CUNY Clash Main Page
A Duel for Positive Impact!
CUNY CLASH, an annual innovative, INDIVIDUAL ideas competition launched in Spring 2022, welcomes all CUNY students to enter the ultimate battleground, practice, put your creative entrepreneurship ideas to the test, and solve real world problems.
** Idea should be something new or an improvement to a product or service that already exists
No Idea is Too Big or Small
CUNY Students will compete in a 2 round tournament and present their idea to judges each round
12 Finalists will receive up to $20,000 in CASH PRIZES
1st Place Winner receives $10,000
How to Participate
1) Share your idea during a 60 – 90 second video and place your public viewable link on form
2) Fill out official form (Regisration is closed)
Thanks to our Partner!
Amazon
Judging Criteria
(Based on a 5 point scale w/ 5 being the highest)
- Clarity: Is the idea clearly presented in the video and form submission?
- Commitment: How serious are you about making your idea a reality? Must provide solid evidence of passion, experience, and/or past efforts.
- Feasible: Is the idea feasible, economically and/or technologically?
- Practical: Is the prize enough to make the idea a reality?
- Bonus Points: Creativity
CLASH is Brought to You By
Step 1 – Create a 60 second to 90 second video
Step 2 – Share your video link on form
Step 3 – Fill out the online form (Registration is closed)
Registration opens Spring 2027
No, CLASH is an INDIVIDUAL ideas competition with an overall intention to stimulate positive impact. The idea can be anything that solves a problem (even if only one person benefits), makes life easier or better, creates joy, improves the climate, helps those in need, or something that requires a group of people to come together and work towards a common goal.
Unfortunately, no. We do value a wide range of ideas and an idea from any discipline is highly encouraged.
This is an INDIVIDUAL competition. To be eligible you must be a current CUNY student. Award monies will not be disbursed to any individual without proof of student status.
If you are part of a team (four persons or less), you are more than welcome to present your team’s idea. However, there can only ONE person from the team allowed to apply and participate in this competition. (Participation includes: receiving mentorship, presenting on competition day and picture/video promotion on our website and social media platforms)
CLASH Competition free to enter! There is no cost.
We do ask and expect all registrants to dedicate the necessary time to work with our mentors and further develop their idea.
Particants receive several workshops to support idea submission & access to mentors to strengthen and expand their idea.
Electronic and hard copies of your entries will be distributed and viewed by judges, mentors and organizers only. Our judging panel – comprised of experienced professionals – is accustomed to hearing ideas on a regular basis. However, we work on the honor system. We are not liable for, nor will we arbitrate any issue related to an entry.
As an entrant, you are free to exclude any material you feel to be truly proprietary and at risk of disclosure. If any material you share is truly proprietary, whether shared with CLASH or anyone else, you should take appropriate steps to protect yourself. We recommend you to visit the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the most up-to-date information and resources on patents.
If you are part of a team, intra-team confidentiality is the sole responsibility of team members, and we will not arbitrate any disputes among team members that arise during the competition. Individuals or teams advancing to the final round will be required to submit a brief statement of their idea to be used for public relations purposes. This may be as general or specific as a team desires, but it should be considered public information.