What to expect
Bark Tank is Georgetown University's flagship pitch competition, run as the Leonsis Family Entrepreneurship Prize. On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:15 PM, student ventures pitch for a share of up to $100,000 in a Shark Tank style format. Each finalist gets 3 minutes to present, followed by 5 to 6 minutes of questions from the judges. The audience votes for a People's Choice award, and light food and drinks follow the competition.
How the prize works
An internal committee of faculty and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence selects finalists, who then receive about three weeks of coaching. According to Georgetown Entrepreneurship, eight finalist teams are invited to pitch and each receives a cash prize, with the top prize listed at $30,000. Judges decide the number and size of awards within the $100,000 annual limit. The prize is supported by Ted Leonsis and his family.
Judges and finalists
Georgetown Entrepreneurship says the judging panel is expected to include Ted Leonsis, with more judges to be confirmed. The 2026 finalists had not been announced at the time of writing.
Who should attend
Final presentations are open to the public. It is a useful evening for founders, investors, and mentors who want to see early stage student ventures from Georgetown and get a sense of the university's startup community.
Venue and access
Lohrfink Auditorium, Rafik B. Hariri Building, Georgetown University, 37th and O St NW, Washington, DC 20057. Accommodation requests should be sent to bwz2@georgetown.edu by Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How to register
Admission is free. RSVP on the Luma event page; registration has been listed with a waitlist, so sign up early. More background is on the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Bark Tank page.