WV Hive, WVU Tech Launch Lab Call for Business Pitch Applications by Feb. 27
New Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition Round
on March 30
The West Virginia Hive, in partnership with the West Virginia
University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab, will host a new Pitch
Southern West Virginia business idea competition round on March 30 on the WVU
Tech campus. Applications to pitch business ideas are due at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb.
27.
Diana Woods, director of the WVU Tech Launch Lab who is serving as coordinator
of the event, said a panel of judges will select three top entries, with the
first-place winner earning a $2,000 prize. The three top business presenters
will receive awards in the competition, with an additional prize awarded to the
best presentation by a WVU Tech student or team of students.
“We hope entrepreneurs will get as excited about these competitions as we do
and take advantage of this great opportunity,” said Judy Moore, executive
director of the WV Hive and deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional
Development Authority. “The cash prizes aren’t the only benefit of
participating. Entrepreneurs who participate gain tremendous experience through
the entire process of applying, preparing the pitch presentation, and pitching
in front of an audience. And, there is also a ton of feedback provided during
the process from our panel of expert judges, which includes successful
entrepreneurs, business professionals, educators, and investors.”
Those eligible to participate include WVU Tech students, faculty and staff, and
entrepreneurs and businesses of the southern West Virginia counties of Raleigh,
Fayette, Nicholas, Summers, Webster, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Mercer,
Wyoming, McDowell, Logan and Mingo.
The business idea competition is limited to entrepreneurs of new start-ups and
businesses in operation for less than three years. The best proposals submitted
will be invited to give five-minute, in-person pitches of their business ideas
before the reviewers. The reviewers will engage in a question-and-answer
session with each presenter.
The deadline to submit an application is 8 a.m., Monday, Feb. 27.
Proposals for business pitches and questions about the competition should be
emailed to Diana Woods at tech-launchlab@mail.wvu.edu.