ISU College of Business’s CEED Program and U.S. Bank host second student entrepreneur Pitch-Off Contest

This year, 28 teams hailing from four ISU colleges and divisions across campus competed for prize money sponsored by U.S. Bank. More than 50 students, from a Ph.D. candidate to a senior from Highland High School, pitched their entrepreneurial ideas in 10-minute presentations to a panel of 21 judges from campus, business and civic organizations.  

The winning team this year came from a student team proposing a self-cleaning baby changer station for public restrooms. The all-female student team presented a working prototype of the automated device and a compelling pitch to take it to market. The team won $2,000 for the best idea. They also won $250 for the best prototype, built by the College of Technology under the direction of the team. In total, nearly $10,000 was awarded by U.S. Bank to winning teams and students. 

During lunch while judges deliberated and selected pitch-off winners, students played a game where each participant made a standing 60-second elevator pitch to a rotation of judges for instant cash. 

Open to all students on campus, this U.S. Bank 'pitch-off' event organized by the ISU College of Business’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development program helps motivate young entrepreneurs to polish-up their eventual application to the statewide $100,000 Idaho Entrepreneurship Challenge held each March in Boise.