KINGSTON, R.I. – April 15, 2025 – Innovation and entrepreneurship will be on display at the University of Rhode Island Kingston Campus the week of April 21. URI students from across the University will present projects they hope to convert into a commercial product or service.

On Tuesday, April 22, the URI community is invited to attend an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair which will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union, Atriums 1 and 2. URI students who have created a business, or have an idea for one, and are looking to share their product or service with the campus community will be on hand manning booths to talk about their work. The fair will provide students the opportunity to increase exposure for their venture; receive feedback from peers, faculty, and potential investors; connect with other student entrepreneurs; and build a network. Raffles and refreshments will be available to attendees.

On Wednesday, April 23, the University will host two Pitch Night events in the Galanti Lounge on the third floor of the Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons. The Ideation Studio Pitch Night event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge Pitch Night competition from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Both events are open to the public. The two programs are part of the Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships (RISE-UP) initiative, which is funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

“These pitch nights highlight the incredible creativity and problem-solving mindset of URI students and researchers,” said Peter Rumsey, chief business development officer for the URI Research Foundation. “By showcasing their work, we not only celebrate their achievements, but also inspire others to think boldly, innovate, and take action on real-world challenges.”

Each semester and summer, participants in the Ideation Studio work primarily in teams to develop and refine innovative solutions to real-world challenges. A lean startup methodology enables those in the program to minimize product development cycles and rapidly determine if a proposed business model is viable. The teams present their projects to a panel of judges at Pitch Night. The winner will receive $1,500, the runner-up $750, and the third-place finisher will earn $500.

The Ideation Studio is offered by RISE-UP and supported by collaborations with the URI Research Foundation, and RIHub.

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge began in September. This challenge aligned with the theme of URI’s Fall 2024 Honors colloquium “Democracy in Peril,” which focused on the challenges facing democracy.

Students were required to attend at least two colloquium presentations and form interdisciplinary teams of no more than five students to identify a problem, establish a mission, and ideate on ways to make a positive impact.

By the end of the fall semester, teams submitted a one-page problem/mission impact statement for first round judging. Finalists were awarded up to $2,000 to refine and prototype their ideas during the spring semester. Teams then participated in RISE-UP workshops, which included hands-on entrepreneurial training, mentorship, and access to resources enabling them to interact with prospective customers to determine if their product or service will meet a need or solve a problem. Pitch Night’s winning team will receive a cash prize to help launch their idea.

Students, entrepreneurs, and investors are also invited to attend RI-Pitch from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in the auditorium in Swan Hall, 60 Upper College Road. Twelve Rhode Island entrepreneurs of all levels will showcase their ideas in a fast-paced, high-energy competition. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000. While the event is free, registration is recommended.