Revenue Race

Welcome to the Revenue Race, where eight student teams get $1,000 and 72 hours to build a business from scratch and make as much money as they can.

Most startup events are about ideas, pitches, and what could happen someday. This one is about what actually happens. Real customers, real sales, real revenue, all in four days.

Every evening, we open the doors so you can watch it unfold.

Who it’s forStudents, alumni, faculty, and community members who want to see entrepreneurship in action.

You don’t need to be competing, have an idea, or know anything about startups. Whether you’re thinking about starting something, curious what it takes to make your first dollar, or just want free Chipotle and good company, this is for you.

What to expect

Free Chipotle (5:00 PM): Grab dinner and meet other builders, founders, and curious students.

Keynote Speaker (6:00 PM): A new speaker every night sharing real stories from building and selling.

Live Team Updates: All eight teams give two-minute updates on what they’ve built, what they’ve tried, what’s working, and how much they’ve made.

Finale (November 20): Final results, judging, and winners announced. The top teams compete for $5K in cash prizes.

What you get

A front-row seat to watch eight teams go from zero to revenue in 72 hours.

Real lessons from teams testing ideas, pivoting fast, and figuring out what customers actually pay for.

Connections with founders, speakers, and the people building across UW–Madison.

Date: November 17–20, 2026 (every evening)Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Keynote at 6:00 PM)Location: 1403 University AveHosted by: Transcend UW × 100State