Dive Into the Piranha Pit for $50,000 in Seed Funding!

JOIN US IN THE PIRANHA PIT SPRING 2025 – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

The Piranha Pit is TARDISS’s very own Shark Tank™-style pitch competition designed to fuel innovation in natural rubber technology. Sponsored by the NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) TARDISS, the competition provides budding students, faculty, and postdoc entrepreneurs with the chance to pitch new ideas for natural rubber technologies and product concepts. Winners will secure $10,000–$25,000 in seed funding to advance their concepts over 6–12 months.

Applicants will submit a written application describing their innovative concept, work plan, and potential impact on natural rubber technology and commercialization. The top 5 finalists will be mentored and advance to the live Piranha Pit Pitch Event, presenting their ideas before a panel of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Judges will provide feedback, ask tough questions, and decide who will walk away with funding.

APPLY NOW

Who can apply?

Both TARDISS and non-TARDISS early career faculty, beginning research scientist, postdocs, undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply. Awardees who are not yet TARDISS members will automatically become members upon selection.

Why should you apply to the Piranha Pit?

• Compete for $10,000–$25,000 in seed funding to prove your concept.
• Gain experience pitching and developing business plans.
• Receive valuable feedback from industry experts and serial entrepreneurs.
• Join the TARDISS network of researchers, innovators, and commercialization partners.

What are the prizes?

• Seed Funding: $10,000–$25,000 for 6–12 months
• Access to TARDISS network resources and mentorship
• Opportunity to advance to the NSF ERC-wide pitch competition and connect with the Greater Akron Polymer Cluster’s Synthesis Accelerator