Second Annual BizPitch Competition is Underway

Graphic courtesy of the ASU Small Business Development Center

The ASU Small Business Development Center on Jan. 29 opened applications for the second annual BizPitch student business competition.

The ASU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Norris-Vincent College of Business are coordinating the competition to promote student entrepreneurship and provide an opportunity to work with SBDC business advisors. 

Rose Nguyen, student assistant and team lead, for BizPitch, said this competition will help bring students one step closer to actualizing and developing their ideas through feedback from professionals. 

“It’s an opportunity for students to perform their potential in entrepreneurship, gain real-world experience, build their networking through interaction with ASU SBDC certified business advisors and ASU alumni who are successful in business,” Nguyen said. 

Individuals or teams of up to four people must record a five-minute presentation during which they pitch their business idea. The video will be submitted as part of the application by March 26, 2021. 

Nguyen said ideas don’t have to be original or a new invention.

“It must be a startup idea or startup ventures, not in business yet or in business less than one year, and may not have generated over $15,000 in revenue at the time of application,” she said. 

Finalists will be chosen to make an in-person, eight-minute presentation for a panel of judges on April 29. Cash prizes will be awarded the same evening. First place will receive $2,500, second place will receive $1,500 and third place will receive $1,000. An additional $250 will be given to the fan favorite. The team that wins first place will also get a three-month rental lease at the Business Factory. 

Dezaray Johnson, SBDC certified business advisor, said the Business Factory is designed to help small businesses during the growth phase. 

“The space provides all the basic office equipment a small business would need starting up,” Johnson said. 

She also said she encourages students to participate in the competition because it is an opportunity to do something out of the norm. 

“You can participate with friends and bring a dream into focus,” Johnson said. “We encourage our participants to seek out the resources offered by the SBDC Certified Business Advising team, which gives students real world experience in planning and potentially starting a small business.”

For more information, visit www.angelo.edu/bizpitch.