The UP/Start Competition provides over $105,000 in award funding every year.
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UP/Start is an initiative of The Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship, focused on incubating and building creative business ventures within the MICA community. Working with industry partners, UP/Start provides mentorship and capital to help nurture ideas into sustainable businesses.
The 2025 UP/Start Venture Competition is only open to MICA Class of 2024 and 2025 students/alumni.
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MICA's UP/Start Venture Competition 2025 begins with Round 1! Round 1 applications will be due on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 12pm.
A panel of judges will review Round 1 online applications and select 15 applicants to participate in a 'Pop Up and Pitch' on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
The top 8 ideas will then advance to the next round of competition and compete for $105,000 in funding!
Important Dates & Deadlines 2024-2025
2025 UP/Start Venture Competition
Thursday, October 3, 2024 | Virtual UP/Start Info Session - Recording & Slides
Wednesdays, October 9-30, 2024, 7-8pm | Creative Entrepreneurship Virtual Bootcamp with Paula Landry (Attendance or recording review required for application!) - Link to Register
Thursday, October 17, 7-8pm | Leveraging Capital for your Creative Venture with Roland Meerdter (Attendance or recording review required for application!) - Link to register
Friday, November 1, 2024 | UP/Start Round 1 applications due by 12PM
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 | Round 1 People's Choice Voting begins & Top 15 teams announced for Pop-up & Pitch
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 | Round 1 Pop Up and Pitch // Top 15 teams based on judges scores will meet the judges and participate in Pop-up & Pitch
Monday, November 18, 2024 | Top 8 teams & Round 1 People’s Choice Winner announced
Monday, December 2, 2024 // 7-8:30PM | UP/Start Fellows Onboarding
Friday, March 14, 2025 // 4-6:30PM | MICA/IMET Pitch & Mix
Friday, April 4, 2025 // 6-8PM | UP/Start Finale
The 2025 UP/Start competition will be open to MICA Classes of 2024 (alumni) & 2025
(Undergraduate seniors, students in one year programs and second year MFA students)
Questions about your application or business idea? Join us for a drop in session:
Drop in session - Wednesday, October 23rd, 12-1pm
Drop in session - Monday, October 28th, 12-1pm
Drop in session - Monday, October 28th, 6-7pm
Want to level up your knowledge and pitch before applying?
Check out the Professional Development series document to learn from industry experts, including a talk on the Art of Pitching (required for application submission!).
Explore Creative Study and Stylus, which are platforms that provide educational modules and trend forecasting. Reach out to rcce@mica.edu if you have questions about setting up a Creative Study Account or accessing Stylus.
Contact rcce@mica.edu if you have any questions!
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The UP/Start Venture Competition, an initiative of The Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship, focuses on incubating and building creative business ventures within the MICA community. Working with industry partners, UP/Start provides mentorship and capital to help nurture ideas into sustainable businesses. This year's competition is only open to MICA Class of 2024 and 2025 students/alumni.
MICA's UP/Start Venture Competition 2025 begins with Round 1! A panel of judges will review Round 1 online applications and select 15 applicants to participate in a 'Pop Up and Pitch' on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. The top 8 ideas will then advance to the next round of competition and compete for $105,000 in funding!
Please review the full eligibility & criteria before applying.
*Awards payments are subject to U.S. and state income tax laws, and the payment of the award may be tax reportable. Grant recipients are responsible for reporting stipend payments to the proper taxing authorities, and are liable for any tax payments that may be due.
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More than $900,000 in Start Up Funding Awarded to our Student Ventures!
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JESS JESS PRESS // Jessica Lipinsky ‘23 (Illustration BFA), Jess Linn ‘23 (Graphic Design Printmaking BFA) - $35,000 + $5,000 People's Choice Award
Deadbeat Devil // Luka Shanahan ‘24 (General Fine Arts BFA) - $25,000
DUST // Justin Remo ‘24 (Printmaking BFA) - $20,000
Vers // Jantzen Nolan ‘24 (Fiber BFA) - $10,000
Plexo // Anthony Culp ‘23 (Product Design BFA) - $10,000
Finalists:
AOT Labs // Robert Stephenson ‘25 (The Business of Art & Design MPS)
SharingCare // Banu Akman & Deb McCabe ‘23 (User Experience Design MPS)
Strawbwycake Game // Cloudy Muscolino ‘24 (Illustration BFA)
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ORA The Brand ($30,000) // Elana Wallach ‘23 (Fiber BFA)
Chimaera Gallery ($20,000) //Angela McQuillan ‘22 (Business of Art & Design, Entrepreneurship MPS)
Baldridge Studios ($20,000) // Natalie Baldridge ‘22 Business of Art & Design, Entrepreneurship MPS), Addison Baldridge
Oopsduck ($6,000) // Gabriel Chez ‘22 (Interactive Art BFA), Chloe Azcuy ‘24 (Interactive Arts BFA), Alex Rosales ‘24 (Graphic Design BFA)
Endless Dolls ($6,000) // Kendra Bray ‘23 (Business of Art & Design, Entrepreneurship MPS)
Darling City ($6,000) // Laura Akromas ‘23 (Business of Art & Design, Entrepreneurship MPS)
Nocrastination ($6,000) // Natasha Fray ‘23 (Design Leadership MA/MBA)
e-Sprouts ($6,000) // Ellis Edwards ‘22 (Animation BFA)
People’s Choice Award
Oopsduck ($5,000) // Gabriel Chez ‘22 (Interactive Art BFA), Chloe Azcuy ‘24 (Interactive Arts BFA), Alex Rosales ‘24 (Graphic Design BFA)
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View 2022 Winners Profiles Here
Seed Funding Awarded To:
Blvck Door ($40,000) // Iman Carr ’22 (Design Leadership MA/MBA) and Shakeel Alexander
Compressent Co. ($30,000) // Herschel Ruben ’21 (Product Design BFA)
Convo ($15,000) // Emma Koramshahi ’22 (Design Leadership MA/MBA) and Julia Breskin ’22 (Design Leadership MA/MBA)
‘Knock the Block’ ($12,000) // Book Karnjanakit ’21 (Illustration Practice MFA)
People's Choice Award
Pharma-D ($5,000) // Kristen Karlovich ’21 (Product Design BFA)
Other UP/Start Finalists Include:
Mira // Jana Thompson ’21 (UX Design MPS)
Core Immersive Labs // Paolo Narciso ’22 (Data Analytics & Visualization MPS)
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View 2021 Winners Profiles Here
Seed Funding Awarded To:
TamPal ($35,000) // Erica Duffy ‘21 (MBA/MA Design Leadership)
Reside Burials ($25,000) // Carrie Carter ‘20 (BFA Product Design)
Garden Party Press ($20,000) // Chelsea Conrad ‘20 (MA Illustration)
Anchovy Press ($14,100) // Rebecca Marimutu ‘20 (MFA Photography & Electronic Media), Priyanka Kumar ‘20 (MFA Illustration Practice)
Dexter Design Co. ($8,900) // Christian Dexter ‘20 (BFA Graphic Design & Printmaking)
Confetti Collection Co. ($2,000) // Charlene Etienne ‘ 21 (MPS Data Analytics & Visualization)
Other UP/Start Finalists Include:
Le Boi // Yuze Le ‘21 (MBA/MA Design Leadership)
Foraday Inc. // Sean Duffy ‘20 (MPS User Experience Design), Stephanie Petagno ‘02 (BFA General Sculpture Studies), Amber LaRosa
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View 2020 Winners Profiles Here
Seed Funding Awarded To:
Makers for Humankind ($29,750) // Mikea Hugley ’19 (Graphic Design BFA)
Small Island Clothing ($29,000) // Sara Stanton ’19 (Business of Art & Design MPS)
Hadassah Dowuona ($15,000) // Hadassah Dowuona ’20 (Fiber BFA)
Pura ($11,250) // Claire Chuff ’20 (Product Design & Graphic Design BFA)
Photo Story Workshop ($10,000) // Heidi Good Boncana ’20 (Social Design MA)
STITCH AND DESTROY ($5,000) // Haven DeAnglis ’20 (Fiber BFA)
Other UP/Start Finalists Include:
Blackives // Deyane Moses ’19 ’21 (Photography BFA and Curatorial Practice MFA)
M Strickland Design // M Strickland ’19 (Social Design MA)
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