60+ NJ Students Launch Startups in One Day at NJIT

More than 60 young minds walked into New Jersey Institute of Technology with no team, no business plan, and just one day to build something real. They left as entrepreneurs.

The NYLA Entrepreneurathon 2026 brought together middle and high school students from across New Jersey for an intense crash course in startup building. Students from schools including Chatham High School, Egg Harbor Township High School, and Link Community Charter School joined forces with peers they'd never met before.

The event was organized by the National Young Leaders Association, founded by Samaya Shah after she recognized a gap in entrepreneurship education. Students from underserved communities, including participants from the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, attended through sponsored partnerships to ensure access wasn't limited by zip code.

The day moved fast. Students formed teams, heard from Nuts.com CEO Jeff Braverman, worked through startup workshops, and built complete business concepts from scratch. Jordan-River Samuel, an NJIT student and co-founder of music tech startup Tapyoca, demonstrated what a real pitch looks like before judging the final competition.

Seventeen teams made it to the final round. The grand prize went to Palate, an app designed by Veer Kansal, Sanvi Chheda, and Suhani Grover that helps people with food allergies find restaurants and menu items they can safely eat.

The Ripple Effect

This wasn't just about winning a competition. Students who arrived as strangers learned to collaborate under pressure, solve real problems, and see themselves as innovators. For many, especially those from communities with limited access to entrepreneurship programs, it was their first chance to experience what building something feels like.

NJIT's role as host reflects how universities can open doors beyond their own student body. "Entrepreneurship education is not only about creating businesses; it is about building the mindset to identify problems, create value, and turn ideas into action," said Oya Tukel, dean of NJIT's Martin Tuchman School of Management.

Shah said the event proved what's possible when barriers are removed. "Seeing more than 60 students from across New Jersey come together to create something from scratch was incredibly inspiring," she said.

The students who built Palate are now working to turn their one-day concept into reality, and dozens of others left knowing they can build, pitch, and create alongside anyone.