What's Happening At Derby Entrepreneurship Center - April 2026
Tufts New Ventures Competition 2026 - Winners Announced!
Congratulations to the winners and award recipients at the 2026 Tufts New Ventures Competition Finals!
This year’s teams are a testament to the diversity of interests and passions among our student and alumni entrepreneurs at Tufts. Pitches spanned deep tech, medical devices, healthcare IT, marketplaces and communities, social enterprises in emerging markets, and more. We’re excited to see how these ventures evolve in the years ahead.
A sincere thank you to the judges and coaches who shared their time and expertise throughout the competition, as well as to the many staff members whose efforts made this year’s event possible.
“NESCAC”—the New England Small College Athletic Conference—brings together 11 colleges and universities across New England and New York, including Tufts University. Last week, the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship hosted the second annual NESCAC Entrepreneurship Day. Fifty-five students formed cross-university teams and spent the day solving a sustainability problem.
In the evening, NESCAC students joined the final Cross University Student Innovators (CUSI) event of the year at MIT where they connected with students in Greater Boston.
Derby Entrepreneurship Center Celebrates 5 Year Anniversary!
We were honored to welcome Tufts President Sunil Kumar to the recent Derby Entrepreneurship Center Board of Advisors meeting. President Kumar joined to acknowledge Jack Derby on the five-year anniversary of the transformative gift from Jack and Jan Derby that established the Derby Entrepreneurship Center.
Jack’s teaching, mentorship, and unwavering support have helped countless students develop their careers. Jack, thank you for all that you do!
Entrepreneurs Receive Tufts Presidential Award for Civic Life
We are excited to announce that Aria Ma and Allen Wang, both entrepreneurs and members of winning teams in the recent Tufts New Ventures Competition, were awarded The Presidential Award for Civic Life, the highest recognition for service, leadership, and civic engagement conferred by Tufts University. Tisch College of Civic Life, in collaboration with partners from across the University, selects and celebrates outstanding graduating students who combined academic achievement with a profound impact on communities near and far, helping to address some of the biggest challenges in our society. Congratulations to Aria, Allen, and all 14 students receiving this prestigious award!
MatchaLuxe wins 2nd place at the SharkNinja Innovation Challenge
Tufts team members Christina Roberts, Nancy Yang, Sruthi Manivannan, and Adam Mitchel represented Tufts at the challenge. MatchaLuxe is revolutionizing the at-home matcha preparation experience by bringing café-quality preparation to consumers.
Tufts Entrepreneurial Network (TEN) NYC Event: Annual Soiree at Bella Union - May 7
Join us for the Tufts Entrepreneurial Network (TEN) Annual Soirée, hosted on the rooftop of Bella Union. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni and build new connections. Come meet Kevin Oye, Executive Director of The Gordon Institute; Carol Denning, Associate Director of the Derby Entrepreneurship Center; and Marcus Johnson-Smith, Entrepreneur-in-Residence. We hope to see you there!
