SwatTank is an idea competition, guiding students through the process of conceptualization to pitch. Students start with a rough idea or product and develop it with workshops, mentorship, and collaboration. The students with the most well-developed ideas are invited to pitch their product to a panel of judges in the SwatTank finals. Teams are assessed on overall business idea, creativity, and quality of their pitch and are rewarded through cash prizes.
Must apply as a team (3-5 students) and a preliminary idea. Applicants must agree to participate in both boot camps if accepted.
- Application Opens: October 28th
- Info session (optional): November 24th
- Application Due: December 10th
- Decisions Sent: Winter Break
- Bootcamp 1: Saturday, February 7, 2026 - Sunday, February 8, 2026
- Bootcamp 2: Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Sunday, March 22, 2026
- Final: Friday, April 17, 2026
If you can't make it to an event or just want to work on meeting your future collaborators anytime, fill out our Find Your Founder form with your information, and explore our Founder Database to find other interested students (please email cil@swarthmore.edu to gain access to the Founder Database spreadsheet). If you see someone you might want to collaborate with, reach out!
Two mandatory bootcamps:
- Bootcamp 1: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10am-4pm - Sunday, February 8, 2026, 9am-12pm
- Bootcamp 2: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10am-4pm - Sunday, March 22, 2026, 9am-12pm
Participants will engage in two bootcamps designed to transform them from innovators into entrepreneurs. Teams will apply entrepreneurial tools, lessons, and perspectives to their idea and take it to the next level. Students will leave with a tool kit to critically examine and shape ideas into enterprises.
Bootcamp 1 will be facilitated by Mike McQuillan, Founder of BEcamp. Mike has taught business and entrepreneurship at Colby College, and has worked as a strategy consultant, nonprofit operator, and tech startup marketer. He studied Economics at Bowdoin College and received his MBA with High Distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
Bootcamp 2 will be facilitated by Jay Friedlander, a professor/entrepreneur who has over a decade of experience working with students from across the curriculum to transform their ideas into enterprises. As the Sharpe-McNally Chair of Green and Socially Responsible Business at College of the Atlantic, Jay founded one of the earliest enterprise accelerators providing academic credit to liberal arts students – the Diana Davis Spencer Hatchery. His experience includes consulting with Fortune 100 companies and major nonprofits; helping raise over $6 million for a natural foods venture; demystifying business concepts for hundreds of entrepreneurs so they can bring their passion to life.
Mentorship is a critical part of SwatTank. Mike McQuillan will be available to mentor all teams between bootcamps. Additionally, students are matched with an alumni mentor relevant to their idea to provide guidance and support as they work through this process. Their mentor is a resource for ideas, practical advice, feedback, and real world experience.
Teams of students will be assessed on a set of criteria specific to ideation and creativity. Teams who complete the boot camps will compete at the SwatTank Finals in April where they will give a more developed idea and project presentation. The general judging criteria are as following:
- Overall concept of the business
- Creativity
- The Pitch: Verbal delivery + visual design of presentation
- Depth of understanding of market and customer segments
SwatTank Prize money is a step towards making student ventures a reality! The prize will be split between all members of the team. At the SwatTank Finals, audience members will also have an opportunity to cast their vote for "Audience Choice", an additional $500.
- First Place: $3,000
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $250
Finalists are encouraged to apply for Venture Funding!
