Initiatives
Competitions
The purpose of a student pitch competition is to provide students with an opportunity to showcase their business ideas to a panel of judges, investors, and other entrepreneurs. Students typically have a limited amount of time to pitch their ideas, and they are evaluated on their clarity, creativity, and persuasiveness.
Student pitch competitions have a number of benefits, including:
- Developing entrepreneurial skills. Pitching a business idea to a panel of judges is a challenging task, but it is also a valuable learning experience. Students learn how to communicate their ideas effectively, how to respond to feedback, and how to handle pressure.
- Gaining exposure and publicity. Student pitch competitions often attract media attention, which can help students to raise awareness of their businesses and attract potential customers and investors.
- Connecting with mentors and investors. Many student pitch competitions offer students the opportunity to connect with experienced mentors and investors. This can be a valuable resource for students who are looking for guidance and support as they develop their businesses.
- Competing for prize money and other resources. Many student pitch competitions offer prize money and other resources to the winning teams. This can provide students with the financial support and resources they need to launch their businesses.
Overall, student pitch competitions are a great way for students to develop their entrepreneurial skills, gain exposure and publicity, connect with mentors and investors, and compete for prize money and other resources.
The Nault Center for Entrepreneurship offers multiple pitch events and competitions throughout the academic year.
Fall 2024
The USF HUSTLE competition
HUSTLE is a college oriented competition designed to educate students in business entrepreneurship through real-world experiences. Helping undergraduate students tackle leadership and entrepreneurship as they prepare to enter an extremely competitive business world.
USF Team Startup Challenge
The USF Team Startup Challenge is an exhilarating, all-day event crafted to ignite your innovative spirit and equip you with the skills needed to launch your own successful startup.
AI Entrepreneurship Challenge
The AI Entrepreneurship Challenge is an exciting opportunity that lets you demonstrate your understanding of AI and its application in entrepreneurship and how it can create value for customers and your business.
DAVELER ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
The Frank and Ellen Daveler Entrepreneurship Program is a competitive, merit-based award that will be open to upper-level undergraduate college students across Florida.
Past Events
SOREP/USF Real Estate Competition
The Society of Real Estate Professionals (SOREP)/ USF Real Estate Competition is an event for USF students to showcase their expertise in investment analysis and reshape the landscape of downtown Tampa.
2024 Food Sustainability Student Challenge
In the spring of 2024, the Food Sustainability Student Challenge will be launched with Aramark. The competition is open to all USF students and cash prizes will be given.
STEM/shift Innovation Summit
STEM/Shift is a national summit focused on building momentum towards STEM business creation leveraging new use applications for NASA's patent portfolio of existing market-ready technologies.
2024 Florida Blue Health Innovation Challenge
The annual Florida Blue Health Innovation Challenge is managed by the University of South Florida. This theme-based state-wide competition is open to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students from across Florida who have an interest in health-related innovations.
USF Business Plan Competition
The competition provides USF students a chance to receive critical assessments and reviews of their new businesses with professional guidance on strategies and tactics to successfully fund and grow new ventures.
USF Business Model Competition
The competition provides an opportunity for the USF students to learn about entrepreneurship through the development and presentation of a business idea to a panel of judges. This standard model for innovation focuses on the basics that help tell if an idea is viable or not.
USF St. Petersburg Sustainability Pitch Competition
The USF St. Petersburg Sustainability Pitch competition gives students the chance to pitch in front of judges and win over $1,000 in cash prizes. All business ideas are welcome. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their businesses and make a difference.