2026 CTC/EE Finals

Witness Portland State’s Top Innovators Pitch Live!

Join us for an inspiring afternoon featuring the next generation of innovators from Portland State University. This live pitch event and exhibition unites two of PSU’s flagship innovation programs into one celebratory showcase of student-led innovation.

---------------------------------------------

Event Details

Date: Friday, March 27, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM (in-person)

Location: SEC Event Space (2130 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97201)

Parking Information:

• Metered Street Parking: ~ $3/hour
• PSU Art Building Garage: across Lincoln St (~$6)
• PSU Parking Structure 1: 1872 SW Broadway (~$7/day)

Event Schedule:

• Cleantech Pitches: 12:00pm - 1:00pm (5 Minute Pitch)
• EE Pitches: 1:15pm - 2:15pm (5 Minute Pitch)
• Exhibition: 2:30pm - 4:30pm (Informal Q&A with Judges)
• Keynote Speaker: 4:30pm - 4:50pm
• Awards Ceremony: 4:50pm - 5:00pm
• Reception: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Emcee: TBD

Keynote Speaker: TBD

---------------------------------------------

Cleantech Challenge (CTC)

Portland State’s premier prototype competition, where student teams receive $1,000 in seed grant funding and 10 weeks to design, build, and test innovative physical prototypes addressing real-world challenges.

Everyday Entrepreneur (EE)

A sister track to Cleantech, Everyday Entrepreneur supports student founders developing business ideas that don’t require physical prototypes. Teams receive $500 in startup funding to get their ideas off the ground and pressure-test their bold business concepts.

Check out our amazing finalists here: 2026 CTC/EE Cohort Finalist Teams & Descriptions

---------------------------------------------

Awards & Prizes

Both tracks will award:

• 1st Place: $1,500
• 2nd Place: $1,000
• 3rd Place: $500
• ***New This Year! Thanks to our generous sponsor, PGE Foundation, we’ll also present the PGE Powering Impact Prize, awarded to the idea with the greatest potential for meaningful, real-world impact.

---------------------------------------------

Don’t Miss This Double Feature!

On March 27th, watch all 12 finalist teams pitch live before judges and a public audience, showcasing their ideas and progress. The event also features a public exhibition, where judges and attendees can explore the teams’ work up close, ask questions, and engage directly with the student innovators.

You’re warmly invited to stay for a post-event reception from 5:00-7:00pm, where we’ll toast the incredible work, creativity, and momentum of PSU’s student innovators.

Come support bold ideas, emerging founders, and innovation in action. We’d love to see you there!