Build all season. Compete for $575,000.

The Ohio Founders League is America's first statewide collegiate entrepreneurship league. Register your venture once, report your real progress every week, climb five verified stages, and the best ventures compete in March and May. No equity, ever. No fees.

How a season works

Register in about ten minutes. Your answers place you at a stage, 0 (idea) to 4 (scaling). You are ranked against ventures that started where you did.
Report. Nine numbers and your revenue, five minutes. Post any time now; weekly from January 15, 2027.
Climb. Each stage has challenges and a Final Challenge with one piece of proof, verified by a League official. Clear it and the stage is credited in full.
Compete. League play opens January 15. Campus leads nominate by February 26; 12 per region advance to the Regional Championships in March.

Who is eligible

Any undergraduate or graduate student at a founding university
Graduates within one year, if the venture was founded while enrolled
Student-founded and student-led, majority student ownership
Any venture type except life sciences, for Season I
Any stage: an idea competes against ideas

What you get

A statewide stage and a real shot at the prize
A League mentor for every Regional Championship venture
A verified record of progress investors can trust
Scouts across Ohio backing you, and intros to the ones who can help

SEASON I · 2026–27 · UNDERWAY SINCE SEPT 29

WE ARE HERE · CAMPUS ACTIVATION PHASE

Sept 29, 2026Season opens

Oct 1, 2026Campus Activation Phase

Jan 15, 2027Season One League begins

Feb 26, 2027Regional nominations close

Mar 9 to 11, 2027Regional Championships

Mar 14, 2027Selection Sunday

May 5, 2027Scores frozen

May 19, 2027State Championship

ohiofoundersleague.org/venture/register

The founder guide, a five-minute walkthrough, and the Score Sandbox are at ohiofoundersleague.org/learn/founders. The earlier you register and the more weeks you report, the stronger your case for nomination.

Scan to register

ohiofoundersleague.org · Season I · 2026–27Founders League Institute · kevin@ohiofoundersleague.org