A town of makers.
Now it's the kids' turn.
South Orange & Maplewood have always been full of artists, musicians, marketers, and builders. SOMA Startup is a one-day challenge that hands that creative spirit to the next generation — spot a problem, build it, pitch it.
Thursday, August 27, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM · South Orange + Maplewood, NJ
- high-energy day
- 1
- age divisions
- 4
- cash prizes
- 4 × $1,000
- required
- No code
high-energy day
age divisions
cash prizes
required
Why it matters
The hardest part isn't ability. It's exposure.
Most kids have never been handed a framework for how an idea becomes something real. SOMA Startup gives them that — early, in a way that feels exciting and genuinely accessible — so they grow up seeing technology and startups as things they can shape, not just consume.
- For every ageFour divisions, from young kids through college.
- No experience neededNo coding, no prep — ideas matter more than polish.
- Something to show for itA deck, a prototype, a pitch, and continued mentorship.
Our town
South Orange and Maplewood have been a town of builders since the railroad arrived.
When the Morris & Essex line reached Maplewood in 1837, it turned quiet farmland into a community of people who make things — and that never stopped. A short ride from New York, the towns filled with artists, writers, musicians, and makers, earning the nickname "Brooklyn West." SOMA Startup is our way of handing that creative, build-it-yourself spirit to the kids growing up here now.
A few who grew up here
- SZA · Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
- Lauryn Hill · Grammy-winning musician
- Zach Braff · Actor & filmmaker
- Andre Braugher · Acclaimed actor
- 1837
- the railroad reached Maplewood and the building began
- 1856
- Seton Hall University founded in South Orange
- “Brooklyn West”
- the towns' name for their artsy, creative character
- 30 min
- to New York on the Midtown Direct line (since 1996)
SOPAC
The South Orange Performing Arts Center — the cultural heart of SOMA since 2006.
Maplewoodstock
A free music & arts festival in Memorial Park that's drawn the town together since 2004.
Midtown Direct Rep
A theater company founded by 32 local Broadway actors and techs who share the same train.
Four divisions
Everyone competes on a level playing field.
Age-based divisions keep expectations and judging developmentally appropriate. Younger builders are rewarded for creativity; older students are held to a higher bar.
Young Builders
Up to 5th gradeImagination first. Spot a problem, dream up a fix, and show it off with a drawing, model, or story.
Judged on: Creativity, clarity, and enthusiasm.
Middle School
Grades 6–8Turn an idea into a simple concept: who it helps, what it does, and what a first version looks like.
Judged on: Problem understanding, clarity, and effort.
High School
Grades 9–12Define a real problem, shape a solution, and pitch it with market thinking and a believable next step.
Judged on: Problem definition, feasibility, and pitch quality.
College
UndergraduatePush toward venture thinking: differentiation, feasibility, and a clear path from idea to first users.
Judged on: Market understanding, differentiation, and realistic next steps.
How the day works
One day, four parts — 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
A clear beginning, middle, and end. No coding required at any point.
- 9:00 AM1
What building looks like in 2026
We open by demystifying entrepreneurship for today: how founders spot problems, and what tools — including AI — put within reach of anyone with an idea.
- 10:15 AM2
Your competition, explained
Each division learns exactly what's expected — the format, the framework, and what a great pitch looks like for their age bracket.
- 11:00 AM3
Team up and build with an advisor
Form small teams and work with a dedicated advisor through the day (lunch included) to shape your idea into a basic deck and a simple prototype.
- 4:00 PM4
The pitch competition
Teams pitch to the judges, who deliberate and name a winner and runner-up in every division. We wrap with awards by 6:00 PM.
Curious about the worksheet, pitch template, and rubric? See the participant toolkit →
Prizes & incentives
A winner and a runner-up in every division.
So a 4th grader and a college senior both walk away recognized — and winners keep getting guidance long after the closing ceremony.
- A winner and a runner-up in every division.
- A $1,000 cash prize for each division winner.
- Continued mentorship for winners from founders, operators, and builders.
$1,000
winner + mentorship
Runner-up recognized
$1,000
winner + mentorship
Runner-up recognized
$1,000
winner + mentorship
Runner-up recognized
$1,000
winner + mentorship
Runner-up recognized
Where it leads
An on-ramp into bigger entrepreneurship pathways.
We don't compete with the major student competitions — we prepare kids for them, including a serious one right in our own backyard at Seton Hall.
Seton Hall Pirates Pitch
LocalA high school startup pitch competition run right here in South Orange by Seton Hall's Stillman School of Business, with $50K+ in prizes and scholarships.
High school (sophomore–senior)
Diamond Challenge
A global high school entrepreneurship competition with Business Innovation and Social Innovation tracks, run by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware.
High school, ages 14–18
Blue Ocean Competition
The world's largest virtual pitch competition for high schoolers, drawing thousands of students from across the globe each year.
High school, ages 14–18
NFTE World Series of Innovation
A free, online challenge from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship where youth pitch solutions tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Ages 5–24
Conrad Challenge
A multi-stage innovation competition where student teams build commercially viable solutions to real-world problems across science and tech categories.
Ages 13–18
Get involved
The day runs on its people.
A warm bench of local founders, creatives, and builders is what makes SOMA Startup real — and shows kids the range of paths a maker can take.
Advisor / Mentor
Spend the day with a team, helping them shape a problem into a pitch, a deck, and a simple prototype.
Judge
Watch the pitches and help recognize the strongest ideas with warmth and credibility.
Sponsor / Partner
Fund prizes, provide a venue, or supply resources — and help build a lasting local institution.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Any student in South Orange & Maplewood, from young kids through college. There are four age-based divisions so everyone competes fairly.
No. You can come solo or with a team, and you can develop your idea entirely on site. We'll help you find both.
Not at all. No coding or prior experience is required. With an advisor's help you'll build a simple deck and prototype — sketches, slides, and clear thinking all count.
Registration details and any fees will be announced soon. The goal is to keep SOMA Startup highly accessible.
Each division has one winner who receives a $1,000 cash prize plus continued mentorship from founders, operators, and builders.
We'd love that. Head to the Get Involved page and tell us how you'd like to contribute.
Ready to build something this summer?
Thursday, August 27, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM · South Orange + Maplewood, NJ. Bring an idea or find one in the room.