BizPitch Competition
You could win up to $3,000!
2024 Student BizPitch Competition
The PennWest Clarion University BizPitch Competition was held on November 21st, 2024, in the Suites on Main North Theater open to the public. The Competition was sponsored by Robindale Energy and Bowman & Company. The PennWest Clarion Small Business Development Center and Entrepreneurial Leadership Center hosted the event.
The PennWest Clarion 2024 BizPitch Competition is a place for students to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit in an exciting way. The platform gives students the opportunity to pitch their ideas for new products or services for a business venture. It is designed to build on the spirit of entrepreneurship by giving students an opportunity to present and develop their innovative ideas! Cash Prizes awarded were:
1st- $3,000, 2nd- $2,000, 3rd- $1,000, and a Fan Favorite won $250.
First Place Winner of 2024 BizPitch
First place winner, Mackenzie Schwerzler, a senior Marketing and Management major, took home the first-place prize of $3,000 for her innovative business idea, Connect with the Locals. The app, designed to offer travelers unique, insider tips from locals about their destinations, aims to revolutionize the travel experience by helping tourists discover hidden gems and authentic experiences, only known by the people who live there.
Stay tuned for the announcement of 2025 BizPitch Competition!
Participant Resources
BizPitch Event Information
Additional Presentation Resources
- Click here for an overview of elevator pitches and how to make them effective.
- Check out these 5 tips to create a strong sales message.
- Check out this article, ‘How not to embarrass yourself doing the elevator pitch‘ by Marc Cenedella.
Successful pitches should cover the following:
- Business idea
- Product/service
- What need does it address or what problem does it solve?
- What makes your product/service unique?
- Define your customer(s)
- Identify competition
- Clearly identify how the business will generate revenue
Check out Our Previous BizPitch Competitions!
FAQs
Who can apply?
The PennWest Clarion Student BizPitch Competition is open to full-time and part-time students at PennWest Clarion. Students may compete solo or in teams of four or less. Students may be contributing members of multiple teams, but may only be a part of the pitch presentation for one entry. Entries may not have won a top three prize in previous Clarion Student BizPitch Competitions.
Am I able to participate twice?
If you finished in the top three of a previous BizPitch competition, you may not participate again.
Can I participate in the competition virtually?
The BizPitch competition is being planned as an entirely in person event, however virtual submissions may be considered under extreme circumstances.
Do I have to be a business major?
No, students from all University programs are invited to join the competition.
How do I apply for the competition?
Click the yellow button above that says “Apply Now for BizPtich”. You will be taken to a new page with the registration form. Note the link will not appear before the application date and it will disappear after the final deadline has passed.
What can I use the money for, if I win?
The winnings are a cash prize that may be used however the winners see fit. Although, this is considered income to the winners, and they will be required to complete form W-9 and then will receive a 1099 form.
How will the pitches be scored?
Please refer to the BizPitch grading rubric, which is located in the Participant Resources section above.
What are the rules of the competition?
Please refer to the BizPitch Rules for the Competition, which are located in the Participant Resources section above.
Do I have to have a business that is in operation to join the competition?
No, you can join the competition if you have an idea for a business that you would like to pitch.
Can a student with an existing business join the competition?
Yes, students may come pitch their existing businesses for a chance to win the event and money.
What are the stages of the competition?
The first step is to apply to be a contestant of the competition. Next, the students in charge of running the competition will host information sessions to talk about the competition and answer questions. Next, there will be a preliminary round where the judges will select the finalists who will advance to the finals. Last, there will be a final event, where the top three pitches are awarded and the crowd will choose a fan favorite winner.
How many contestants get to advance to the finals?
Five contestants or groups will advance to the final event.
What is the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and what do we do?
The PennWest Clarion Small Business Development Center helps small business start, grow and prosper. The SBDC is a federally funded program that offers consulting services to clients at no charge. Since its inception in 1980, the PennWest Clarion SBDC has consulted with thousands of pre-venture and existing business clients in its 10-county region. This region in Pennsylvania includes the following counties: Armstrong, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, and Venango. The PennWest Clarion SBDC provides consulting services and educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their small business.
SPONSORS INCLUDE
