Collegiate Great Brands Competition

Applications for the 2026 competition open in October!

Current students from any college or university with a consumer-focused business are invited to compete in the 2026 Collegiate Great Brands Competition on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Studio 225 (225 W. Broad St.) at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Each student business will bring their ideas, business and/or product for a chance to win total prize money of $25,000.

1st Place
$15,000
2nd Place
$7,000
3rd Place
$3,000

Important Dates

Deadline to Apply:
Friday, February 13, 2026
11:59 p.m. EST

Finalists Announced:
Monday, March 2, 2026
*subject to change*

Competition Day:
Join us on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. at Studio 225 in Athens to see teams pitch their businesses.

Eligibility & Rules

In order to qualify for the event, student teams must meet the following requirements:

  1. Undergraduate and Graduate students only.
    PMBA, EMBA, or PhD team is required to have at least one undergraduate student on the team.
  2. If a member of the team has graduated, they must have graduated within the past three semesters.
  3. Businesses must have less than $2 million in cumulative lifetime sales plus cumulative lifetime third party funding, grants or awards.
  4. Business must be consumer-focused (business to consumer).

Accommodations

Teams are eligible for a maximum travel stipend of up to $1,500, including hotel accommodations.

2025 Winners

Congratulations to our first place winners, Tanvi Gadamsetti and Madhav Aggarwal with BRCĒ from Michigan State University! BRCĒ is made by athletes, for athletes and provides laces that don’t untie.

Second place is Bobica Bars from Rowan University! Bobica Bars are superfood health bars.

Third place is Janey Health from Loyola Marymount University! Janey is heart healthy supplements for cannabis users.

Previous Winners

  • 2024 — ChiChi Foods, Washington University at St. Louis
  • 2023 — Swake, University of Georgia
  • 2022 — Gently Soap, University of Georgia
  • 2021 — Quokka Brew, University of California-Berkeley
  • 2019 — Celise, American University
  • 2018 — Cleancult, Babson College