The NCEA Forbes Cup organizes collegiate entrepreneurship into a season — a bracket-based tournament that gives every student founder a clear path from application to the national championship stage at Forbes on Fifth.
Every venture competes inside its industry bracket — relevant matchups and domain-expert judging from the first qualifier to the national championship. Twelve brackets are organized into four divisions, and every division sends its champion to the Forbes 4.
The software layer — code, data, and the machines that think.
AI & Agentic Systems
For ventures whose product IS the AI — models, agents, and AI infrastructure. If your venture uses AI inside another industry, compete in that industry's bracket.
SaaS, Enterprise & Cyber
B2B software, developer tools, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
Consumer Apps & Marketplaces
Consumer software, social platforms, marketplaces, and e-commerce technology.
Atoms, energy, and biology — the hard problems.
Hard Tech, Space & Mobility
Robotics, aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, and transportation.
ClimateTech & Sustainability
Clean energy, storage, carbon, circular economy, and climate adaptation.
HealthTech & BioTech
Life sciences, biotech, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health.
How people learn, eat, work, and play.
EdTech & Workforce
Learning platforms, upskilling, HR technology, and the future of work.
FoodTech & AgTech
Food and beverage brands and technology, agriculture, and food supply chains.
Sports, Media & Entertainment
Sports tech, fitness, gaming, esports, creator economy, and entertainment.
Money, brands, and community.
FinTech & InsurTech
Payments, banking, investing, insurance, and blockchain applications.
Consumer Products & Retail
Physical products, CPG, fashion, beauty, and direct-to-consumer brands.
Social Impact
Mission-driven for-profit ventures solving social, civic, and community challenges.
The NCEA Forbes Cup runs on a published season calendar — founders always know what's next.
Aug 18 – Dec 4
Applications open August 18. Founders choose their bracket, prepare with Ben and their university programs, and submit by December 4. Apply by November 20 to receive your scored feedback report before winter break.
Dec – Mar
Every application is scored. The Bracket Reveal on January 12 announces the field of 96. Bracket Qualifiers and Bracket Championships run January through early March, crowning twelve Bracket Champions and setting the stage for the Forbes 4.
The Road to Forbes on Fifth · March
The Founders 16 is revealed March 9. The season culminates in the NCEA Forbes Cup Finals at Forbes on Fifth, March 30–31 — Day 1's Division Championships and Day 2's Forbes 4 — the Semifinals and the National Championship.
Apr – Aug
After the championship, ventures keep building. Founders spend the spring and summer accelerating growth, refining the business, expanding traction, and preparing for the next season stronger than before.
A five-stage tournament that narrows the field from every applicant in America to one national champion — with a title on the line at every stage.
The Selection Committee announces the field of 96 — eight seeded ventures in each of the twelve brackets — live. Every applicant, selected or not, receives a scored feedback report on their venture.
Ventures compete head-to-head inside their bracket before domain-expert judges. Eight become four.
Four become one. Twelve Bracket Champions are crowned — the first titles of the season, and automatic bids to the Founders 16.
The twelve Bracket Champions are joined by four at-large selections — the best non-champion in each division, chosen by the Selection Committee.
Day 1: the field narrows to the Forbes 4. Day 2: the Semifinals, then the National Championship — seed capital, the Forbes feature, and the national title, decided live.
The NCEA Forbes Cup isn't just a founder competition — it's a league. Every selection, Bracket Championship, at-large bid, and national title earns points for the founder's school in the national standings. Member universities get free student applications, an internal competition platform to run their own qualifiers, and a shot at Program of the Year.
Join the national championship league for collegiate entrepreneurship and help shape the future of student-led innovation.