Klaus Startup Challenge

About Klaus Startup Challenge

Named in honor of Christopher W. Klaus, the Klaus Startup Challenge is designed for first-time entrepreneurs looking to refine their startup ideas, connect with mentors, and compete for access to funding and additional resources. Participants in the six-week startup challenge will engage in a series of workshops and mentor sessions designed to help them validate their ideas, iterate on customer discovery, and refine their business model, and pitch their startup during a live demo day.

Prize

Klaus Startup Challenge: Winning teams receive $150,000 investment and access to CREATE-X Launch for summer 2025

Rules

Application Deadline: February 3rd (11:59 PM EST).
Eligibility: At least one co-founder must be a current Georgia Tech College of Computing student (BS, MS, or PhD).
Process: Submit the initial online application, participate in mandatory workshops/mentor meetings, and submit a 90-second pitch video to qualify for Demo Day on April 2nd.

Key Benefits

Structured Program: Engage in targeted workshops, expert-led curriculum, OKRs, and strategic mentorship.
Mentorship from Proven Entrepreneurs and Industry Experts: Tap into a network of seasoned operators, founders, and domain specialists to gain feedback on your idea and pitch.
Community of Entrepreneurs: Be part of a thriving community of like-minded entrepreneurs in the College of Computing, all working to solve significant problems. Share insights, collaborate on solutions, and draw inspiration from peers.
Access to Resources: Gain access to resources and perks to help you grow and scale your business beyond the six-week challenge.

Schedule

Week 1: Getting Ready to Build
Week 2: Market Research | Understanding the Landscape
Week 3: Customer Discovery | Defining the Problem
Week 4: Early MVP | Prototyping Quickly
Week 5: Business Model | Designing for Sustainability
Week 6: Founder-Led Sales & Marketing | Building Early Traction
Week 7: Pitch 101 | Crafting a Compelling Narrative
Week 8: Mentorship & Feedback | Refining with Guidance
Week 9: Work Week
Week 10: Work Week
Week 11: Semifinals Showcase
Week 12: Finalists Announced
Week 13: Klaus Startup Challenge Demo Day

Partners

Fusen Team (Partner)

@FusenTeam

FusenWorld

Spencer Banko (Partner)

@Spencer88914

superspencerservices

Tamar Wilkins (Partner)

@Tamar42013