INNOVATION HUB
SCAD UX Design
SCAD UX Design
SCAD StartUp is a student-run, week-long business design competition born in the SCAD UX Design department.
Led by UX Design students, it brings together majors from across SCAD to tackle real problems, prototype inventive solutions, and pitch to industry professionals — turning the program’s focus on creativity, technology, and innovation into a hands-on experience.
SCAD StartUp is a student-run, week-long business design competition born in the SCAD UX Design department.
Led by UX Design students, it brings together majors from across SCAD to tackle real problems, prototype inventive solutions, and pitch to industry professionals.
COUNTDOWN
Theme Reveal
The Theme Reveal
OUR VALUES
The Legacy
The Legacy
1
Where Creativity Meets Industry
Through portfolio reviews and direct professional feedback, we bridge emerging talent and industry leaders. These connections launch careers and prove that when creativity meets strategy, extraordinary things can happen.
2
A Decade of Creative Innovation
We believe in looking ahead. Through workshops, mentorship from leaders at Meta, YouTube, and Adobe, and hands-on development, we equip students to tackle tomorrow’s design challenges across disciplines.
3
Where Creativity Meets Industry
For ten years, we’ve united students from every SCAD discipline to create something extraordinary. By students, for students, we’ve built a space where fashion designers collaborate with UX innovators and diverse creatives fuse their talent with strategy.
1
Where Creativity Meets Industry
Through portfolio reviews and direct professional feedback, we bridge emerging talent and industry leaders. These connections launch careers and prove that when creativity meets strategy, extraordinary things can happen.
2
A Decade of Creative Innovation
We believe in looking ahead. Through workshops, mentorship from leaders at Meta, YouTube, and Adobe, and hands-on development, we equip students to tackle tomorrow’s design challenges across disciplines.
3
Where Creativity Meets Industry
For ten years, we’ve united students from every SCAD discipline to create something extraordinary. By students, for students, we’ve built a space where fashion designers collaborate with UX innovators and diverse creatives fuse their talent with strategy.
WHY STARTUP
WHY STARTUP
Open To All Majors
Open To All Majors
No matter your major, we encourage you to participate.
At StartUp, we believe this is how true innovation is created—by refining creative ideas and working together.
No matter your major, we encourage you to participate. At StartUp, we believe this is how true innovation is created—by refining creative ideas and working together.
$5000
$5000
Five thousand dollar cash prize to the winning team of designers, along with goodies and takeaways.
Five thousand dollar cash prize to the winning team of designers, along with goodies and takeaways.
Five thousand dollar cash prize to the winning team of designers, along with goodies and takeaways.
PAY TO THE ORDER OF
First Place StartUp Team
$5,000
PAY TO THE ORDER OF
First Place StartUp Team
$5,000
40+
40+
Over 40 different majors participating makes this competition a chance to engage in multiple fields of design.
Over 40 different majors participating makes this competition a chance to engage in multiple fields of design.
Graphic Design
Graphic Design
Game Design
Photography
Photography
Photography
Architecture
Architecture
Graphic Design
Industrial Design
Fashion Design
Fashion Design
Game Design
10+
10+
Judges from industry leading companies such as Youtube, Meta, and much more.
Judges from industry leading companies such as Youtube, Meta, and much more.
4
4
Workshops to help your team prepare to compete and win.
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
Competition's Structure
Competition's Structure
STEP 01
Sign Up
Sign up and pair with a team up to 5 people. Once paired, your team will register into a category to compete in. We encourage teams to incorporate different majors to collaborate.
StartUp Sign up Form
Team Name
the ballers
Teammates
Sign Up
STEP 01
Sign Up
Sign up and pair with a team up to 5 people. Once paired, your team will register into a category to compete in. We encourage teams to incorporate different majors to collaborate.
StartUp Sign up Form
Team Name
the ballers
Teammates
Sign Up
STEP 01
Sign Up
Sign up and pair with a team up to 5 people. Once paired, your team will register into a category to compete in. We encourage teams to incorporate different majors to collaborate.
StartUp Sign up Form
Team Name
the ballers
Teammates
Sign Up
STEP 02
Mentor Pairing
Once registered, your team will be paired with a mentor. This mentor will guide you through the process, including reviewing portfolios and highlighting personal strengths.
Your Team
STEP 02
Mentor Pairing
Once registered, your team will be paired with a mentor. This mentor will guide you through the process, including reviewing portfolios and highlighting personal strengths.
Your Team
STEP 02
Mentor Pairing
Once registered, your team will be paired with a mentor. This mentor will guide you through the process, including reviewing portfolios and highlighting personal strengths.
Your Team
STEP 03
Practice & Present
After an idea is formed, your team will design and compete in the semi-finals specific to your category. The winning team advances to finals, where the top teams will compete for the grand prize.
Your Presentation
Presentation Notes
We are the ballers, and today we will be presenting...
STEP 03
Practice & Present
After an idea is formed, your team will design and compete in the semi-finals specific to your category. The winning team advances to finals, where the top teams will compete for the grand prize.
Your Presentation
Presentation Notes
We are the ballers, and today we will be presenting...
STEP 03
Practice & Present
After an idea is formed, your team will design and compete in the semi-finals specific to your category. The winning team advances to finals, where the top teams will compete for the grand prize.
Your Presentation
Presentation Notes
We are the ballers, and today we will be presenting...
JUDGES
JUDGES
Our Amazing
Finalist Panel
Our Amazing
Finalist Panel
Marian Chiao
OpenAI
Creative Director, Design
Therese Mushock
Meta
Senior Product Design Manager
Jordan Ellis
Adobe
Community Manager
Annie Orenstein
YouTube
UX Research Lead
Angela Martin
Lenovo
User Experience Designer
John Zeratsky
Character Capital
Venture Capitalist
Chris Bonovitz
NYU
Head of UX
Marian Chiao
OpenAI
Creative Director, Design
Therese Mushock
Meta
Senior Product Design Manager
Jordan Ellis
Adobe
Community Manager
Annie Orenstein
YouTube
UX Research Lead
Angela Martin
Lenovo
User Experience Designer
John Zeratsky
Character Capital
Venture Capitalist
Chris Bonovitz
NYU
Head of UX
STUDENT-LED TEAM
STUDENT-LED TEAM
Our Talented
Student-led Team
Our Talented
Student-led Team
Directors
Mrinalini Vodela
Logistics & Operations
Say hi to the
web team!
Lenora Fernandes
Campaign & Relations
Say hi to the
web team!
Tan Tan Nguyen
Creative Director
& Web Coordinator
Mrinalini Vodela
Logistics & Operations
Say hi to the
web team!
Mrinalini Vodela
Logistics & Operations
Say hi to the
web team!
Lenora Fernandes
Campaign & Relations
Say hi to the
web team!
Lenora Fernandes
Campaign & Relations
Say hi to the
web team!
Tan Tan Nguyen
Creative Director
& Web Coordinator
Tan Tan Nguyen
Creative Director
& Web Coordinator
Physical Experience
Mariantonia Villaquiran Gonazles
Physical Experience Coordinator
Melissa Almedia
Expo Lead
Preeta Dhamdhere
Workshop Lead
Dylan Randall-Newburg
Student Mentor Lead
Kate Besel
Mentor Lead
Alana Watts
Student Lead
Divisha Kotawala
Mentor Crew
Harper Schutte
Judge Relations Coordinator
Sravan Puli
Judge Relations Crew
Mariantonia Villaquiran Gonazles
Physical Experience Coordinator
Melissa Almedia
Expo Lead
Preeta Dhamdhere
Workshop Lead
Dylan Randall-Newburg
Student Mentor Lead
Kate Besel
Mentor Lead
Alana Watts
Student Lead
Divisha Kotawala
Mentor Crew
Harper Schutte
Judge Relations Coordinator
Sravan Puli
Judge Relations Crew
Digital Experience
Austin de Nijs
Web Team Crew
Brynn Jarasongkiti
Web Crew
VIhaan Malik
Web Team Crew
Winter Royer
Design + Social Coordinator
Nairobi Di Zillo
Design Lead
Isabella Mungal
Influencing Lead
Malaika Adam Samura
Design Crew
Kiley Duncan
Design Crew
Cherry Phan
Social Media Crew
Bryan Cheng
Social Media Crew
Kyla Harrod
Social Media Crew
Mercedes Chan
Content Team Coordinator
Alyssa Portnoy
Content Team Crew
Chris Archie
Content Team Crew
Wildy Riftian
Creative Director
& Motion Coordinator
Charlie Ragaland
Motion Crew
Elly White
Motion Crew
Austin de Nijs
Web Team Crew
Brynn Jarasongkiti
Web Crew
VIhaan Malik
Web Team Crew
Winter Royer
Design + Social Coordinator
Nairobi Di Zillo
Design Lead
Isabella Mungal
Influencing Lead
Malaika Adam Samura
Design Crew
Kiley Duncan
Design Crew
Cherry Phan
Social Media Crew
Bryan Cheng
Social Media Crew
Kyla Harrod
Social Media Crew
Mercedes Chan
Content Team Coordinator
Alyssa Portnoy
Content Team Crew
Chris Archie
Content Team Crew
Wildy Riftian
Creative Director
& Motion CoordinatorCharlie Ragaland
Motion Crew
Elly White
Motion Crew
PARTNERS
PARTNERS
Thank you to our partners,
We couldn’t do it without you.
SCAD StartUp 2026's Partners
SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE
Get ready for 2 weeks dedicated to design.
2 Weeks of Design
February 2026
February 9 - January 15
Week 1
02/09
02/10
02/11
02/12
02/13
02/14
02/15
SCADAIGA
Workshop
9th Feb
2:30PM
OpenAI
Workshop
10th Feb
TBD
Adobe
Workshop
11th Feb
12PM - 1 PM
SugarCapital
Workshop
12th Feb
2PM - 3PM
Portfolio
Reviews
13 Feb
11AM - 5PM
Portfolio
Reviews
14th Feb
11AM - 5PM
Startup
Kickoff
15th Feb
12PM - 2 PM
Week 1
Warmup Week
February 9 - February 15
9
Feb
SCADAIGA Workshop
SCADAIGA
Time
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Location
TBD
10
Feb
OpenAI Workshop
OpenAI
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
11
Feb
Adobe Workshop
Adobe
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
12
Feb
What Attracts Capital from VC's with SugarCapital
SugarCapital
Time
2PM - 3PM
Location
Zoom
13
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 1
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
14
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 2
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
15
Feb
StartUp Kickoff
SCAD StartUp Team
Time
12PM - 2PM
Location
Zoom
Week 1
Warmup Week
February 9 - February 15
9
Feb
SCADAIGA Workshop
SCADAIGA
Time
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Location
TBD
10
Feb
OpenAI Workshop
OpenAI
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
11
Feb
Adobe Workshop
Adobe
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
12
Feb
What Attracts Capital from VC's with SugarCapital
SugarCapital
Time
2PM - 3PM
Location
Zoom
13
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 1
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
14
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 2
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
15
Feb
StartUp Kickoff
SCAD StartUp Team
Time
12PM - 2PM
Location
Zoom
Week 1
Warmup Week
February 9 - February 15
9
Feb
SCADAIGA Workshop
SCADAIGA
Time
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Location
TBD
10
Feb
OpenAI Workshop
OpenAI
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
11
Feb
Adobe Workshop
Adobe
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
12
Feb
What Attracts Capital from VC's with SugarCapital
SugarCapital
Time
2PM - 3PM
Location
Zoom
13
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 1
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
14
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 2
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
15
Feb
StartUp Kickoff
SCAD StartUp Team
Time
12PM - 2PM
Location
Zoom
Week 1
Warmup Week
February 9 - February 15
9
Feb
SCADAIGA Workshop
SCADAIGA
Time
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Location
TBD
10
Feb
OpenAI Workshop
OpenAI
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
11
Feb
Adobe Workshop
Adobe
Time
TBD
Location
TBD
12
Feb
What Attracts Capital from VC's with SugarCapital
SugarCapital
Time
2PM - 3PM
Location
Zoom
13
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 1
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
14
Feb
Porfolio Reviews 2
TBD
Time
11AM - 5PM
Location
Zoom
15
Feb
StartUp Kickoff
SCAD StartUp Team
Time
12PM - 2PM
Location
Zoom