Clemson Formula SAE

What Clemson Formula SAE does

Clemson Formula SAE is a nonprofit, student-run collegiate racing team operating within Clemson University's College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS) since 1998. The organization designs, manufactures, and competes with a new formula-style race car each year — most recently the Tiger 26 — in Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Formula SAE competitions. The team is structured across six technical divisions (Aerodynamics, Chassis, Electrical, Powertrain, Suspension, Business) plus operational roles, drawing members primarily from Clemson University and Tri-County Technical College.

The team's technology stack centers on industry-standard CAD (SolidWorks), CFD analysis, FEA (Ansys, Altair HyperWorks), and in-house engine dynamometer testing for break-in and tuning. Notable proprietary elements include a Mode Decoupled Suspension System using Multimatic DSSV dampers — a design rarely seen outside Formula One and Le Mans Prototypes — a custom in-house lap simulator for vehicle dynamics optimization, and student-designed PCBs including a Brake System Plausibility Device, telemetry systems, and custom dashboards. The team competes annually in five events including Michelin LPG, Formula South, Barnesville, Pittsburgh, and Michigan.

Clemson Formula SAE generates no commercial revenue. Its funding model consists of a multi-tiered corporate sponsorship program (Title, Platinum, Gold, Bronze, and Software/Technology sponsors) plus individual alumni donations, with title sponsorship held by Horton (Horton-Woodward) and Platinum support from PMI 2SC, Toyota Racing Development (TRD), and Clemson's own Automotive Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments. In exchange for financial and in-kind contributions, sponsors receive brand visibility on competition vehicles and at campus and competition events, plus recruiting access to Clemson's engineering and business students. There are no commercial customers or products; students and corporate sponsors are the two primary stakeholder segments.

Name

Clemson Formula SAE

Legal name

Clemson Formula SAE

Website

https://clemsonfsae.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clemson Formula SAE is a nonprofit student-run collegiate racing team at Clemson University, founded in 1998, that designs and builds an annual formula-style race car for SAE International competitions, funded by corporate sponsorships and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collegiate Formula Racing

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.) (MPAKABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motorsports Support & Feeder Series (Developmental Championships) (MPAKAGAH), Motorsports Leagues & Series (MPAKAAAH)

Keywords

• Collegiate formula racing
• Student motorsports engineering
• Formula SAE competition
• Race car design education
• SAE international competition

Headquarters

HQ city

Clemson, South Carolina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide financial support, materials, and components in exchange for brand promotion at campus events, competitions, recruiting access to students, and marketing visibility on team vehicles and materials.
2. Donations: Individual donations from alumni and supporters, with incentives such as custom stickers placed on the competition car for donors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clemson Formula SAE is a student-run collegiate engineering organization at Clemson University that designs, builds, and competes with formula-style race cars in SAE International Formula SAE Design Competition events. Each year the team produces a new competition vehicle in the Tiger series, currently the Tiger 26, through six engineering and business divisions — Aerodynamics, Chassis, Electrical, Powertrain, Suspension, and Business — that handle design, simulation, fabrication, testing, fundraising, and operations. Membership is open to all Clemson University and Tri-County Technical College students seeking hands-on engineering experience.

Product overview

Clemson Formula SAE is a student-run collegiate racing team at Clemson University that designs and builds formula-style race cars annually for SAE International competitions. The team's primary offering is its racing vehicles (named the Tiger series, e.g., Tiger 23, Tiger 24, Tiger 25, Tiger 26), each designed and manufactured from scratch each year by student members across multiple engineering and business divisions. The team does not sell commercial products; its output consists of competition vehicles and the engineering experience of its student members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tiger 26: The team's 2026 season competition vehicle
• Tiger 25
• Tiger 24
• Tiger 23

Products and services

• Tiger 26 Competition Vehicle
• Tiger 25 Competition Vehicle
• Tiger 24 Competition Vehicle
• Tiger 23 Competition Vehicle

Quantifiable outcome

• 4th place finish at Formula South Invitational 2024 with Tiger 26, passing all technical inspection and brake testing on first attempts

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Horton (Horton-Woodward)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor of Clemson Formula SAE. Provides support for the team's overall operations and competition activities.
• PMI (PMI 2SC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Sponsor providing precision manufacturing capabilities and technical support.
• TRD (Toyota Racing Development)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Sponsor - Toyota's official racing development division supporting collegiate motorsports.
• Clemson Automotive Engineering DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Sponsor and academic partner providing institutional support, facilities access, and faculty guidance.
• Clemson Mechanical Engineering DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Sponsor and academic partner supporting the team through departmental resources and facilities.
• JPS CompositescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor providing carbon fiber materials that supported composites division in producing parts for Tiger 26.
• Hendrick MotorsportscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor - one of NASCAR's premier motorsports teams supporting the collegiate program.
• Red BullminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor providing energy products. Described as 'an adored longtime partner' providing energy drinks for the team.
• MichelinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor providing tires. Also hosts Michelin LPG competition that the team participates in.
• BoeingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor - aerospace company supporting collegiate engineering education.
• Rapid DirectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the team through manufacturing of precision drivetrain components for the T26 car.
• Multimatic (DSSV Dampers)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides DSSV (Dynamic Suspension Strut Valve) dampers used in the team's unique mode decoupled suspension system.
• AnsyscoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware Sponsor providing FEA (Finite Element Analysis) tools for structural analysis and simulation.
• SolidWorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware Sponsor providing CAD software for vehicle design and modeling.
• AltiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware Sponsor providing PCB design tools for the electrical division.
• AltaircoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware Sponsor providing HyperWorks for simulation and optimization.
• Sandvik CoromantcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor - cutting tool manufacturer supporting precision manufacturing operations.
• TextroncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor - diversified industrial company supporting engineering education.
• Dodge IndustrialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor - industrial bearings and power transmission components manufacturer.
• Freeman Custom MachiningminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor providing custom precision machining services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Texas A&M Formula SAE (Aggie Motorsports): Texas A&M's Formula SAE team competes in the same sanctioned series with a comparable student-led, sponsor-funded model. Same annual competition cycle and similar industry sponsor mix including automotive and manufacturing partners.
• University of Michigan Formula SAE (UMich Formula SAE / Michigan Motorsports): UMich's Formula SAE team is one of the most established and highest-performing collegiate programs in the U.S., competing in the same FSAE sanctioned series. Directly comparable competition schedule, design-build-race model, and sponsor-driven funding structure.
• Cornell Formula SAE (CU Motorsports): Cornell's Formula SAE team is a comparable collegiate program operating under the same SAE ruleset with the same annual vehicle build cycle. Similar team scale and multi-divisional structure targeting automotive industry sponsors.
• Carnegie Mellon Racing (CMU FSAE): CMU's Formula SAE program competes in the same series and operates with a comparable multi-division engineering scope. Both programs emphasize cross-disciplinary collaboration across mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering students.
• MIT Motorsports (MIT Formula SAE): MIT's Formula SAE team competes in the same FSAE series with comparable interdisciplinary engineering scope (vehicle dynamics, powertrain, electronics, business). Both programs emphasize hands-on education, sponsor recruitment, and use of simulation tools like CFD/FEA.
• Stanford Formula Racing: Stanford's Formula SAE team operates under the same collegiate competition format with the same technical rule set. Comparable structure: student-led, sponsor-funded, builds a new vehicle annually, competes at Michigan and FSAE events.
• Georgia Tech Motorsports (GT FSAE): Georgia Tech's Formula SAE program competes in the same SAE-sanctioned series and has historically been a top contender. Same competition calendar (Michigan, FSAE events), same student-run design-build model, comparable sponsor base including aerospace and automotive primes.
• Virginia Tech Formula SAE (Hokie Racing): Virginia Tech's FSAE program competes in the same series with similar team size and structure. Comparable scope across chassis, suspension, powertrain, electrical, aerodynamics, and business divisions, and similar industry sponsor recruitment model.
• Purdue Formula SAE (Purdue Motorsports): Purdue's Formula SAE team operates under the same SAE competition rules with the same annual vehicle cycle. Similar multi-division structure and sponsorship-driven funding model targeting engineering talent recruitment.

Broad incumbents

• SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers): SAE International is the governing body that sanctions the Formula SAE competition series in which Clemson competes. While not a competing team, it defines the ruleset, hosts competitions, and shapes the ecosystem Clemson operates within.

Market position

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clemson-formula-sae
• Instagraminstagram.com/clemsonfsae

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clemson Formula SAE