The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Challenge is Georgetown’s largest annual pitch competition series. Pitch your new venture idea to an expert panel of entrepreneurs and business leaders, gain valuable feedback, win thousands of dollars in startup funds, and meet prospective mentors and investors!
The top team from each preliminary competition will advance to the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Challenge Finals. Any student who is enrolled in a Georgetown graduate or undergraduate program may apply to pitch. Check out the information below for guidelines, pitch tips, judging criteria, and details regarding the 2022 Georgetown Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Applications Open Spring 2022
Competitions begin in early March and run until early April
The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Challenge is a Completely Virtual Event
(TBA) 2022 Georgetown Entrepreneurship Challenge Competition Schedule
Wildcard Competition
for students of all graduate programs outside of the McDonough School of Business or School of Continuing Studies
Date of Competition: TBA
Deadline to Apply & Submit Video: TBA
SCS Competition
for all graduate students enrolled in the School of Continuing Studies
Date of Competition: TBA
Deadline to Submit Video: TBA
MSB Grad Competition
for all graduate students, executive students, and Pivot Fellows enrolled in the McDonough School of Business
Date of Competition: TBA
Deadline to Submit Video: TBA
Undergraduate Competition Night One
for undergraduate students enrolled any Georgetown University school or campus
Date of Competition: TBA
Deadline to Submit Video: TBA
Undergraduate Competition Night Two
for undergraduate students enrolled any Georgetown University school or campus
Date of Competition: TBA
Deadline to Submit Video: TBA
Undergraduate Competition Night Three
for undergraduate students enrolled any Georgetown University school or campus
Date of Competition: TBA
Deadline to Submit Video: TBA
Video Pitch Best Practices
- Be Presentable: Just because you’re not pitching live doesn’t mean your pitch should look sloppy! Dress nicely and practice good grooming and hygiene to look your best for the judges
- Have Visuals: A video of just you talking to a camera is boring! Include slides either behind you or simply record your screen and voice-over your slides. You may also choose to get creative and come up with other visual aides such as a whiteboard, props, etc.
- Speak Clearly: Make sure that you are enunciating and pronouncing words clearly so that judges can understand what you’re saying through the computer.
- Keep it Short: Your video should only be five minutes long! Any longer and we will just cut it off before it is finished.
- Visibility is Key: When you post your video, it is essential that anyone who has the link can view the video. While this does not mean your video has to be listed publicly, it does have to be readily watchable to all who click the link.
2021 Georgetown Entrepreneurship Challenge Replay
2021 Georgetown Entrepreneurship Challenge Winners
- Graduate First Place + People’s Choice Award: Cradl by Natalie Poston (MBA’21) and Allison Cavasino (MBA’22)
- Graduate Second Place: MM-Seas by Nathaniel Gilman (SCS’21)
- Graduate Finalist: Budeli by Carlos Bello (MBA’22), Jinsung Bach (MBA’22), and Michael Pollinger (MBA’22)
- Graduate Finalist: Homemade in DC by Mackenzie Loy (MBA’22), Chidozie Obidegwu (MBA’22), Lauren Jordan (MBA’22), and Michael Schapiro (MBA’22)
- Graduate Finalist: Kitchen with a Mission by Jordan Foley (L’21)
- Graduate Finalist: Neurazio Biotechnology by Daniel Chapman (MED’25)
- Undergraduate First Place + Pelton Environmental Award: Convenient Compost by Gracey Owen (B’22)
- Undergraduate Second Place: ACTWorldly by Betsy Ratliffe (F’23) and Nora Bolster (C’23)
- Undergraduate Finalist: Refillanthropy by Brandon Lee (C’24)
- Undergraduate Finalist: Charting History by Kai Isaia (C’22)
- Undergraduate Finalist: MergedMed by Pia Bhatia (C’21) and Maya SIlardi (C’21)
- Undergraduate Finalist: College Deposit Insurance by Blake Gattuso (B’24)
- In-Kind Tech Credits (AppDrop): Convenient Compost by Gracey Owen (B’22)
Students will deliver a five-minute pitch followed by a three-minute Q&A session to a panel of judges either in their respective graduate preliminaries or during the undergraduate nights. Students are eligible to enter individually or in teams of up to four people. Ventures at any stage from ideation to a currently operating startups are welcome to pitch.
Learn about all of the tips and techniques you need to give a successful pitch.
