Elevator Pitch
90 Second Elevator Pitch competition
You have 90 seconds. Make us care.
Wednesday, October 14 | 7 p.m.
Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship | 22 Castle Street
The Bozzuto Center’s Elevator Pitch Competition challenges HWS students to communicate an idea clearly, confidently, and persuasively in just 90 seconds.
Your idea does not have to be a business. Pitch a social innovation, nonprofit idea, app, invention, arts project, educational intervention, campaign strategy, policy solution, sustainability initiative, community project—or something entirely your own.
All majors and minors are welcome. No business experience, written plan, or pitch deck required.
How does it work?
Students deliver a 90-second pitch to judges from the HWS and Finger Lakes communities. These judges bring diverse professional, entrepreneurial, nonprofit, civic, and community perspectives.
Students will communicate clearly: What is the idea? Who does it help? Why does it matter? How is it possible?
Students receive feedback, practice communicating under pressure, and compete for prizes.
Why participate?
Being able to make someone understand and care about an idea matters well beyond entrepreneurship. Students build skills useful for presenting research, advocating for a cause, proposing a project, interviewing, seeking support, or bringing others into an idea.
What comes next?
The Elevator Pitch can be a destination or part of a longer journey. Students may use their feedback to refine their idea, find mentors, pursue Opell seed funding, apply to The Pitch, or begin testing their idea.
How to Prepare
No written business plan or pitch deck. Just come prepared to explain your idea in 90 seconds:
- What is your idea?
- Who or what does it help?
- Why does it matter?
- How might it work?
Practice saying it aloud and focus on helping the audience understand and care about your idea.
Walk-ups are welcome, space permitting.