Applications Are Open: $50,000 for Your Big Idea

Got an idea sitting in a notebook, a prototype gathering dust, or a business plan you've been too nervous to pitch? Today's the day to do something about it. 

Applications for Ben Franklin's Big Idea Contest are officially open — and this year we're putting $50,000 behind the best ideas Central and Northern Pennsylvania has to offer.

What you could win

•    Up to $50,000 in cash to take your idea to the next level

•    People's Choice Award — an additional $2,500, voted on live by the audience

•    A guaranteed spot in the TechCelerator business accelerator program

•    Personalized mentorship from the Ben Franklin team and market experts to sharpen your business model and your pitch

Do you qualify?

•    Your business is located in our 32-county region

•    You haven't previously received Ben Franklin funding or a cash prize from a Big Idea Contest or TechCelerator program

•    You're ready to actualize your idea and commercialize your innovation

•    If you're an established business, you're under $1,000,000 in annual sales revenue

You don't need a registered business or even a finished prototype — just a scalable, tech-enabled idea that solves a real problem, and the drive to chase it. We take zero equity. We charge no fees. It's just your idea and our support. 

Applications close Friday, October 16, 2026. Learn more about the contest here

Finale Event: Thursday, December 10, 2026 via Zoom.

P.S. Not ready to apply but know someone who has a big idea? Forward this along —
the best ideas often come from someone else's nudge.