. "Three […]
Computer science student Prianna Sharan (CAS'25) never planned to become an entrepreneur when she arrived at Boston University from California. Yet her desire for creative autonomy and a chance meeting with Remi Chester (Questrom'25) during her first week at BU Splash would change that trajectory entirely. Now the co-founder and CTO of Popple—a social media […]
When Jakob Esterowitz (ENG'27) noticed his clothing manufacturer overseas was reluctant to disclose where materials came from, he began investigating on his own. What he discovered was startling: 10% of global carbon emissions come from polyester clothing production, and more than 24 million pounds of polyester tennis strings end up in landfills annually—where they remain […]
A disturbing headline about heavy metals in baby food prompted Meritxell Ortodo (ENG'26) to investigate a serious public health concern. Meritxell and Trinity Olander (CAS'25), uncovered a troubling connection between contaminated soil and the food supply that affects children's neurological development. Their research led them to found Agrinova, a startup developing technology that addresses this […]
When Rey Dwivedi (COM'25) finds herself running late for an important interview, she knows exactly how the day will end—returning home to a chaotic explosion of rejected outfits covering every surface of her bedroom. This all-too-familiar scenario inspired her to develop Clueless by Design, an innovative AI-powered closet automation app designed to transform how […]