BizPitch Competition

Student entrepreneurs can win prizes to help them launch their ventures.

Don't wait to launch your first business venture! Bucknell's annual BizPitch Competition is your chance to launch your own enterprise from right here on campus, with help from our entrepreneurship experts.

Students who participate in BizPitch present early stage concepts for new products or services, or their own startup companies, to a panel of judges.

Throughout the competition, students connect with advisers, access resources from Bucknell's entrepreneurship ecosystem and secure membership in StartupLewisburg, Bucknell's home for innovators in downtown Lewisburg.

BizPitch is directed by Bucknell's Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Join us for the BizPitch final

On April 8, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Terrace Room in the Elaine Langone Center. Open to the public!

If you can't attend in person, watch a live stream here.

Meet Our 2024 BizPitch Finalists

Ahmad Rehman '24, computer engineering — Empowering farmers with devices and data for smart agriculture

Mikey Brandt '26, markets, innovation & design, and Brooke Barry '26, accounting — A biodegradable, sustainable whiteboard marker: The Truly Erasable Marker

Colleen Kazanjian '25, management & organizations — A hypoallergenic disposable helmet insert to prevent acne, rash and skin irritation: Peel, Stick, Play

Graham Billington '26, computer science & engineering — Privacy Made Simple: AI tools for businesses, clarity for consumers

Lily Implicito '24, biomedical engineering — A breathable waterproof medical cast that allows wearers to "truly live"

Look back at our BizPitch 2023 Finalists

Prepare Your Pitch

To compete at BizPitch, you will create a pitch that will present a proposed, new, or recently launched product or service. Finalists will be selected to present their pitch to a panel of judges at a public "Shark Tank" style finale event. Each team will also field questions from the judges following their pitch.

The presentation should convey your innovative and marketable concept or venture in a concise, compelling fashion. Slides, demonstrations and other presentation materials are encouraged.

Bucknell's SBDC provides confidential consulting at no fee to help you develop your plan, prepare and refine your pitch. As an entrepreneur, your pitch should convey the business concept, market opportunity and potential profitability to investors. Consultants at the SBDC will connect participants with special programs, services and mentors leading up to the BizPitch grand finale.

- The BizPitch Competition is open to full-time students at Bucknell University.
- Entries may not have won a top-three prize in previous Bucknell BizPitch Competitions or have generated over $100,000 in revenue.
- Each presenter must be a Bucknell student, but teams may include members who are not Bucknell students. Each team/company must be at least 50% owned or founded by full-time Bucknell students.
- Individuals may be contributing members of multiple teams but may only be a part of the pitch presentation for one entry.
Competitors will prepare a pitch to be evaluated by a panel of judges, with up to 10 points awarded in each of the following categories:
- Problem — Does the team clearly articulate a significant need and the positive impact their solution will have?
- Market — Does the team describe their target customers and the size of the market?
- Innovation — Does the solution, product or technology demonstrate creativity and inventiveness?
- Feasibility — Is the business model well developed and does this team have the potential to create a successful venture?
- Delivery — Was the pitch inspiring, passionate and memorable?

Release

By submitting the BizPitch application form you give permission to the Bucknell SBDC and Bucknell University to use your likeness, company name and company logo in promotional media. Videos and other application materials are considered confidential and will not be publicly disclosed unless you agree to their release. The final BizPitch event is open to the public and teams should not assume confidentiality of their pitch presentation. Judges, staff, other competitors and others in attendance will not be asked to sign non-disclosure agreements. Teams should carefully assess potential disclosure of intellectual property or other proprietary material.

Small Business Development Center

Location

229 Dana Engineering Building

Contact

570-577-1249

sbdc@bucknell.edu

Hours

08:00 a.m. - 04:00 p.m.

BizPitch Competition

Join us for the BizPitch final