About the Everyday Entrepreneur
The 2026 Cleantech Challenge and Everyday Entrepreneur programs are proudly powered by the PGE Foundation, whose continued support reflects a deep belief in the power of student-led innovation to create a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable future. By investing in emerging founders and early-stage ventures, the PGE Foundation helps students move from inspiration to action, transforming bold ideas into real-world solutions that strengthen communities.
The PSU Everyday Entrepreneur (EE) competition celebrates community-centered ventures addressing social, economic, and access-driven challenges. Open to students from across disciplines, EE supports founders who are building practical businesses rooted in lived experience, local impact, and everyday problem-solving.
Teams receive mentorship, coaching, and venture development support and spend 10 weeks refining their ideas through customer discovery, business modeling, and iteration, culminating in a live pitch competition and prototype exhibition at the Finals.
Each year, six finalist teams showcase their ventures and compete for prizes, with the top team advancing to the statewide InventOR competition to continue developing their idea.
The Everyday Entrepreneur competition honors founders creating meaningful impact, one venture, one community, and one solution at a time.
Awards
- 1st Place: $1,500
- 2nd Place: $1,000
- 3rd Place: $500
- Grand Prize: PGE Powering Impact Award.– $2,000
2026 Cleantech Challenge & Everyday Entrepreneur Competition Rules & Eligibility
2026 CTC/EE - Judging Rubric & Criteria