Upcoming Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events
PROVOST'S PROOF OF CONCEPT FUND
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 today.
Open Medical Innovation Challenge (Open MIC Night)
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 & Wednesday, April 7, 2027
Open Medical Innovation Challenge (OPEN MIC) night is a partnership between The Tulane University Innovation Institute and Tulane’s School of Medicine, John W. Deming Department of Medicine. We seek applicants with innovative ideas for addressing various human health and wellness challenges twice a year. After submitting an idea, the Innovation Institute will review the applications. Applicants will be able to present and practice their pitches with the Innovation Institute team. Ten finalists will be selected from this semi-final round to pitch their early-stage ideas at the Open MIC Night event.
Event attendance is open to the entire community!
Open Season 2026
Tuesday, September 15
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, create a wearable technology design prototype that shows you music festival lineups in real-time, 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 prize money and mentorship from the Tulane Innovation Institute.
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.
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.
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.
