GALANT
CHALLENGE
PROGRAM
Since 2012, the Showcase has helped entrepreneurs raise more than $55 million, making it one of the largest collegiate funding events in the country.
Submit a Pitch
Each fall, entrepreneurs from the UVA community are invited to submit a pitch to the annual Galant Challenge Showcase—the premier startup exhibition at the UVA McIntire School of Commerce and the capstone event of the Galant Challenge Program. The Showcase connects startups, many founded by UVA community members, with UVA alumni investors.
Eligibility: UVA students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are founders or members of a startup management team that is seeking seed through Series A funding, as well as teams introduced by a VC Collective member, are eligible to apply.
Pitch Deadline: The deadline for submitting a pitch is Dec. 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15, so applying early is a good idea. Finalists will be announced by early February.
Firms selected for investment will pitch live to an audience of funders, students, and community members at the Galant Challenge Showcase on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2027, at the University of Virginia. Please save the date.
Join the VC Collective
UVA alumni in venture capital are invited and encouraged to join the VC Collective—a growing network that connects alumni at VCs to share deals and learn about UVA-affiliated startups.
If you are a UVA alum in venture capital and would like to get involved, connect with other alumni, and gain visibility into startups competing in the Galant Challenge, contact David Zusman (McIntire '97), VC Collective Chair.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Galant Challenge Showcase?
The Galant Challenge Showcase is a premier startup showcase held annually at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce to expose startups founded by UVA community members (students, alumni, faculty, and staff) to potential investors. The Galant Challenge Program has resulted in more than $55 million in capital raised for finalists since 2012.
Who are the investors?
Investors change annually and include members of the VC Collective. In recent years investors have included Paul Tudor Jones (A&S '76) of Tudor Investment Corporation; Baiju Bhatt, Co-Founder of Robinhood; John Griffin (McIntire '85) of Blue Ridge Capital; and Ralph Sampson (A&S '83) of The Sampson Group, among others.
Who has been funded in the past?
Recent investments include:
| Year | Company | Year | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | BUILT Biotechnologies | 2024 | Crunchy Hydration |
| 2026 | Buzz Solutions | 2024 | FuzeMee |
| 2026 | Hardshell | 2024 | Devorto |
| 2026 | Terra Kaffe | 2023 | Spark Car Wash |
| 2025 | Buzz Solutions | 2023 | College Contact |
| 2025 | Chordia | 2023 | Ask Alex (Tallee) |
| 2025 | Coral Innovations | 2023 | Luminoah |
| 2025 | PS Fertility | 2022 | Astraea |
| 2025 | Vendera | 2022 | ARtGlass |
| 2025 | Apis Cor | 2022 | Cerillo |
| 2024 | Acre Homes | 2022 | Navy Hill |
Check out the Past Events section below for recaps of each year's Challenge, with details about the companies and investments that resulted.
Can anyone attend the Showcase?
The Galant Challenge Showcase is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. The Showcase will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2027, in the late afternoon.
Save the date! If you are interested in attending, sign up and we'll send you an invitation in January.
Sponsor
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a global law firm focused on serving technology and life sciences companies, especially startups and their investors, across transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation. Wilson Sonsini provides legal support to our finalists.
Scenes from the 2026 Galant Challenge Showcase
