43North
An annual investment competition in Buffalo, New York. Five startups win US$1 million each for 5% equity, then relocate to Buffalo and join 43North's accelerator programme.
US$1m invested · 5% equity
Status unknown
Pitch competition · Seattle, Washington, United States
Dempsey Startup Competition
A new venture competition run by the University of Washington for student teams from colleges in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia. Four elimination rounds run from April to the May final.
Open · closes 5 Apr 2027 Run by Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, Foster School of Business, University of Washington
Verified 19 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages
Terms
- Funding
- not published The page lists the 2026 prizes: US$25,000 BECU Grand Prize, US$15,000 second place, US$10,000 third place, US$7,500 fourth place, and US$2,500 to US$5,000 category prizes.
- Instrument
- Prize
- Equity taken
- not published
- Programme fee
- not published
- Duration
- not published
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- not published
- Delivery
- In person
- Stages
- Idea, pre-seed
- Sectors
- Sector-agnostic
- Open to founders from
- United States, Canada
- Perks
- not published
The application site opens in late February 2027; entry is a 5-7 page business summary due by 11:59 pm on 5 April 2027. The top 36 go to the Investment Round on 6 May 2027.
Application dates
Open · closes 5 Apr 2027Dempsey Startup 2027
Dempsey Startup 2027: applications close 5 April 2027; the programme starts 27 May 2027.
Who can apply
- At least one full- or part-time degree-seeking student at an accredited college or university in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska or British Columbia
- Annual revenue of no more than US$250,000, counting grants, investment and competition winnings
- Students must hold an ownership stake or the potential for equity or employment
- Only student members based in the region can receive prize money; teams from the Buerk Center accelerator may not apply
- Stage: idea, pre-seed
What founders should check
- The programme does not publish how much equity it takes. Ask before you accept a place.
- It does not publish a fee. Ask whether you pay for desks, services or the programme itself.
- It runs in person in Seattle. Plan to be there for the length of the programme.
- Applications are open until 5 April 2027.
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