Wesleyan Shark Tank

About

Cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs.

A student-led accelerator at Wesleyan University.

Co-founders Michael Astorino and Ben Carbeau
Co-founders Michael Astorino '26 & Ben Carbeau '25

How It Started

Built fast. Built by students.

In Fall 2024, we were teaching assistants for Wesleyan's startup incubator course. We saw what was missing: students across campus were already building real ventures, and they wanted more — more curriculum, more community, more reasons to take what they were building seriously while still in school.

Over winter break, we sketched Wesleyan Shark Tank — a student-led course that would teach founders how to scale and pitch, then culminate in something more engaging than a typical pitch competition. We wrote the curriculum, launched it as a student forum, and built the plane while flying it. The pilot ran that spring with a hand-selected cohort and ended on a live stage at Wesleyan's Ring Theatre.

Why

Entrepreneurship as a liberal art.

Our mission is to develop mindful, ambitious entrepreneurs — giving them the tools to succeed, the community to support them, and the stage they deserve to show what they're building.

Entrepreneurship is, at its core, a liberal art. It demands an interdisciplinary skill set, creative problem-solving, and thoughtful leadership. Liberal arts schools like Wesleyan should be the ones shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs — and Wesleyan Shark Tank is the medium we built to do it.

Track Record

From pilot to New York.

Season 2 photos coming soon

Spring 2026

Scaled Up

Ten new founders, a new leadership team, and a final event at Merkin Hall in New York City. Nine founders pitched to five alumni Sharks — and $45,000 was invested live on stage in a single night. The audience awarded the $5,000 People's Choice prize to Rowan Tracey '29 and Medfield Junk.

Watch the Final Event →

Presented By

Backed by Wesleyan's entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Wesleyan University's home for leadership, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

A community for Wesleyan University alums in tech, startups, digital media, and beyond.

What's Next

Season 3 is coming.

Want to invest, mentor, speak to the cohort, or sponsor the program? There's a role for you.

Get Involved → Watch the Final Event →