At Georgia Tech, innovation is embedded in the student experience, and a growing number of students are arriving at Tech already thinking like entrepreneurs. Now they can find support from a network of programs across campus offering opportunities to turn “what if” into “what’s next.”
“Students no longer see themselves as just good employees, but really good employers," said Dr. Christopher Reaves, assistant vice provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success (OUESS) and executive director of the Office of Experiential and Engaged Learning (E2L).
The Student Innovation Program, a part of E2L, focuses specifically on helping students explore entrepreneurship. This program supports students at every stage, guiding them through prototyping, protecting their intellectual property, and pitching for funding.
Olga Kotlyar, assistant director of Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship, has seen firsthand how this kind of support fuels creativity at Georgia Tech. “You get what you celebrate,” she says. “So, if you celebrate innovation on campus, students will want to be part of that.”
Innovation in Action
That celebration of innovation that Kotlyar describes comes to life through events like the InVenture Prize, a televised student pitch competition that was launched in 2009 and is open to all undergraduate students and recent graduates of Georgia Tech. Each year, six finalist teams showcase their prototypes in a Shark Tank-style format, competing for a $20,000 grand prize and automatic acceptance into the next cohort of CREATE-X's Startup Launch program.
Convexity Electronics took home first place in 2025, and for Calla Scotch, the team’s founder and lead technical developer, the moment represented both a victory and the culmination of a journey shaped by Tech's Innovation Ecosystem.
“The most memorable part was standing on stage, looking out at the audience, and seeing a sea of Convexity T-shirts,” the mechanical engineering and materials science student said. “I’ve become a TA for startup classes, done InVenture Prize, gone through Learn Make and Launch — all in the pursuit of building a future with my own two hands.”
Building an Entrepreneurial Community
Recognizing that innovation doesn’t begin or end with a single pitch, the Student Innovation Program has expanded their offerings with two brand-new initiatives in 2025: Startups & Strikes and the MiniVenture Pitch Competition.
Startups & Strikes is a relaxed networking event that’s designed to spark conversations, build community, and help students find potential cofounders, all while introducing them to campus resources like Georgia Tech Commercialization and Startup Exchange.
MiniVenture gives students a chance to practice pitching in a low-pressure environment. With Georgia Tech-affiliated judges and friendly feedback, it’s ideal for students who are just starting out and want to build confidence before stepping into a formal competition.
As Kotlyar puts it, “This is the perfect place for trial and error.”
A Culture of Innovation
The Student Innovation Program draws purpose from the Institute’s Strategic Plan, particularly Big Bet 4, which focuses on building a national hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. The plan calls for quadrupling the number of startups created since 2019 and making Atlanta a top five startup city. And for students like Calla Scotch, that vision is already taking shape.
“Instead of following the traditional tracks laid out for us, the Student Innovation Program gives us the space to turn projects into ventures and ideas into a future,” says Scotch. “You can't get that anywhere else. Especially as an undergraduate.”
Have an idea but you aren’t sure where to start? Click here to explore Georgia Tech’s Innovation Ecosystem, and connect with mentors, fellow makers, and more.