IQ E-Pitch Competition Official Rules, Guidelines and Submission Requirements

Inventors and entrepreneurs of all kinds commonly have to request support from investors to raise capital in order to commercialize their ideas and launch start-up ventures. Busy investors don’t have much time to listen. Often you need to be able to request their support in 60-120 seconds, the length of one elevator ride. This “elevator pitch” competition simulates this business reality, but in the form of video. Pitch your innovative idea for a chance at cash prizes and start-up grants!

If you’re currently a student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at UC, and you have a new idea that hasn’t been developed before January 2021, then you’re eligible. It’s just that simple! The event is open to the entire university, so students from all colleges are invited to compete every year.

Our goal is to keep it simple: to reward your creativity and connect you with successful and innovative people and programs that can help you take your ideas to commercialization — or even launch your own company.

The 2022 IQ E-Pitch Competition will be done through an online video submission. Once all videos are submitted by March 18, 2022 at 5 p.m., 60-80 judges from the regional startup and business community (entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, retired executives and more) will review the videos. Finalist teams will be notified the week of March 28 and winning teams will be announced at the IQ E-Pitch Awards Ceremony on March 30, 2022.

Please note that the audience that will view your video will be small, but diverse, including investors, successful Cincinnati business people and former corporate executives. Use this guide to craft a winning elevator pitch.

All concepts must be legal in the United States and Ohio. Vice industry concepts are prohibited, including concepts related to alcohol (e.g., production, distribution), drugs, pornography, tobacco, gambling, etc.

To sign up, complete an initial application form. From there, you will receive information and instructions about submitting their video for review by external judges.