Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Off the Rails, 90 Commercial Street, Worcester, MA
WooTank Intercollegiate Showdown
Get ready for the second annual WooTank! An intercollegiate pitch competition held in Worcester, MA, where student entrepreneurs from local colleges present their business ventures to a panel of investors, aiming to secure real-time funding and mentorship.
The event is organized by The Venture Forum, a startup community dedicated to fostering economic growth and supporting entrepreneurs in Central MA.
PARTICIPATING COLLEGES
As of January 2025, the following four colleges are planning to participate in WooTank 2025. Watch for announcements as more of Worcester area colleges get involved!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
If you are a undergraduate student currently enrolled at a participating college or university, please reach out to your respective contact:
Clark University: Paul Case, Director, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
College of the Holy Cross: Rob Murner, Director & EIR, Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics and Society
Nichols College: Timothy Liptrap, Chair, Entrepreneurship
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI): Ardian Preci, Director, The Business Development Lab
MEET YOUR 2024 HOST
Our Host for the 2024 event was Dave Peterson. He kept the competition moving, with enthusiasm.
David Peterson
General Manager of the Worcester Bravehearts
A familiar face to the crowd at Hanover Insurance Park, Dave was hired to lead the Bravehearts in October, 2013. He previously served as VP of Sales & Marketing for the Worcester Tornadoes and handled emcee responsibilities for on-field promotions from 2005 - 2010. His 20-year marketing career began as a Promotions Director for 104.5 WXLO in Worcester, and he also worked three years in the advertising industry as an Account Manager for Idea Agency in Sturbridge. He is a 2011 recipient of the Worcester Business Journal's "40 Under Forty" award and was named FCBL Executive of the Year in 2014, 2019, and 2022. You may also find "Peterman" performing his patented "rally dance" when the team is behind in the late innings. [Photo by Jeff Baker]
MEET THE 2024 SHARKS
The Sharks for 2024 are listed here. They each asked great questions, and then made quick, smart, decisions to award the presenters with funding. We are grateful for their participation and support.
We are presently working on the lineup of Sharks for our 2025 event.
CEO, Geisel Software
Head of Development
INVIVYD
40 years technology marketing & sales exec, angel investor, startup mentor, community volunteer
OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS - 2024
THANK YOU TO OUR IN-KIND SPONSORS for 2024
ORGANIZER
The Venture Forum is a startup community sparking economic growth and job creation by helping entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses in Central Massachusetts, is proud to host the inaugural WooTank – Intercollegiate Showdown event. Over the course of the evening, 8 students run companies will pitch their business opportunity to a panel of investors to try to get one or more them to invest real money into their venture. Negotiations will take place in real time on the stage.
Venture Forum’s vision is for Worcester will be among the next generations of globally competitive startup hubs where tech entrepreneurs can access mentorship, capital, and talent at every stage of entrepreneurial growth.