Each semester, student entrepreneurs present their business startup ideas to a panel of potential investors at The Pitch, Cedarville’s Shark Tank-style competition. Whether your idea is an unproven business venture or a new startup that’s already capturing revenue, you’ll sell your pitch to the judges and compete for cash prizes.
How Does The Pitch Work?
Who Can Compete in The Pitch?
All Cedarville students are welcome to participate in The Pitch! No matter your major and whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, we’d love for you to join in. Come up with an innovative idea with some friends? Feel free to pitch your business idea with a team or co-founder(s).
How Do I Make My Pitch?
You’ll have five minutes to present your startup idea followed by five minutes of questions from the judges. You must present a problem, value proposition, target market(s), and revenue/business model. For more direction, view resources for creating your pitch.
How Do I Enter the Competition?
About a month or two before The Pitch event, you’ll receive an interest form to complete via email. You’ll submit a rough draft of your slides for a preliminary round of judging. If you’re chosen to present, you’ll get to work with business professors to hone your pitch before submitting your final slide deck. Then, on the day of The Pitch, you will present your startup idea to the panel of judges alongside other student contestants!
What Are the Prizes?
The first place pitch receives $1,000, second place receives $500, and third place receives $300. Fourth and fifth place each receive $100. There will also be drawings for audience prizes, so be sure to invite a cheering section.
Winning Startup Ideas
Nutrafuel Bioworks
Fall 2024
Daniel Ormsbee pitched Nutrafuel Bioworks, which transforms waste into valuable resources by leveraging advanced biotechnology. The platform converts municipal solid waste, food waste, and agricultural byproducts into renewable energy, heat, fertilizer, biofuels, and bioproducts. Creating a sustainable circular economy, Nutrafuel Bioworks’ aim is to turn waste into opportunity — driving innovation and sustainability for a greener future.
NeoChic
Spring 2024
Created by Lainy Humes, NeoChic is an AI-powered fashion consulting technology that helps small boutiques stay ahead of high fashion trends. The tool, comprised of an app and magazine, positions these small businesses to compete with corporate clothing companies that have extensive technological resources at their fingertips. By providing affordable, data-driven insights, NeoChic blends each boutique’s unique style with trends customers will love, making it easy to curate stylish, on-trend inventory for upcoming seasons.
Stream the Pitch
The upcoming Pitch event will be livestreamed on February 7 at 6 p.m.
Watch The Past Pitch
Resources for Creating Your Pitch
Include These Essentials in Your Pitch Deck:
- Title Slide: Include your company name, your name and title, address, email, and other key contact information.
- Problem/Opportunity: Clearly define the industry challenge or unmet need you’re addressing. Use a compelling infographic or diagram to illustrate this pain point.
- Value Proposition: Highlight the unique value your solution brings, whether it’s alleviating the problem or providing a distinct benefit.
- Technology: Describe the innovation or 'secret sauce' behind your product or service. Include diagrams or infographics to help explain the “how” in an engaging way.
- Business Model: Identify your target customers and explain how your solution will generate revenue, outlining your strategy for capturing value.