<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/about/newsroom/ubaltnews-2026-rise-challenge-finalists.cfm" dsn="blogs"><featured>true</featured><pubDate>04/04/2026</pubDate><title>Finalists Announced for UBalt's 14th Annual 'Rise to the Challenge' Business Pitch Competition</title><description>The University of Baltimore's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has announced the six finalists for its 14th annual "Rise to the Challenge" Business Pitch Competition, taking place on May 6. The finalists will compete for $30,000 in funds to support their business concepts and start-ups. </description><author>UBalt News</author><image><img src="https://www.ubalt.edu/about/newsroom/assets/images/2000x1500-rise-challenge-logo.jpg" alt="UBalt's 2026 &#34;Rise to the Challenge&#34; business pitch competition finalists have been announced"/></image><image-cap>Six finalists, each with a unique proposal for a new business, will compete in UBalt's 2026 "Rise to the Challenge" business pitch event, held live and in person on May 6.</image-cap><quote/><quote-name/><quote-info/><tags><tag>CEI</tag><tag>Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation</tag><tag>Competition</tag><tag>Main News</tag><tag>Merrick School of Business</tag><tag>career</tag></tags></item>