Montana State University announced on April 20 the finalists for its 2026 $100K Venture Competition, an annual event hosted by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the MSU Launchpad.
The competition gives entrepreneurs a platform to present their business ideas, receive feedback, and compete for startup funding. It aims to support innovation across various sectors while engaging both the university community and the public.
Finalists will compete on Tuesday, April 21 at 5 p.m. in Inspiration Hall at MSU’s Norm Asbjornson Hall. The event is free and open to everyone. The selected teams are divided into three tracks: Deep Tech/University Based Research, Traditional Venture, and Social Impact. Projects include Barley Bloom’s development of barley-based food ingredients; Beeotics’ product to boost honeybee immunity; Ocka’s personalized student instruction platform; Coincident Systems’ rural healthcare coordination infrastructure; Empress of Ghee’s premium ghee products; indelible.Blob’s real-time image authentication protocol; COPILOT by Big Sky Dynamics’ edge-AI cockpit adviser for pilots; Modulus’ engineered daily carry bags; and TENT’s online marketplace for handcrafted outdoor gear.
Montana State University leads in research funding within Montana with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million, according to the official website. The university also contributes through volunteer efforts, outreach programs, and research aimed at improving lives and environmental conditions according to the official website.
MSU ranks among the top five percent of global universities per the Center for World University Rankings and leads in Montana according to the official website. Enrollment stands at approximately 17,165 students with an even split between residents and nonresidents according to the official website.
As Montana’s land-grant institution focused on research, education, and outreach addressing key challenges—and extending its influence statewide—MSU continues its commitment to fostering innovation through initiatives like this competition according to the official website.