Upcoming Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events
Explore upcoming competitions, workshops, networking events and educational programs hosted by the Tulane Innovation Institute.
CancerConnect
Focus Louisiana
Tuesday, August 25
4-6 pm
Louisiana Cancer Research Center
1700 Tulane Ave.
The Tulane Innovation Institute and the Tulane Cancer Center are partnering to host a Faculty Innovation Mixer, aiming Tulane's translational expertise at Louisiana's cancer problems. Light food and beverages will be served.
Open Season 2026
Tuesday, September 15
5-8 pm
The Josephine
2400 Napoleon Ave.
We are hunting for the next BIG idea in New Orleans! Do you have an invention to make sno-balls faster, fill potholes to stay fixed forever, or even a quick test that tells you if seafood is safe to eat? We are looking for bold and bright ideas for this fast and fun business pitch competition. Start thinking about your innovation, and you can compete to win $3,000 to seed your business. Apply to pitch by August 17, 2026. This event will also serve as an innovation meet-and-greet, connecting Tulanians with the New Orleans entrepreneurial ecosystem. All are welcome.
SBIR/ STTR Info Session
with InteliSpark
Wednesday, September 23
12-1:30 pm
The Tulane Innovation Institute and Intelispark will offer a 90-minute SBIR/STTR informational webinar once per semester. SBIR and STTR funding provides a pathway to move promising discoveries beyond the laboratory while supporting company formation, technology development, and commercialization.
Startup Sprint Bootcamp
September 25, 2026
9 am-3 pm
Tulane Law School
6329 Freret St.
This entrepreneurial bootcamp is open to early- and late-stage founders to help build the foundation for their idea and move toward investor readiness. Hear from expert speakers and take away tools and actionable steps to create a successful venture. This event is free and open to anyone in the greater New Orleans community seeking additional support for their idea or startup.
Provost's Proof of Concept Fund
Fall application cycle is now open
The Tulane Innovation Institute's Provost’s Proof of Concept (PPOC) Fund awards grants of up to $50,000 to help advance promising ideas and technologies to become market-ready. Tulane community members (faculty, staff, trainees/students) can apply. Apply by August 28, 2026.
Open Medical Innovation Challenge (MIC) Night
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Wednesday, April 7, 2027
Open Medical Innovation Challenge (MIC) Night is a partnership between The Tulane Innovation Institute and Tulane’s School of Medicine, John W. Deming Department of Medicine. We seek applicants from the entire Tulane community with innovative ideas for addressing various human health and wellness challenges to pitch on stage at this exciting event. Applications open August 17, 2026. Event attendance is open to the entire community!
IP & Innovation Workshop Series
Join the Office of Intellectual Property Management and the Tulane Innovation Institute for an intellectual property (IP) education workshop series, emphasizing practical knowledge, interactive learning, and meaningful engagement. Open to faculty, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and senior graduate students from all Tulane campuses and schools.
Tulane Innovation Day 2027
featuring $50K Demo Day and the
Green Wave Innovation Network Mentor Awards
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
Wednesday, March 10, 2027
Tulane Innovation Day, presented by the Tulane Innovation Institute in partnership with the Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking, is part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
This free event on March 10, 2027, is open to the entire community and will feature inspiring speakers, panel discussions, and competitions showcasing innovative ideas and successful entrepreneurs. Attendees can expect practical advice on starting ventures and insights into investment opportunities within New Orleans' startup ecosystem.
Tulane Research Innovation and Creativity Summit
April 7-9, 2027
Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse
A cross-disciplinary showcase of research, innovation—in 2026, the two-day event drew students, faculty, industry professionals and community members for poster sessions and lightning talks spanning a wide range of fields. More than 300 poster submissions represented nearly every academic discipline at Tulane, with researchers on hand throughout the summit to discuss their work directly with registered attendees. The event encouraged conversation and the exchange of ideas across fields, highlighting the breadth of research at the university. Stay tuned for announcements on the 2027 event.
Entrepreneur Faculty Development Course (RE)Design Summer Institute
May 10-14, 2027
Faculty from across the university will engage in hands-on sessions exploring entrepreneurship frameworks, pedagogical strategies and practical tools for direct classroom use. The program emphasizes translating entrepreneurial thinking into cross-disciplinary course design, focusing on developing entrepreneurial mindsets, leveraging ecosystems to support student success, and creating engaging, impactful syllabi. Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend for successfully (re)designing a syllabus for a course offered in the 2027-2028 academic year.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Webinars
Online | Free
Join expert guests who will discuss concepts ranging from startup marketing, business legal structure, IP protection, and fundraising. These free educational sessions are open to everyone, providing a great opportunity to meet individuals at Tulane and New Orleans who are also interested in innovation.
