Small Towns, Big Ideas

Now in its fifth year, Small Towns, Big Ideas brings together leading voices in rural entrepreneurship for a live pitch event. In partnership with the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth, top tech startups from CORI’s Rural Innovation Network will compete in person for a cash prize.

Register To Attend

November 5, 2025 | 5 to 7 p.m. ET

In-person: Hanover Inn (Hanover, NH) with reception to follow
Online: Virtual Livestream

Spotlighting the next wave of rural tech founders

Small Towns, Big Ideas brings together some of the most promising startups from CORI’s Rural Innovation Network to pitch live in front of investors and community leaders. Founders share their products, traction, and vision, and the top-ranked startup takes home $10,000.

Rural entrepreneurs are building innovative companies that create jobs and strengthen their communities; this event provides them with a forum to share their work with a national audience.

Small Towns, Big Ideas is about showcasing what rural founders can do when given the right platform and highlighting that great companies can start anywhere.

Joining us in person? Here’s what you need to know:

This year Small Towns, Big Ideas is taking place at the Hanover Inn, located on Dartmouth College campus.

• Hanover Inn
  • 2 East Wheelock Street, Hanover, NH 03755

Parking:

Street parking is available, but it tends to fill up quickly. The Hanover Parking Garage is a five-minute walk away. Please contact the Front Desk at the Hanover Inn for valet parking and accessible transportation.

• Hanover Parking Garage
  • 7 Lebanon Street, Hanover, NH 03755

What to expect

Last year, Catie McVey, founder of North Carolina-based OsRostrum Inc., took home the grand prize. Drawing on Catie’s deep connection to the dairy industry and knowledge of the emerging AI technologies, OsRostrum provides a low-cost mobile platform for farmers to quantify structural traits and develop precision breeding plans that improve cow health and longevity. 

Watch Catie’s Pitch

Watch Last Year’s Full Event

Past judges

Judges represent top venture capitalists from across the country who understand talent exists outside of typical geographies. Past judges have included: 

• Alex Benik, Encoded Ventures 
• Jay Bockhaus, CORI Innovation Fund
• Amy Butte, Navan
• Stacey Giard, Tola Capital 
• Mark Hardie, Tuck School of Business, Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital
• Ayush Jain and Jamie Rodota, Revolution Fund
• Chloe Kinderman, Titletown Tech 
• Julie Penner, New Frontier Capital
• Kim Rosenfield, Dartmouth Technology Transfer Office
• Louisa Schibli, RuralWorks Partners

About the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship

The mission of the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship is to serve Dartmouth students, faculty and alumni along all points of the entrepreneurial journey. Originally conceived of in the Provost Division, and as part of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer (OETT), which also includes our Technology Transfer Office (TTO), the Magnuson Center was established in 2018 through a generous gift from Allison and Rick Magnuson ’79, the Center brings together various programs that support entrepreneurship and innovation at Dartmouth and beyond.  By bringing together these diverse resources, the Magnuson Center is able to streamline services and help Dartmouth entrepreneurs thrive.

Thanks to our sponsors

Small Towns, Big Ideas wouldn’t be possible without the support of our generous sponsors. The Center on Rural Innovation is grateful for their commitment to rural entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in rural America.