Student Innovators: Pitch for a Chance at $2,000 in Seed Funding This Fall

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Students interested in making a funding pitch for their innovative ideas are encouraged to compete in the Seed Funding Pitch Competition this fall, where they can win up to $2,000 to support their venture.

Overseen by the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the competition allows students to pitch their ideas for a chance at funding in several categories: customer discovery, market research, prototype development, marketing & design and legal. Pitches are capped at 90 seconds, cannot include slides and are followed by a brief Q&A session with judges.

Applications close Nov. 1. Student founders or teams of any discipline are encouraged to apply. The competition will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, OEI's co-working space in downtown Fayetteville.

"This competition is a game-changer for students with new ideas or side hustles. It provides them with tools to refine their storytelling and the confidence to share their vision with an audience," said Maddy Stricklen, program manager. "Many of our past participants have used the funding for key resources like software, marketing and design support and prototyping materials — and several of those ventures are still thriving today."

There will be two practice sessions for competitors — on Nov. 8 and 11 — at the Brewer Hub. Competitors are also encouraged to attend OEI's Art of the Pitch workshop on Nov. 7, which will be led by Alex de la Fuente, founder and CEO of Hightag. 

Students can pitch as individuals or teams, and they can request up to $2,000. Judges will give awards to the top three teams. The seed funding can only be used on approved expenses to support prototyping resources, legal fees, marketing and design services or market research costs. Prior customer discovery or market research on their ideas is required before competition. 

Last year's Seed Pitch competition distributed over $10,000 to ventures ranging from improving international student experiences, enhancing animal health and developing an app to assist in real estate development.

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio, Startup Village, and Greenhouse at the Bentonville Collaborative, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions, and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and Division of Economic Development, OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.