If you’ve ever watched “Shark Tank” and thought, I’d love to see something like that in Lexington, here’s your chance. Transylvania University will host the 5 Across pitch competition on Tuesday, Oct. 29, bringing one of the city’s most dynamic entrepreneurship events right to campus.
5 Across is Lexington’s high-energy pitch competition where five entrepreneurs each get five minutes to pitch their startup ideas to a panel of investors. Judges and the audience get to weigh in, and one team walks away a winner.
The event has become a staple of Lexington’s entrepreneurship scene, with recent competitions at the Lyric Theatre drawing crowds of more than 340 people. It’s fast paced, inspiring and a must see for anyone curious about startups or innovation.
For Transylvania students, this isn’t just another event — it’s a front-row seat to what entrepreneurship looks like in real life. You’ll see how founders take an idea, package it into a pitch and put it in front of serious investors. The night offers a mix of inspiration, networking and opportunity: You’ll hear bold ideas and creative problem-solving on stage, meet entrepreneurs and community leaders, and get a glimpse of how you could take your own ideas further. Judges will include Lee Greer and Phoebe Wood, with more investors to be announced soon.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 29
4:45 p.m. — Registration opens: networking, food and beverage, check-in
5:30 — Program begins
7 — Program concludes: post-event networking
7:30 — Event ends
Where: Carrick Theater
This event will sell out. Admission is free for students, but you must reserve your spot to attend. Faculty and staff tickets are $5.
Students: Reserve your spot here.
Faculty and staff: Reserve your seat here.
Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as an entrepreneur, 5 Across is the perfect introduction. It shows what’s possible when creativity and ambition meet opportunity. For many students across Kentucky, 5 Across has been their first step into the startup world.
Don’t miss the chance to experience it at Transy.
Learn more about Awesome Inc, the Lexington-based startup accelerator behind 5 Across.