Business Bootcamp applications NOW OPEN! 

Stay tuned for SwatTank Applications  for Spring 2027!

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. 

BEcamp, a business education startup, will be hosting a Business Bootcamp workshop at Swarthmore (available to Swarthmore & Haverford students) facilitated by BEcamp founder Mike McQuillan. BEcamp delivers fun, experiential workshops in partnership with top colleges & universities to help students learn business basics, explore business careers, and level up for internships & jobs. The workshop will include interactive sessions on Core Concepts In Business, Product, Marketing, Finance, and Entrepreneurship that will teach you business fundamentals and get you on your feet practicing the skills you've learned. No prior business experience is required to attend this workshop -- beginners welcome! Attendance will be capped at 30 students to ensure a dynamic and intimate learning environment. Secure your spot today!

• Sunday, October 25, 2026
• 10am-5pm
• at Swarthmore College

Participating in BeCamp or any asynchronous courses (LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, etc) will give your application priority for participating in SwatTank 2027.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Business Bootcamp: October 25, 2026
• Application Opens: TBA
• Info session (optional): TBA
• Application Due: TBA
• Decisions Sent: Winter Break
• Bootcamp 1: TBA
• Final: Friday, April 16, 2027

Collaborate with Peers!

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!

BOOTCAMPS

One mandatory bootcamp:

• Bootcamp 1: TBA

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 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.  

One Optional Bootcamp:

• Business Bootcamp 
• October 25, 2026, 10am-5:30pm
• Swarthmore College
• Registration REQUIRED (limited to 30 seats)

BEcamp, a business education startup, will be hosting a Business Bootcamp workshop at Swarthmore (available to Swarthmore & Haverford students) facilitated by BEcamp founder Mike McQuillan. BEcamp delivers fun, experiential workshops in partnership with top colleges & universities to help students learn business basics, explore business careers, and level up for internships & jobs. The workshop will include interactive sessions on Core Concepts In Business, Product, Marketing, Finance, and Entrepreneurship that will teach you business fundamentals and get you on your feet practicing the skills you've learned. No prior business experience is required to attend this workshop -- beginners welcome! Attendance will be capped at 30 students to ensure a dynamic and intimate learning environment. Secure your spot today!

Participating in BeCamp or any asynchronous courses (LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, etc) will give your application priority for participating in SwatTank 2027.

MENTORSHIP

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. 

JUDGING

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

PRIZES

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!