The Dempsey Startup Competition, run by the University of Washington’s Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business, celebrates the entrepreneurship community. This is what’s at the heart of it all.
Each year, organizers, volunteers, sponsors and judges provide mentorship and the opportunity for bright students to showcase their big ideas.
The annual competition starts with more than 100 teams each April in the initial Screening Round (a number that grows every year) and gradually reduces to the final top round over many months. From the Investment Round (Top 36), the Sweet Sixteen, and the Final Four, students have the chance to share their passion, personality, and grit with experienced judges.
For me, it’s not just about getting down to the final winner. Every single team that enters is a winner. They have dreamed up a business idea, put together a business plan, and prepared a pitch. This takes hard work and a great idea. Through the competition, they earn feedback from experts in entrepreneurship, investing, and startups, giving them the chance to go forth and improve.
The competition has my name, so the connection might seem pretty obvious. But that wasn’t always the case, and I’d like to take this opportunity to share some background and boast just how incredible and impactful this competition is.
I’m a proud University of Washington alumni, so I’m always searching for ways to give back to this exemplary institution. As someone who invests in entrepreneurs by trade, a startup competition was a unique fit.
It goes deeper than that for me, though. Many years ago, I tried my hand at entrepreneurship—not once, not twice, but three times. To keep a long story short, the first two ventures were failures, and the third was a mild success. That’s when someone took a chance on me and steered me towards picking the entrepreneurs, not being the entrepreneur.
So, when I tell founders “Believe me, I’ve been in your shoes,” I mean it. I understand the unbelievable value of an opportunity like the Dempsey Startup Competition. Through this competition—which began 28 years ago as the UW Business Plan Competition—you have the opportunity to share your idea, perfect your pitch, and receive feedback from experts without any of the consequences of the real world. You get the chance to try, fail, and learn from it. I think that’s worth more than an easy win.
So, after decades of being engaged with UW and the Foster School’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, I reached out to the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship to pledge my support at the highest level I can for this event. Now I’m proud to get an invite to this incredible series of events each year. I’ve happily participated as a mentor, judge and sponsor. Last year, I was invited to join the Sweet Sixteen round and help bring it down to the Final Four. What an honor.
Neal’s 2024 competition speech video
The Dempsey Startup Competition would not be possible without its judges, mentors, sponsors and advisors. Each year, hundreds of generous people share their time and expertise. Of those, a few share their budgets for philanthropy or social impact as critical supporters who don’t just get to hand out prizes, but engage with these young innovative minds.
"When we connect with representatives from a high-impact company in our region, we feel how excited they are to get involved," said Amy Sallin, director of the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship. "It's not just about supporting one of the premier educational institutions in the world, it's about empowering the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs—some of which may work for them and innovate from within down the road."
For some, this is a chance to pass on an experience they fondly remember. For others, it’s a way to support an opportunity they wish they’d had. Some share business cards with bright individuals they’d like to connect with following the event.
"We also hear that this is one of the biggest networking opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders in the greater Seattle area," says Amy. "Yes, they get to check in on where the student pulse is at with innovation, but also these judges and sponsors get to touch base with each other, form or renew connections, and even talk about future opportunities."
As Amy said, mentors, judges and sponsors can feel the energy in the room. They get to meet with up-and-coming entrepreneurs, check in with their community, and support a fantastic event.
“We help student-founded startups from around the Pacific Northwest in everything from hardware to consumer products get off the ground. Over a decade later it is crazy to think about the hundreds of companies that have come through the program and the impact they have made in industries as diverse as you can imagine”
— Dempsey Startup Competition Judge and Accelerator Mentor
"We've been a supporter for a number of years and these young entrepreneurs are so impressive. It's not just their attitude. They have solid products and sales, and they want to tackle big social issues like financial literacy and anxiety."
— Dempsey Sponsor and Judge.
"It was indeed a pleasure to be part of such an inspiring event and thrilled to hear and see the presenting teams. It was quite impressive. The talent and dedication displayed by the student innovators were truly remarkable, and it's heartening to witness their commitment to addressing significant healthcare challenges."
— 2024 Health Innovation Challenge Sponsor
Planning for the 2025 competition is underway!
Students from universities across the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia are preparing to submit their applications while the organizers work hard to prepare yet another fantastic series of events. Now is the time to get involved and show your support.
If you're inspired to participate or give back, there may be opportunities for you with the 2025 Dempsey Startup Competition, the health or environmental innovation challenge competitions, and/or the Buerk Center's academic year programming. To begin that process, contact Buerk Center Director Amy Sallin at asallin@uw.edu. If you are interested in the 2025 innovation competitions, reach out no later than February 12th. If you are interested in the 2025 Dempsey Startup, send an e-mail no later than April 3rd.
You can learn more about the Buerk Center and these competitions by visiting https://foster.uw.edu/centers/buerk-ctr-entrepreneurship/.
