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The JUST/Start Idea Competition focuses on inspiring creatives in the MICA community to share their ideas with the world.
This year's virtual competition is open to all currently enrolled MICA students. International students are welcome to participate and receive feedback but are ineligible to receive funding. The idea must include a revenue-generating component to sustain itself.
MICA's 2026 JUST/Start Idea Competition kicks off with a 1-hr virtual information session on Monday, September 14th to guide the creatives from ideation to pitch, followed by workshops to hone in on a strong idea and pitch. Students have 1-week to put together their own pitch with a 1-minute video and application.
NEW THIS YEAR - The top three seed funding awards of $3,000, $1,500, and $750 will be decided on by a judging panel. The MICA Community will vote on a $500 People’s Choice Award. All seed funding recipients will participate in a group launch event in October 2026.
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Must be currently enrolled as a MICA student at the time of application.
Business activities and person involved in the implementation and operation of the winning ideas must comply with all immigration, labor and other laws such as tax law.
International students are welcome to participate and receive feedback but are ineligible to receive funding.
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.
*Applicants who reside in the Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York are highly preferred.
JUST/Start 2026 - Important Dates & Deadlines
Monday, September 14, 2026 | 12-1 PM EST | Applications Open // JUST/Start Info Session from 12-1pm - Register here!
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 12-1 PM EST | Workshop - Ideation to Idea with Paula Landry* via Zoom - Register Here!
Monday, September 21, 2026 | Application closes at 12 PM
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | People's Choice Voting between 9 AM -4 PM
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | Awards Announced
Friday, September 25, 2025 | JUST/Start Intensive 1-4 PM
Questions? Email rcce@mica.edu or set up an appointment to chat.
Contact support@startuptree.co for Application Tech Support
Applications will be submitted with the Start-up Tree platform.
*Applications will not be reviewed if we do not have a record of registration/attendance for these sessions. Please register even if you can't make the live session since the recordings will only be sent to those who register.
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The Intergalactic Dumpster Divers | Elayisa Jiminez-Marty ‘28 (Illustration, BFA) awarded $5,000
From Algae to Art: Sustainable Ceramic Glazes | Alexandra Ozga ‘26 ( Ceramics, BFA) awarded $3,000
DewDrops | Marion Vail ‘27 ( Rinehart School of Sculpture MFA) awarded $1,500
Claw & Crown | Phoenix Shelton ‘28 (General Fina Arts, BFA) awarded $500
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Flying House Arts Collective| Isaac Kim ‘25 (Hoffberger School of Painting, MFA) awarded $3,000
Ayanna Magazine | Brea’ Williams ‘26 ( Photography, BFA) awarded $1,500
Till Golden Ceramics | Arianne Murray ‘25 ( Ceramics, BFA) awarded $500
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We wanted to celebrate all of our applicants for the 2024 JUST/Start Idea competition. Thank you for sharing your ideas; we enjoyed learning about them and hope you’re inspired to keep moving forward!
Wild Thing | Cameron Cook Spring ‘25 (Illustration, BFA)
Vote.ai | Daniel Kuether Sumer ‘26 (Design Leadership, MBA/MA)
Cows on Mars| DeAnna Jennings Spring ‘28 (Animation, BFA)
The Curious Mind Institute | Dominique Reynolds Fall ‘24 (Data Analytics & Visualization, MPS)
Inlay Furniture Studio | Eleanor Koster Spring ‘25 (Fiber, BFA)
Printed Fabrics | Elise Adamson Spring ‘25 (Fiber, BFA)
The MICA Project | James Valentine Spring ‘25 (Illustration, BFA)
Pon- Cooper Pottery | Katherine Pon Cooper Spring ‘25 (Ceramics, BFA)
Artglore | Lorena Garcia Spring ‘26 (Community Arts, MFA)
Paper Place | Myles Garner Spring ‘26 (Illustration, BFA)
Kassette Dolls | Sawyer Carlson Spring ‘28 (Illustration, BFA)
Shae Studios| Shae Harris Spring ‘28 ( undeclared, BFA)
Hair Accessories| Sirui Wu Spring ‘27 (General Fine Arts, BFA)
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Sustainable Shoes| Lory Charles ‘25 (Product Design BFA), awarded $3,000
Pineapple Eyes | Richard Soben ‘23 (Illustration BFA), awarded $1,500
Netal | Ashley Boh ‘25 (General Fine Arts BFA) awarded $500
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We wanted to celebrate all of our applicants for the 2023 JUST/Start Idea competition. Thank you for sharing your ideas; we enjoyed learning about them and hope you’re inspired to keep moving forward!
ArtScape | Angie Marioni Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
YTS | Bobby Hill Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
Miindful | Brylle Mavrick '24 ( User Experience Design, MPS)
Cultivate | Carrie Snowden '27 (Graphic Design, BFA)
Whew | Chaeyoung Park Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
Elina Press & Bindery | Elina Press ' 24 ( Printmaking, BFA)
DwellSure | Isabel Solis Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
Waterless Car Wash | Jorge Silva Fall'23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
Tarot for Work | Krittika Mittal ' 25 (Illustration Practice, MFA)
Your Exercise App | Laura Phelps Rogers Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
Madalelly | Madeleine Maule ' 25 (Illustration, BFA)
Women in Sports Platform | Miranda Berg Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
Bangala Alphabet Book | Munjila Mojlish '27 (Animation, BFA)
The Golem | Rachel Glen '27 (Illustration, BFA)
Budgeting App for People with ADHD | Raeanne Nuzzo- Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
Community Cultural Exchange Platform | Régine Carreras Fall '23 (User Experience Design, MPS)
The Art of Textile | Robert Stephenson- Fall' 24 (The Business of Art & Design, MPS)
Capable Magazine | Shelli Hoppe- Summer '24 (User Experience Design, MPS)
'O'Moon' | Xiaoyan Xue '27 (Illustration, BFA)
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Meet me by the waters | Oreoluwa Akinyode ’25 (Photography BFA), awarded $3,000
DUST | Justin Remo ’24 (Printmaking BFA), awarded $1,500
Maru | Allison Hao ’23 (Graphic Design & Humanistic Studies Graphic Design BFA), awarded $500
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We wanted to celebrate all of our applicants in the kick-off year of the JUST/Start Idea competition, so this year only, every applicant will receive $100 for their participation. Congratulations to all our applicants!
Family | Pooja Venkatachalam Kumar ’24 (Illustration Practice MFA)
eSprouts | Ellis Edwards ’22 (BFA Animation)
BLISTR | Skye Lim 26’ (Product Design BFA)
Preserv | Shannon O’Brennan ’22 (User Experience Design MPS)ORA | Elana Wallach ’23 (Fiber BFA)
YRD | Thomas Cudjoe ’23 (Social Design MA)
Baldridge Studio | Natalie Bates ’22 (Business of Art & Design MPS)
Chimera | Angela McQuillan ’22 (Business of Art & Design MPS)
Visionary Creatives Brand Agency | Doretta Green ’23 (Business of Art & Design MPS)
Inégalé | Marley Lake ’23 (Business of Art & Design MPS)
B Channel | Pearson Chambers ’23 (Business of Art & Design MPS)
Yappy Photo | Hyo Jung Choi ’26 (Graphic Design BFA)
Kanaan Jefferson | Kanaan Jefferson ’26 (Animation BFA)