West Michigan’s Premier
Pitch Competition
for Student Entrepreneurs
Presented by
CURRENT WMU STUDENTS
Do you think you have what it takes to win thousands of dollars toward your business?
Cultivate 269® is bringing a whole new energy to Western Michigan University.
A high-impact pitch competition built to find the boldest student founders who are ready to take their ideas from
campus, to community, to the world.
This is your shot.
In Year One, nearly $100,000 in non-dilutive capital was awarded to student founders to launch, scale, and bring their world-changing businesses to life—without giving up a single percentage of ownership.
Year Two Is Coming
Submissions for Year Two open October 2026. Campus-wide voting begins December 2026, leading to our live finals on April 8, 2027. Get your ideas ready.
The Path to the Stage
When submissions open in October, submit your concept, prototype, or scalable for-profit idea. Nine finalists will be selected to receive high-level pitch coaching and preparation before stepping onto the big stage.
This is where big ideas stop living in notebooks and start moving into the marketplace.
Relive Year One: 2026 Pitch Competition
The stage was set.
The energy was electric.
Our inaugural event brought together nearly 500 attendees, drawing investors, community leaders, and champions of innovation from across the Midwest.
Making History in Michigan’s Business Ecosystem
Watch the Year One highlights and see what Cultivate 269® is all about.
Subscribe to our mailing list so you can be the first to hear updates as we look toward 2027!
© 2026 Cultivate 269®. A partnership between Kalamazoo Forward Ventures and Western Michigan University.
*269 is a registered trademark of Discover Kalamazoo.