Elevator Pitch competition gives Purdue entrepreneurs chance to win $1,000 in 2 minutes
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Looking to earn a quick $1,000? Successfully pitch your unique business idea in 2 minutes to a panel of judges, and you just might.
Registration is open for the 6th annual Purdue University Elevator Pitch Competition, set for 2-5 p.m. April 6 at Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Room 121. The event is organized by the university's Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program.
The competition includes a category for Purdue undergraduate students and an open division for Purdue faculty members and staff, graduate students, entrepreneurs from Purdue Research Park companies and Purdue certificate program alumni. The contest is open to teams or individuals.
Winners in each category receive prizes of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third place. A special $500 prize will go to the most entertaining pitch. All participants receive T-shirts for competing.
"This high-energy competition is becoming a tradition for Purdue students and even our faculty members who are looking to refine their message about their next big business ideas," said Nathalie Duval-Couetil, director of the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program and a professor of technology, leadership and innovation. "This is a great stepping stone for success at other entrepreneurship competitions and presentations."
Lead sponsors for this year's event are Otis Elevator Co.; Bingham Greenebaum & Doll LLP, a law firm with offices in Indianapolis, Jasper and Vincennes; StepStone Business Partners LLC, an Indianapolis venture capital firm; Purdue Federal Credit Union; and Allos Ventures, a venture capital firm in Carmel. Otis Elevator is marking its sixth year of support for the event.
Jeanette Greener, manager of the Certificate for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, said the contest gives each participant 2 minutes to describe a business venture to judges, highlighting their product or service, their competitive advantage, the market and its size, and plans to make the business profitable.
To register, go to https://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bdQH7eDQZg10QQY. For more information, contact Greener at 765-494-1314, jgreener@purdue.edu.
Purdue's Entrepreneurship Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program has enrolled more than 3,500 undergraduate students since it began in 2005. Students complete a series of five courses to earn the certificate designed to make entrepreneurship an accessible career option by providing students with the skills and knowledge required to launch new business ventures.
Similar to a minor, the program is designed to begin in a student's freshman or sophomore year and can be completed in approximately four semesters. It has attracted students from every school and college. It is led by the Office of the Provost and housed in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship.
Writer: Phillip Fiorini, 765-496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu
Sources: Nathalie Duval-Couetil, 765-494-7068, natduval@purdue.edu
Jeanette Greener, 765-494-3805, jgreener@purdue.edu