In a world where technology increasingly shapes how we live, work, and worship, a quiet revolution is taking place. Across the United States and beyond, a growing number of competitions, grants, and incubators are emerging specifically to support entrepreneurs who want to build tech ventures with a higher purpose. Whether you’re developing software to help churches manage their digital security, creating platforms for faith-aligned investing, or building tools that serve vulnerable communities, there has never been a better time to bring your vision to life.
This guide explores the landscape of faith-based tech pitch competitions—where to find them, how to prepare, and what makes them distinct from secular startup competitions.
Part 1: Why Faith-Based Tech Competitions Matter
Secular pitch competitions are abundant, but they often prioritize one metric above all others: financial return. For Christian entrepreneurs, success isn’t measured solely by revenue. It’s about stewardship, impact, and serving communities in ways that honor God.
Faith-based competitions recognize this distinction. They evaluate ventures through a different lens, asking questions like:
- Does this business reflect biblical values?
- How does it serve the church or the broader community?
- Is the founder approaching entrepreneurship as a calling rather than merely a career?
As Ben Ormsbee, assistant director of Cedarville University’s “The Pitch” competition, puts it: “The heart of entrepreneurship is biblical. In Genesis 1:28, God gave us the command to be fruitful and multiply. Entrepreneurship and The Pitch are manifestations of that” .
This theological grounding sets these competitions apart. They’re not just about launching businesses—they’re about stewarding creativity for kingdom purposes.
Part 2: Major Faith-Based Tech Competitions and Programs for 2026
Here are some of the most significant opportunities for faith-driven tech entrepreneurs in 2026.
1. Biola Startup Competition (La Mirada, California)
Date: April 24, 2026
Format: Live pitch event
Focus: Student entrepreneurs developing “redemptive, world-changing ventures”
Biola University’s annual Startup Competition is the culmination of a 14-week Student Startup Incubator. Finalists deliver 10-minute live pitches to a panel of investors, mentors, and industry leaders, followed by Q&A sessions .
What makes this competition distinctive is its emphasis on “impact for the Kingdom.” The event is free and open to the public, offering networking opportunities with the broader startup ecosystem. For student entrepreneurs, it’s a chance to see their ideas evaluated through a distinctly Christian lens .
Best for: Current college students or recent graduates with early-stage ventures
2. The Pitch at Cedarville University (Cedarville, Ohio)
Date: February 6, 2026 (annually)
Format: “Shark Tank”-style competition
Prizes: $1,000 (first), $500 (second), $250 (third)
Now in its annual run, The Pitch brings together student entrepreneurs from across disciplines to present “faith-driven business concepts” to a panel of business leaders .
The 2026 finalists demonstrated the diversity of faith-driven tech innovation. Twin brothers John and Josiah Hardaway presented Twin Sentries Security, a startup designed to help churches and nonprofits protect their digital assets against cyber attacks. Their motivation is explicitly biblical: “We believe God calls everyone to be good stewards of what He has entrusted to them” .
Other finalists included a restaurant rewards app supporting small-town businesses and a smoothie company serving the campus community—showing that faith-driven entrepreneurship spans both tech and traditional business sectors .
Best for: Student entrepreneurs with ventures at the idea or early prototype stage
3. Opus Prize (Global, Hosted by DePaul University in 2026)
Award: $1 million (laureate) + $100,000 each (two finalists)
Format: Confidential nomination process
Focus: Faith-based social entrepreneurship addressing persistent social challenges
The Opus Prize is the most significant award in the faith-based social enterprise space. Unlike pitch competitions where founders present their ideas, the Opus Prize uses a confidential nomination process to identify individuals and organizations whose faith-inspired work is transforming lives .
DePaul University is hosting the 2026 award, with a theme of “Uplifting the Dignity of All”—a reflection of its Vincentian Catholic mission. Past laureates have included the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit, who train young people in Zambia in agriculture and entrepreneurship, and the late Bishop Paride Taban, who created a peacebuilding village in South Sudan .
While the Opus Prize is not a “tech competition” per se, many laureates have used technology as a tool for their mission. Student ambassadors from DePaul participate in site visits to finalists, offering a unique educational opportunity .
Best for: Established social enterprises with a track record of impact
4. Pushpay Goes Technology Grant (National)
Award: One year of free technology suite (giving platform, church management software, mobile app)
Focus: Church planters in pre-launch phase
Pushpay, a leading payments and engagement platform for faith-based organizations, launched the Pushpay Goes program to support church planters by removing technical and financial barriers .
The grant provides a comprehensive, enterprise-grade technology suite at no cost for one year, including:
- Pushpay Giving with Everygift®
- Fully featured church management software (ChMS)
- Branded mobile app
- Guided implementation with a dedicated coach
- Access to a cohort of fellow church planters
Recipients must be affiliated with recognized church-planting organizations such as SBC Send Network, V3, ARC, Acts 29, or Strategic Launch Network .
Best for: Church planters seeking technology infrastructure
5. Epiphany Grant (Atlanta, Georgia)
Deadline: January 6, 2026 (annually)
Focus: Faith-based social entrepreneurship
Award: Grants and mentorship
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta’s Epiphany program is a faith-based social entrepreneurship incubator supporting startups that tackle pressing social challenges. Since its launch, Epiphany has awarded nearly half a million dollars in grants and supported ventures including Refuge Coffee Co., PadSplit, and Purposeful Gourmet Foods .
Qualifying ventures address issues such as hunger, homelessness, housing, refugee resettlement, racial equity, poverty, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. Examples include businesses that employ formerly incarcerated individuals or adults with developmental challenges, or enterprises offering coding training for refugees .
Best for: Early-stage social enterprises with a clear mission focus
6. Great Ideas Competition at BYU–Hawaii (Laie, Hawaii)
Format: Three-round competition (pitch deck with video, semifinals booth showcase, finals live pitch)
Focus: Ventures supporting the mission “to prepare students of Oceania and the Asian Rim to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ”
The Ryan and Shauna Ockey Great Ideas Competition is designed specifically for students of BYU–Hawaii, but its structure offers a model for other institutions. Submissions must support the university’s mission of building the kingdom of God .
The competition features three rounds:
- Round One: Online submission of 13-slide pitch deck with embedded 2-minute video
- Round Two (Semifinals): In-person presentations and booth showcase
- Round Three (Finals): Refined presentations to guest judges
Best for: BYU–Hawaii students with ventures aligned with the university’s mission
7. TIDEL Fellowship (New York, New York)
Duration: 12 months (October 2025–October 2026)
Format: In-person summits + virtual cohort meetings
Focus: Technology innovation for faith-based organizations
Union Theological Seminary’s Technology, Innovation, and Digital Engagement Lab (TIDEL) offers a fellowship for leaders creating innovative solutions to pressing challenges. The program emphasizes design thinking and innovation in pairs—applicants must apply with a partner .
Fellows work on one of two problem areas:
- Expanding fundraising and resource development capacity through technology
- Pursuing “ethical” technologies in response to digital anxiety and distrust
The fellowship includes three in-person summits (kickoff, spring summit, culminating showcase) plus weekly virtual cohort meetings .
Best for: Leaders of faith-based organizations seeking to implement technology solutions
Part 3: What Makes a Winning Pitch in Faith-Based Competitions
Drawing from the criteria of these competitions, here are key elements that judges look for:
1. Alignment with Mission
In secular competitions, judges ask: “Is this scalable? Is there a market?” In faith-based competitions, an additional question is asked: “Does this venture align with biblical values and serve the kingdom?”
The BYU–Hawaii Great Ideas Competition explicitly requires submissions to “support the mission of BYU–Hawaii ‘to prepare students of Oceania and the Asian Rim to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their families, communities, chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God'” .
2. Clear Social Impact
The Epiphany Grant seeks ventures that address “societal challenges often overlooked by traditional markets”—such as employing formerly incarcerated individuals or providing coding training for refugees . Similarly, the Opus Prize honors work that “addresses some of the most persistent social challenges of our time” .
3. Evidence of Traction
The JMH LaunchPad competition at Mount Royal University selects finalists whose ventures “have demonstrated traction, engaged real customers, and undergone rigorous validation” . Similarly, The Pitch at Cedarville requires finalists to have progressed through multiple rounds of judging and coaching .
4. Stewardship Mindset
The Hardaway brothers’ motivation for Twin Sentries Security—”to equip churches and small businesses to steward their digital resources well”—captures this perfectly . Judges want to see that founders understand their role as stewards, not merely profit-seekers.
5. Clarity of Presentation
All competitions emphasize strong communication skills. The Great Ideas Competition judges evaluate “presentation skills” alongside business fundamentals . Biola’s event features 10-minute live pitches followed by Q&A, requiring founders to think on their feet .
Part 4: How to Prepare for a Faith-Based Pitch Competition
1. Ground Your Business in Scripture
Understand why your venture matters from a biblical perspective. As Cedarville’s organizers emphasize, entrepreneurship is a manifestation of God’s command to be “fruitful and multiply” . Be prepared to articulate how your venture fulfills this calling.
2. Develop Your Pitch Deck
The BYU–Hawaii competition provides a useful template: a 13-slide pitch deck with an embedded 2-minute video . Your deck should cover:
- Problem statement
- Solution
- Market opportunity
- Business model
- Traction to date
- Team qualifications
- Financial projections
- Social/kingdom impact
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
Cedarville’s finalists go through multiple rounds of judging and coaching before the live event . Treat the competition as an opportunity to refine your venture through feedback, not merely a one-time performance.
4. Seek Mentorship
The Epiphany Grant provides not only funding but “coaching and navigating a dynamic market” . Pushpay Goes includes a dedicated implementation coach . Mentorship is often as valuable as the prize money.
5. Tell Your Story Authentically
The TIDEL Fellowship emphasizes “centering on understanding human needs and creatively solving problems through empathy” . Judges want to see that you’ve engaged with the people you’re serving—that your venture is rooted in real relationships, not just market research.
Part 5: Beyond the Competition—Building Your Venture
Winning a pitch competition is just the beginning. Here’s how to sustain momentum:
1. Join an Incubator or Accelerator
Biola’s Startup Incubator runs for 14 weeks before the competition . Epiphany is itself an incubator, providing ongoing support beyond the grant . Look for programs that offer sustained mentorship, not just a one-time prize.
2. Build Community
Cedarville’s event features a “red carpet-style pre-show experience” with booths featuring local startups such as Entrepreneurs for Christ (EFC) . Networking with fellow founders can be as valuable as the competition itself.
3. Seek Further Funding
Pushpay’s grant is designed to support church planters through their first year, with the expectation that the venture will become self-sustaining . Use the visibility from competitions to attract additional investors, donors, or customers.
4. Stay Connected to the Ecosystem
The Opus Prize encourages student ambassadors to engage with finalists during site visits, offering a pipeline for future talent . Similarly, Biola’s event offers networking opportunities with investors, mentors, and the broader startup ecosystem .
Conclusion: Your Venture, Your Calling
Faith-based tech pitch competitions are more than funding opportunities—they are affirmations that your work matters. In a secular startup world that often prioritizes growth at any cost, these competitions offer an alternative: a vision of entrepreneurship as stewardship, innovation as worship, and business as a platform for serving others.
Whether you’re a student with a dorm-room idea, a church planter seeking the right tools, or a social entrepreneur tackling systemic challenges, there is a competition designed for you. The 2026 calendar is rich with opportunities—from Biola’s spring showcase to the Opus Prize’s fall celebration, from Cedarville’s winter pitch to the Epiphany Grant’s application cycle.
Your idea may be the next Twin Sentries Security, protecting churches from digital threats. Or the next Amanah Capital, helping Muslim professionals align their investments with their values . Or the next Succora, reimagining personal safety for seniors . What matters is that you take the first step—to prepare, to pitch, and to trust that the God who gave you the idea will also provide the resources to bring it to life.
As one competition organizer put it: “We are called to be fruitful and multiply. Entrepreneurship and The Pitch are manifestations of that” . Your venture is not just a business. It is a calling.