The Venture Forum

04/08/2026

The 3rd annual WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition, hosted by The Venture Forum, was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who showed up to support local student founders and be part of such an fantastic night of innovation and collaboration.

A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Webster Five, along with our judges, Zachary Dutton, Evan Cox, and Michael Byrnes, for helping make the night possible.

And of course, a well-deserved round of applause to the talented student teams representing Clark University, Holy Cross, Nichols College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Assumption University, and Quinsigamond Community College.

Special thanks to Auxilium Worcester for featuring WooTank as part of Startup Week Worcester, which is happening this week!

04/07/2026

Student founders are taking the stage tonight for the 2026 WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition.

We can’t wait to see you at Off The Rails in Worcester - things kick off today at 5:00pm.

Each founder will be representing their college’s entrepreneurship program, pitching live with real funding on the line.

Spots are limited, but there’s still time to grab yours if you want to experience the energy of this high-stakes competition. Register now: https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF.

And stay tuned later this week, we’ll be sharing who takes home the win.

04/06/2026

Only 24 hours until this year’s WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition!

Student founders from six local colleges will take the stage to pitch for funding in real time.

See you at Off The Rails at 5:00pm!

If you haven't already registered, join the list here before spots run out: https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF

04/03/2026

Meet the “Sharks” behind this year’s WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition 🦈

Zachary Dutton (Auxilium Worcester), Evan Cox (WIRE Group), and Michael Byrnes (MB Corporation) are taking the stage to judge six student startup pitches.

They’re ready to raise the stakes by offering funding in real time to the ideas that stand out most. It’s shaping up to be an exciting night full of innovation and networking!

Mark your calendar: Tuesday, April 7th at 5 PM at Off The Rails in Worcester.

Secure your spot in the audience: https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF

04/02/2026

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)'s i3 Lab hosted an impressive Goat Tank 2026 pitch competition, featuring 12 finalist teams battling it out.

Taking home first place was Braillebox, who will go on to represent WPI at The Venture Forum's WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition on Tuesday, April 7th at 5 PM.

It’s shaping up to be a high-stakes night, with six Worcester-based colleges competing live at Off The Rails.

If you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time: https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF

Missed Goat Tank? Watch the recap here: https://youtu.be/QpzI7OYKmhM?si=Wm_MEqej61nHCl18

Student entrepreneurs from local colleges present their business pitches to a panel of judges and win funding in real time.

03/04/2026

Anything can happen at this year’s WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition.

SIX local colleges are stepping into the tank, and their student-led ventures are bound to make an impression.

Don’t miss the energy, the ideas, or the live reactions.

Join us in the audience on Tuesday, April 7th at Off The Rails in Worcester:
https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF

02/25/2026

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Webster Five, for supporting this year’s WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition.

Central MA’s brightest student entrepreneurs step up to pitch, earn feedback, and compete for funding in real time, on Tuesday, April 7th at Off The Rails in Worcester, MA.

Register now to watch it unfold! Register at: https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF

02/23/2026

WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition is back!

Student entrepreneurs from six local colleges will present their business pitches to a panel of judges and win funding in real time.

Experience some of the biggest ideas emerging from Central Massachusetts’ young startup community, all in one exciting night!

Join us on Tuesday, April 7th from 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM at Off The Rails in Worcester.

Register today: https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF

02/19/2026

Psst… the 3rd Annual WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition is coming up! 👀

📍 Six Worcester-based colleges
🎓 Twelve student entrepreneurs
🗓️ One unforgettable night

More details coming soon!

Be the first to grab your spot in the audience and register here: https://WooTank2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=VF

02/18/2026

WooTank is right around the corner. If you want the latest updates and early details, make sure you’re on our newsletter list.

You’ll get exclusive event information and first access to announcements about the annual WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition.

Join the list here: https://theventureforum.org/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

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02/01/2026

Just 24 hours left to secure one of the final spots in our Founder Workshop Series kicking off February 2nd.

💡 What? Customer Discovery for Startups – a two-part workshop series where hands-on collaboration turns real discoveries into a clear, actionable plan you can actually use.

⏰ When? February 2nd & 25th, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

📍 Where? Auxilium Worcester, 311 Main Street Worcester

Sign-up or learn more here: https://venture-forum-inc.us.hivebrite.com/networks/events/156809

Part 1: Problem Definition & Interview Preparation Calling all early stage tech startup founders in Central Mass. Join us for the first session of our Customer Discovery workshop series, where you'll learn to validate your startup idea before building. In this hands-on workshop, you'll define your t...