Any class of 2025 or 2026 MICA undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni of degree programs are eligible to participate. Please refer to the Eligibility and Criteria document for additional information.

If you are enrolled in a MICA degree program, are starting a business in the DC, Maryland, Virginia region, and are able to participate in in-person cohort sessions and events, you are welcome to apply. The accelerator will have both in person and virtual components - some sessions will be online and some in person at MICA's campus in Baltimore.

The UP/Start Venture Competition is only open to US permanent residents and citizens at this time. While international students are not eligible to receive funding, you can participate in Round 1 to receive feedback.

If you’re interested in developing entrepreneurial skills to support your creative career or would like to discuss an entrepreneurial idea that you’d like to explore in the future, feel free to set up a meeting with Aishwariya Chandrasekar, RCCE Associate Director here. If you’d like to learn more about other RCCE offerings, please reach out rcce@mica.edu.

This competition is open to MICA students/alumni only. The team lead must be a 2025/2026 MICA student or alum and meet the competition eligibility, but ventures may include non-MICA team members.

No, you can be in the ideation phase or be operational.

All businesses and ideas are welcome to compete and will be judged on their individual merit.

Only for profit businesses/ideas are eligible to advance and compete for funding. Nonprofits are welcome to participate in Round 1 to receive judges’ feedback.

No, the 15 participants selected by the judges for the Round 1 (‘Pop Up and Pitch’) on November 11, 2025 must participate in order to qualify for Round 2 and compete for up to $100k in funding.

No, however, events and programs will provide valuable information and advice from guest speakers that may be helpful as you develop your business idea.

Yes. Only previous winners awarded funding are ineligible to compete again.

No, you can compete solo or as a team with as many team members as you’d like. The team lead must meet the competition eligibility and be active and equal in the project.

The RCCE will award $100k total in funding, courtesy of the Ratcliffe Foundation, to divide between winning teams as scored by a panel of judges. Round 1 and 2 also include prizes of $500 and $5000, respectively, to the People's Choice Awards.

The top 10 teams selected by a panel of judges will advance from Round 1 and compete for a portion of $100k in funding. Non-qualifying teams will still receive Round 1 feedback from judges so they can refine their business ideas.

No, there is no fee to apply. The application consists of approximately 30 questions to complete and a 2 minute video pitch, which are part of the scoring process by the judges.

Online applications will be submitted via Startup Tree.

All participants will receive personalized feedback on their business/idea from local successful entrepreneurs and industry experts. This is a free, unique opportunity for MICA students and alumni to launch their ideas with the opportunity to win a portion of $100k in funding.

Additional resources can be found online on the RCCE Resources page

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. ​

The 2025/26 competition will have both in person and virtual components. Finalists will be required to participate in both in-person and online sessions, including both rounds of the competition, weekly cohort meetings, and mentor meetings.