Northwestern set to host Cupid’s Cup final

Five startups have been announced as finalists in the 2017 Cupid's Cup Entrepreneurship Competition. The competition, now in its 12th year, is chaired by Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank, and led by the Plank Foundation for Entrepreneurship. Finalists will gather March 30 to compete at Northwestern University.

“The Northwestern community is excited to welcome these outstanding student-founded startups to campus,” said Melissa Kaufman, executive director of The Garage. “We’re looking forward to hosting the finals, and we appreciate the nod to Northwestern’s entrepreneurial DNA.”

In the semifinals in February, 11 teams traveled from all over the country to Under Armour headquarters in Baltimore to pitch their businesses and interview with investors, entrepreneurship experts and Under Armour executives. The five winners will compete for a prize package that includes more than $100,000 in total cash prizes, access to Plank’s professional network and the prestigious Cupid’s Cup title.

Finalists will be paired with a coach to help them prepare for the final round of competition. On March 30, the competitors will meet on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, where Plank and a panel of judges will evaluate the companies in front of a live audience at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

The annual Cupid’s Cup competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at accredited colleges and universities or recent alumni of those institutions.

Five finalists to compete at Northwestern

LearnLux
Helps millennials learn personal finance through online learning tools and connects them to the resources they need to take action. (Clark University)

Luna Lights
Luna Lights has developed an automated lighting system that uses cloud-based data analytics to reduce the risk of falling for older adults. (Northwestern University)

NaturAll Club
The first company to deliver fresh, fruit-based hair products using innovative food preservation technologies. University of Pennsylvania

PiperWai
As seen on ABC’s Shark Tank, PiperWai Natural Deodorant is a uniquely effective, aluminum-free deodorant made with activated charcoal to neutralize odor and absorb moisture. (University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University)

SwineTech
Helps farmers increase profits by providing the technologies necessary to reduce piglet deaths. (University of Iowa)