Have an idea that could transform teaching and learning at Austin Community College (ACC)? The Fall 2026 Spark Tank Pitch Competition invites faculty to pitch bold ideas centered on innovation, inclusion, and creativity for the chance to receive up to $5,000 in grant funding to bring their ideas to life.
Spark Tank Pitch Competition Details
Date: Friday, December 4
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: ACC Highland Campus, Make It Center (Building 2000, Room 2429)
Hosted by the Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), this “Shark Tank”–style event transforms the traditional grant process into a high-energy professional learning and networking experience. Faculty submit an intent to pitch, and selected innovators receive targeted pitch coaching and present their ideas for a chance to secure funding for projects that address equity gaps and enhance the student learning experience.
Pitch Your Big Idea
Spark Tank encourages faculty to develop creative, high-impact teaching and learning projects aligned with three core pillars: innovation, inclusion, and creativity. The competition provides an opportunity to explore new approaches, address student needs, and bring transformative ideas into practice.
How the competition works:
- All ACC faculty are invited to submit an intent to pitch.
- Pitch teams are led by an ACC faculty member and may include faculty, staff, and students as project stakeholders.
- Selected submissions will then be supported by an optional “pitch coaching” session held in November to help hone presentation and defense skills.
- The live pitch competition will feature presentations and negotiations.
- A panel of reviewers, known as the “Sharks,” evaluates proposals and awards grants based on the quality of the pitches.
- Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for the winning teams and influence the Sharks’ decision.
- Grant recipients will be announced live during the Spark Tank event.
Pitch proposals will be assessed using four key criteria:
- Innovation & Creativity
- Inclusion & Equity Impact
- Scalability & Sustainability
- Budget Clarity & Persuasion
Whether you want to pilot a new teaching strategy, develop a more inclusive learning experience, or explore a creative solution to a student learning challenge, Spark Tank is an opportunity to turn your idea into action.
Submit your intent to pitch by noon on Monday, November 2. View the Spark Tank webpage to learn more, or for help preparing your pitch, contact FCLI at [email protected].
Just want to attend without pitching? Register to attend Spark Tank.
Past Winners
The FCLI proudly funded 10 innovative, inclusive, and creative projects live during Spark Tank in spring 2026. Last semester’s winners included:
- Boss Mode: Managing AI Workers to Learn Real Leadership, presented by Russ Holloway
- College for Kids: Building a College-Going Culture in Early Childhood, presented by Anaka Rivera
- Community Clay Tiles: A Collaborative Art Installation, presented by Karen Bolton
- The Digital Thread: Bridging the Industry Divide Through Stackable Micro-Credentials in Digital Fluency, presented by Janie Chang and Morgan Davis
- Globalizing Community Health: Expanding Study Abroad Options for BSN Nursing, presented by Emily Grigsby, Daira Wilson, and John Nation
- The Innovation: “Seeing is Believing” Outreach Initiative, presented by Elissa Mapp
- Library Research Award: Advancing Information Literacy by Honoring Student Research, presented by Maria Ruelas, Martha Clark, and Jorge Lopez-McKnight
- Rapid Retrieval, presented by Ben Bernhard
- Roots and Wings Inspired by Calpurnia Tate, presented by Anna Moreno
- Speak, Connect, Succeed: AI-Powered Language Development for Everyone, presented by Anna Moreno