Learn about the Galant Challenge Program
GALANT
CHALLENGE
PROGRAM
Is your venture seeking funding from seed through Series A? Would investors help take your startup to the next level?
Since 2012, the Galant Challenge Program has deployed more than $37 million in seed and early-stage capital to emerging ventures.
Submit a Pitch
Entrepreneurs in the UVA community are invited to submit a pitch to the 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 introduces startups, many of which are founded by UVA community members, to UVA alumni investors.
Eligibility: UVA students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are founders or members of a startup management team, as well as teams introduced by a VC Collective member, are eligible to apply.
Pitch Deadline: The deadline for submitting a pitch was Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Submission Form: Submission requirements outlined in the form should be carefully reviewed and followed. Photos and videos are taken during the Challenge. Proprietary data should not be included in the pitch deck or finalist presentation (if invited).
Save the date! Companies selected for investment will pitch live to an audience of funders, students, and community members at the Galant Challenge Showcase on April 23, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the University of Virginia.
Join the VC Collective
UVA alumni in venture capital are invited and encouraged to join the VC Collective—a growing entrepreneurship ecosystem that connects alumni at VCs to network, share deals, and possibly invest in UVA-affiliated startups competing in the Galant Challenge Showcase.
The 2026 cohort includes representation from 35+ organizations representing more than $2 billion in cumulative capital. The VC Collective is rapidly expanding as we invest in seed‑stage, Series A, and later‑stage companies pursuing new financing.
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 Co-Chair.
Showcase
REGISTER TO ATTEND
Support UVA startups as they pitch live for more than $6M in investment capital at the 14th annual Galant Challenge Showcase.
Refreshments will be provided from 3 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. in Shumway Hall. You are encouraged to arrive early and network!
| Start Time | End Time | Event |
| 2 p.m. | 7 p.m. | Student Venture Demos Explore a gallery of top student startups. Co-sponsored by The Foundry. |
| 2:30 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | Venture Capital Panel Discussion An intimate conversation with investors, for students curious about what funders look for in a pitch and how deals are sourced. |
| 4 p.m. | 6 p.m. | Showcase of Investee Finalists The highlight of the event: UVA-affiliated startups pitch live for up to $6M investment and take questions from potential investors. |
And the finalists are... BUILT Biotechnologies, Buzz Solutions, Hardshell, Niobium, and Terra Kaffe.
The 2026 Galant Challenge Showcase is a featured event of the 14th annual Tom Tom Festival.
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 $37 million in capital raised for finalists since 2012.
Who are the investors?
Led by Mark E. Galant (McIntire '80), the investor reviewer panel changes annually but is typically composed of leading entrepreneurs and investors ready to put real capital into the final ventures selected to pitch. In recent years the panel featured 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.
In 2025, the Galant Challenge raised the stakes. Our first cohort of UVA-connected venture capital funds brought both startups and their capital to the showcase.
Who has been funded in the past?
Each year, dozens of pitches are submitted to the Galant Challenge Showcase, with four to six ventures ultimately selected to pitch to our panel of investors at the UVA McIntire School of Commerce during the live event. Of those, many are selected for funding by one or more investors. In 2025, six finalists received funding in excess of $6 million from investors who attended the showcase.
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. Kindly register to attend.