The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI), located in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, is accepting applications through March 13 for the Spring 2026 Graves Business Plan Competition.
The biannual event provides full-time undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to pitch original business ideas for a chance to win a share of over $20,000 in total awards each semester. Students may compete individually or in teams, delivering a 10-minute, in-person presentation to a panel of expert judges.
The competition features two distinct categories: growth, for startup ideas with large-scale scalability, and lifestyle, for local or smaller-scale ventures.
In each category, the first-place winner will receive $5,000, while second place earns $3,000 and third place receives $2,000. Additionally, the UT Entrepreneurs Club (UTEC) Prize awards $1,000 to the top pitch delivered by a UTEC member. Other specialty prizes may be announced.
The competition is open to all UT students with a business idea or an existing business generating less than $40,000 in annual revenue. Following a review of the online applications, selected finalists will be invited to work with ACEI startup coaches between March 30 and April 9 to refine their presentations for the official pitch day on April 10.
The Graves Business Plan Competition provides UT students real-world experience in launching and scaling startups. Past winners have utilized the funding and mentorship to develop prototypes, bring products to store shelves and advance innovative technologies in fields ranging from data science to water filtration.
Students should visit the competition page for more eligibility information and to submit an application.
About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The ACEI is the front door to entrepreneurship at UT. It connects Volunteers with the expertise, resources and collaborators at UT and across the regional ecosystem to advance ideas, tackle bold challenges, and turn entrepreneurial ambition into results. At the ACEI, Volunteers are empowered to identify opportunities and take bold action to create value through new ventures.
For more information and upcoming events, visit the ACEI event page.
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Author:
Allison Kelly, ACEI director of marketing, akelly9@utk.edu
Contact:
Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu
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