Apply now for the 2022 VCU Alumni Pitch Competition
Have a product or a business idea that’s ready for a kick-start? Apply for the fourth annual VCU Alumni Pitch Competition to vie for a cash prize and invaluable resources to help make your venture a reality.
To enter, create and submit a 60-second pitch video that outlines your entrepreneurial concept, service or product. All individual applicants and team venture leaders must be VCU alumni. Five finalists will be selected to present in person this November to a panel of experts who will choose the winner.
Applications are due 5 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 30.
Questions about the competition or completing the form? Contact Latisha Taylor Smart, director of alumni career and personal development.
Process
Your “pitch” to qualify for the event should verbally outline an entrepreneurial concept, idea or product in a 60-sec pitch video (YouTube or Vimeo works best). A successful pitch requires significant prior thought and research and culminates in the ability to clearly and succinctly highlight the most compelling aspects of a proposed venture.
Five finalists will be selected to compete and pitch live in front of expert judges during the VCU Alumni Pitch Competition.
Finalists will be notified no later than 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.
Individual/team guidelines
The VCU Alumni Pitch Competition is exclusive to VCU alumni. Team pitches must include at least one graduate of the university, and the pitch lead must be a VCU alumnus or alumna.
The pitched idea, concept or business must be the original work of the individual or team.
Prizes
A monetary prize totaling $6,000 in prize money will be awarded amongst pitch contestants in addition to resources to move their venture forward.
Grand Prize: $2,700
Second Place: $1,200
Third Place: $950
Fourth Place: $700
Fifth Place: $450
Disclaimers
The VCU Office of Alumni Relations, or its partners, may take photographs and/or video of any materials used or made available by pitching individuals or teams during the competition for public relations purposes. VCU is not responsible for any costs associated with attending the event in Richmond, Virginia. Travel accommodations and financing are the responsibility of the finalists.
THE VCU OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY ANY ENTRY IN ITS JUDGEMENT THAT VIOLATES THE RULES OF THE COMPETITION OR IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPETITION.
Confidentiality is not guaranteed in any way. If a team wishes to keep elements of their concept or idea confidential, the team should not include that information in their pitch. There is no way for VCU, its affiliates, event sponsors or organizers to enforce a prohibition of other competitors, audience members or judges who see or hear a pitch from sharing the concept, idea and/or materials with others.
By participating in the VCU Alumni Pitch Competition, entrants agree that VCU and all related parties assume no liability and shall have no liability or obligation whatsoever for disclosures of information provided by a competitor as part of a submission or otherwise during the course of the competition. Nondisclosure agreements between a competitor and the judges and/or audience members will not be required or allowed.