Backstage

Resources for school teams, reps, and judges.

To access event information for the general public please see our Public Site.

Otherwise access team resources using the menu above starting with the all-important PLAYBOOK.

Key Dates and Timeline

Final Event Dates: 3/26-3/27/2026

TIMELINE

  1. 11/12/2025 Noon Kickoff Meeting for University Reps

  2. 01/21/2026 Wednesday Noon Zoom Info Calls begin to support teams and university reps with questions. Calls are optional office hours and scheduled for 1/21, 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, and 3/25.

  3. 02/06/2026 University faculty representative application must be submitted.

  4. 02/13/2026 University student team representative application must be submitted.

  5. Each University representative works with its student or student team to prepare them for the competition and create content for a 2:15 (2 minutes, 15 seconds) pitch video.

  6. 03/02/2026 Pitch video content must be submitted.

  7. The producers edit and produce pitch videos from the submitted content

  8. 03/20/2026 Final video pitches are published on the ACC InVenture Prize website

  9. Judges review pitch videos.

  10. 03/23/2026 Student teams field questions from judges via zoom (schedule TBA).

  11. 03/25/2026 People’s Choice voting opens at 12:01 AM and runs through the broadcast.

  12. 03/26/2026 Student teams travel to Notre Dame, arriving prior to 12:00 pm.

  13. 03/26-03/27/2026 Students participate in social activities and rehearse at the Downes.

  14. 03/27/2026 Students pitch their venture to the judges and field final judge questions on live TV, and winners are announced.

  15. 03/28/2026 Teams return home.