Upcoming
EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check back at the start of the Spring 2026 semester for updates on our upcoming events...
September Startup Coffee Connect
9.9.2025 | 10 - 11:30 AM | RRH Atrium
Join the McCombs Entrepreneurship Units for Startup Coffee Connect, a casual networking event for entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers!
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event is the ideal opportunity to network, share experiences, and find potential collaborators for your next big venture. With a relaxed atmosphere and a diverse group of attendees, you'll have the chance to make meaningful connections and expand your professional network. Come pitch ideas to other founders, learn what’s happening in the UT startup scene, and connect with other ambitious minds over a complimentary coffee bar and FREE breakfast tacos!
Intro to the UT/Austin Startup Ecosystem Tradeshow
9.17.2025 | 3 - 6 PM | WCP 2nd Floor Ballroom
Come immerse yourself in the Austin startup scene at the 10th annual Intro to the UT/Austin Startup Ecosystem Tradeshow!
Hosted by the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center, the Startup Ecosystem Tradeshow is your gateway to exploring the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape of both the university and the city of Austin. This exciting event brings together a wide array of campus and city-wide initiatives, all dedicated to empowering young founders and innovators. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with experienced mentors, discover invaluable resources, and network with like-minded peers. Partnered entrepreneurial groups will host tables, offering insights, guidance, and support to help you turn your ideas into reality. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the dynamic world of startups and take the first step towards your entrepreneurial journey!
April Startup Coffee Connect
4.8.2026 | 10 AM - 11:30 AM | Kendra Scott Center
Join the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center and the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute for Startup Coffee Connect, a casual networking event for entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers!
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event is the ideal opportunity to network, share experiences, and find potential collaborators for your next big venture. With a relaxed atmosphere and a diverse group of attendees, you'll have the chance to make meaningful connections and expand your professional network. Come pitch ideas to other founders, learn what’s happening in the UT startup scene, and connect with other ambitious minds over a complimentary coffee bar and FREE breakfast tacos!
Forty Acres Founders Pitch Competition
4.23.2026 | 2 PM - 6 PM | Crum Auditorium
Four Top Student Startups Take the Stage to Pitch for $20,000 in Funding!
The Forty Acres Founders Program is a semester long practicum offered by the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center designed to help student founders establish product-market fit for their ideas and launch businesses from a position of strength, increasing the number of successful and scalable businesses launched from The University of Texas at Austin.
After an intense semester of honing their concepts, founders submit their pitch to earn a spot in the Forty Acres Founders Pitch Competition to compete for $20,000 in grant funding. During the competition, students have the opportunity to hone their business strategy, get professional feedback on their pitches, and form lasting relationships with mentors in the Texas entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Freed Family Pitch Competition Finals
10.30.2025 | 3PM - 7PM | Crum Auditorium
Join us to watch student founders take to the stage for a night of game-changing ideas and winning big!
This competition is all about shaking up the game, pushing boundaries, and never settling. Come see if the next generation of industry leaders have what it takes to break the mold.
The Freed Family Pitch Competition is UT Austin's largest and most prestigious undergraduate pitch competition. Hosted by the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center, this event offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for experiential learning, where student teams can pitch their startups in a high-stakes environment, competing for $65k in cash and prizes.
October Startup Coffee Connect
10.9.2024 | 10 - 11:30 AM | CBA 3.304
Join the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center and the Global Sustainability Leadership Institute for Startup Coffee Connect, a casual networking event for entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers!
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event is the ideal opportunity to network, share experiences, and find potential collaborators for your next big venture. With a relaxed atmosphere and a diverse group of attendees, you'll have the chance to make meaningful connections and expand your professional network. Come pitch ideas to other founders, learn what’s happening in the UT startup scene, and connect with other ambitious minds over a complimentary coffee bar and FREE breakfast tacos!
Freed Family Pitch Competition Finals 2024
10.17.2024 | 3 - 7 PM | Crum Auditorium
The Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center invites you to join us for the Freed Family Pitch Competition Finals 2024!
The Freed Family Pitch Competition (FFPC) is an annual competitive funding opportunity for undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Austin. The FFPC is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for fully immersive learning – and a chance for student teams to walk away with some serious cash.
This pitch competition is all about never settling, pushing boundaries and testing new ideas. Come see if the next generation of industry leaders have what it takes to break the mold!
Freed Family Pitch Competition Finals 2024
10.17.2024 | 3 - 7 PM | Crum Auditorium
The Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center invites you to join us for the Freed Family Pitch Competition Finals 2024!
The Freed Family Pitch Competition (FFPC) is an annual competitive funding opportunity for undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Austin. The FFPC is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for fully immersive learning – and a chance for student teams to walk away with some serious cash.
This pitch competition is all about never settling, pushing boundaries and testing new ideas. Come see if the next generation of industry leaders have what it takes to break the mold!
November Startup Coffee Connect
11.6.2024 | 10 - 11:30 AM | CBA 6.428
Join the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center and PARTNER for Startup Coffee Connect, a casual networking event for entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers!
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event is the ideal opportunity to network, share experiences, and find potential collaborators for your next big venture. With a relaxed atmosphere and a diverse group of attendees, you'll have the chance to make meaningful connections and expand your professional network. Come pitch ideas to other founders, learn what’s happening in the UT startup scene, and connect with other ambitious minds over a complimentary coffee bar and FREE breakfast tacos!