Elevator Pitch Competition 2024

Do you have a wild idea? Do you want to win $1000 for it? To compete, you only need to pitch it to us in 90 seconds. No business plan, no slides, no entry fee, just an idea for a product or service.


 Imagine entering an elevator with a potential partner or investor, with only 20 floors to spark interest. The 14th Annual Elevator Pitch Competition is designed to simulate this interaction by giving Cal Poly students a chance to pitch their ideas in 90 seconds or less.

 

Students with product ideas, awesome innovations, a genuine start-up, or just a desire to practice their presentation skills are encouraged to enter.

 

To enter, you will need to fill out this application, and include a link to a YouTube video of your Elevator Pitch (90 seconds or less).





If you need a recording device, check out the One Button Studio at The Kennedy Library:

https://lib.calpoly.edu/study-spaces-and-tech/reserve/video-studio/




 

• There is no fee for entry.

• Entrants will have up to 90 seconds to present their idea.

• No audio, visual aids, slides, props, notes or handouts allowed.

• The entire pitch must be given by one person only.

• Registrations must be received by Wednesday, October 23rd at 11:59 PM.

• Submissions may be entered by teams or individuals.

• Each team or individual may enter up to three ideas.

• Each team must have at least 50% full-time students; if you are submitting as an individual, you must be a currently registered student.

• Entries must be the original work of entrants.

• Communication will be through Cal Poly e-mail address and it is the responsibility of the participants to check for correspondence.

• Ideas that have won prize money in a prior year are not eligible to participate unless significantly re-tooled. This will be a decision of the CIE team.

• Depending on the number of applications, there may be an optional semi-finalist round where you would pitch your idea in-person. This optional round would be held in early November.  

• If chosen as a finalist, the presenting member of the team must be present at the Center For Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s Forum on Tuesday, November 19th. Failure to show up will result in the forfeiture of any prize won.

• Must be a currently registered student.