Entrepreneurs are the athletes of the 21st century. This is their league.
A league gives founders a season — coaching, feedback, a calendar everyone can see, and a national stage — instead of a one-off campus contest with a check at the end.
The NCEA is the association and the league. The NCEA Founders Cup is its national tournament: optional, run on a published calendar, and open to founders at member schools.
Ben.ai, the league's AI co-founder, keeps founders moving between the people who do the judging. It coaches and pre-scores; it never decides. People do.
Real people stand behind the league
Named people and institutions authenticate the season. AI powers the experience; people are accountable for it.
Mike Carter
Founder · EMG
“Entrepreneurs are the athletes of the 21st century.”
Dan Gallagher
Leader
Runs the league and owns the learning experience.
Mike P
Builder
Builds the competition platform and Ben.ai.
Ben Daugherty
Operator
Works with campuses to get their founders into the field.
Dave Taddei
Designer
Connects the product and the technology.
Jake
Promoter
Works the on-campus and digital promotions.
Your idea. Your company. Your choice.
Our mission sets out how we handle ownership, visibility, information, human accountability and transparency.