WooTank 2025 was a resounding success!

The Venture Forum held the second annual WooTank Intercollegiate Showdown on April 8th, 2025 at Off The Rails in Worcester MA. This year’s event brought together top student entrepreneurs from Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Nichols College, and WPI in a high-energy pitch competition that showcased the next generation of changemakers.

The competitors included:

No Hour Vintage (Clark) Umpire Channel (Clark) GetStyled (Holy Cross) Sweet Syds (Holy Cross) Closet Mate (Nichols) Safety Fit (Nichols) DryPro (WPI)

QuickEst (WPI)

Being part of the new StartupWeek Worcester added even more excitement, with WooTank being the final stop of the Innovation Crawl.  StartUpWeek Worcester was produced by Auxilium Worcester, in partnership with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

With Webster Five as our presenting sponsor, the evening delivered not only on innovation but also on inspiration. Each team pitched bold, creative solutions to real-world problems in front of an engaged audience and a formidable panel of “Sharks” including:

• Kevin Anderson – Tech Entrepreneur & Founder of  VentureMeets and VentureWiz

• Evan Cox – Investor at The Wire Group

• Stephanie Ramey – VP at Rucker Investments & Co-Founder of Auxilium Worcester

We also thank our in-kind sponsor, WorcLab.

The students held nothing back, delivering polished, passionate pitches that reflected months of hard work, mentorship, and iteration. From health tech to community solutions to digital platforms, the ideas were as diverse as they were impactful.

In the end, it wasn’t just about who won—it was about building a stronger startup ecosystem in Worcester and giving students a platform to shine. The energy in the room, the camaraderie among schools, and the feedback from seasoned investors made WooTank 2025 more than just a competition—it was a celebration of entrepreneurship and the collaborative spirit driving the future of our local economy.

A huge thank you to all our participants, judges, sponsors, and the crowd that showed up to support the visionaries of tomorrow. Worcester’s startup scene is alive and thriving—and WooTank proved it.

Stay tuned for highlights, photos, and interviews with the finalists!