Young Builders Weekend: College Edition Demo Day
One weekend. Something real.
Meet the college students who built businesses in one weekend and cheer them on as they pitch live for the $2,500 grand prize. Free to attend and open to everyone, with hot appetizers provided.
From November 20–22, students ages 18–23 will build a new business or validate one they already have. They’ll work with mentors, use AI tools, talk to real customers, and go for their first sales.
Demo Day is the finale. See what they built, hear what they learned, and watch them pitch live to an audience and judges.
Who takes home $2,500?
Three presenting businesses will win funding to help them grow:
First place: $2,500
First runner-up: $2,000
Second runner-up: $2,000
Builders also have a chance to be selected for the Anchor Fellowship.
Bring a crowd.
Friends, family, classmates, local business owners, and curious neighbors are all invited. You don’t need to be a student or a business owner to come.
Sunday, November 22 · 4–7 PM
Haworth Hotel · 225 College Ave · Holland, MI
The afternoon
4 PM: Doors open & check-in. Arrive, get settled, and meet other guests.
Live business pitches. Hear from the college builders and see what they created.
Awards & celebration. Cheer on the winners and connect with the builders.
The event ends at 7 PM. Pitch and awards times will be shared at the event.
Good to know
Do I need a ticket?
Yes. Reserve your free spot here on Luma. Already registered on Eventbrite? You’re all set. Please register only once; your Eventbrite ticket is still valid.
Can I bring friends or family?
Absolutely. Demo Day is free, public, and open to all ages. Please have each guest register so we can plan for everyone.
Where should I park?
Follow Haworth Hotel’s current parking guidance. For parking questions, contact the hotel at 616-395-7200. Event-specific parking arrangements have not been confirmed.
Have an accessibility request?
Email russ@anchorinstitute.org before the event so we can help coordinate. Contact the hotel for questions about venue access.
Want to learn more about the weekend?
Visit Young Builders Weekend: College Edition.
Hosted by Anchor Institute. We build business builders.