WCE Pitch Competition

The WCE Pitch Competition is designed to give students from across campus an opportunity to pitch their business ideas for the chance to win an award to launch and scale their business and learn and practice their presentation skills. The Fall 2026 competition will give out a total of $10K in awards to students for their business ideas and businesses.

Sign Up Here

How to Participate

Students that would like to participate need to:

  1. Submit an Application:
    Apply here!
  2. Attend Workshop Series
    Participants need to attend four workshops to learn the basics of how to put together a great pitch. They will each be offered multiple times and have a makeup option.
    • Workshop #1: Problem
    • Workshop #2: Customer
    • Workshop #3: Solution and Value Proposition
    • Workshop #4: How to Pitch
  3. Get Feedback - Optional
    Meet one-on-one with a draft of your pitch and slides and meet with community mentors to improve your pitch on Nov 11.
  4. Pitch!
    Pitch in one of three tracks (Idea, Pretotype, or Scale) for the chance to win an award. Awards total $10k. Completing the workshop series gets you a spot in the semifinals. Top pitches in the semifinal round will be invited to pitch in the final round for the chance to win an award.
    • Semifinal Round: Nov. 13
    • Final Round: Nov. 19

Important Dates and Locations

Make sure to sign up here to be updated on locations and be reminded of workshops. Remember, you only need to attend one of the two workshops per topic.

Workshops

Two options to attend in person.*

WORKSHOP #1: Problem
Learn how to explain the problem you are trying to solve with your business or business idea, and most importantly, WHY PEOPLE SHOULD CARE!

  • Wednesday, Sept. 9
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 524
    OR
  • Wednesday, Sept. 16
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 524

WORKSHOP #2: Customer
Knowing your customer and how to describe them is an important part of your business and pitch. Learn how to do both at this workshop and walk away with a clear plan on how to talk to and about your customers.

  • Wednesday, Sept. 23
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 524
    OR
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 524

WORKSHOP #3: Solution and Value Proposition
Learn how to explain what your business does so that anyone can understand the solution you are providing and what value it would provide to your customers.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 14
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 328
    OR
  • Wednesday, Oct. 21
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 310

WORKSHOP #4: How to Pitch
All the elements from workshops 1-3 will come together as we cover what to include in your pitch and discuss presentation elements to help you a great pitch and the best chance to win the competition.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 28
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 328
    OR
  • Wednesday, Nov. 4
    Time: 6 p.m.
    Location: CBB 310

* Missed a workshop? Don’t panic. Students who are unable to attend can still qualify to participate by watching the workshop recording and passing the corresponding quizzes.

Mentor Feedback Session (Optional)
Review your pitch one-on-one with a mentor and get feedback on how to improve each element of your pitch.

  • Wednesday, Nov. 11
    Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
    Location: CBB 310
    Note, this will be a drop-in session, you will select a 30-minute window to sit down one-on-one with a mentor for feedback.

Pitch Competition

Semifinal Round
Students that have attended all four workshops are eligible to pitch in the semifinal round. You’ll pitch LIVE to two to three judges and they will give you feedback on your pitch and business.

  • Friday, Nov. 13
    Time: TBD
    Location: TDB

Final Round
The top ideas from the semifinal round of each track will be invited to pitch for awards.

  • Thursday, Nov. 19
    Time: TBD
    Location: TDB

Tracks

The WCE Pitch Competition is trying a new format for the Spring 2025 semester. Students will self-select one of three following tracks to pitch in.

  1. Idea - The Idea Track is for students that have a business idea, but haven’t worked on its’ development. These 2-minute pitches should include the following content:
    1. A description of the proposed business idea
    2. A description of the problem it is helping to solve or the opportunity it is helping to create;
    3. Any evidence to suggest that the business idea is worth pursuing;
    4. A description of a potential customer, and why they would be a good customer to pursue;
    5. What next steps would look like to continue working on their idea
  2. Prototype - The Prototype track is for students who have already validated a need for their business idea and have started to develop a solution. Note: the solution does not have to be a fully developed prototype. Instead, it could be a pretotype or a low-fidelity prototype. These 3-minute pitches should include the following content:
    1. A description of the proposed business idea and any photos of mockups of the business solution.
    2. A description of the problem it is helping to solve or the opportunity it is helping to create;
    3. Any evidence to suggest that the business idea is worth pursuing;
    4. A description of a potential customer, and why they would be a good customer to pursue;
    5. A description of what value this solution would bring to customers;
    6. A description of how the idea would make money;
    7. What next steps would look like to continue working on their idea if they were awarded the prize.
  3. Scale - The Scale Track is for students who already have an established business and are working on scaling and growing. These 4-minute pitches should include the following content:
    1. A description of the business;
    2. A description of the problem it is helping to solve or the opportunity it is helping to create;
    3. A description of a current and future customers, and why they are good customers to have and pursue;
    4. A description of what value this solution brings to customers;
    5. A description of how the idea makes money;
    6. A description of how accomplishments of the business
    7. What next steps would look like to continue working on their business if they were awarded the prize.

Awards

Everyone that makes it to the semifinal round wins a $20 gift card and a certificate.

Those that qualify for the final round on Nov. 19 will compete for the following awards.

Idea Track

  • The 5 best ideas will be awarded $100 gift cards each.

Prototype Track

  • First Place: $1,000
  • Second Place: $750
  • Third Place: $500
  • Semifinalists that don’t place will receive a $100 award

Scale Track

  • First Place: $3,000
  • Second Place: $2,000
  • Third Place: $1,000
  • Semifinalists that don’t place will receive a $150 award

Judging Criteria

  • Student has identified and explained problem or opportunity connected to business.
  • Student has described the solution so that a general audience can understand what they are working on and articulated how the solution solves the problem they have identified.
  • Student has identified and described a target market/customer and that the market is sufficiently sized to support the business/business idea.
  • Student has a feasible plan to implement funds with winning award (if applicable)
  • Student has prepared a high-quality pitch with great presentation skills and simple slides.

Technical Requirements

  • Pitch Length determined on track (2 minutes for Idea, 3 minutes for Prototype, and 4 Minutes for Scale)
  • 5 Minute Judge Q&A
  • Must attend Pitch Workshop and Mentor Feedback Session
  • Must be a current UH Student
  • Slides are encouraged, but not required

The WCE Pitch Competition is cohosted by Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, RED Labs and UH's CEO Chapter (the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization). You can email clsteward@cougarnet.uh.edu for any questions about the pitch competition and can follow CEO on instagram at @BAUER_CEO to learn more about the organization and how to become a member.