Pitch Competition
Spring 2021 Competition
The Moody Business Pitch Competition is a premier business development contest open to all University of Louisiana at Lafayette students who are enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credits in the current academic year. The competition aims to provide students with hands-on education and experience in entrepreneurship. Students can submit ideas for new businesses, products, or social ventures.
Students may apply in Moodle as an individual, or a team of up to four (4) individuals. Each team must designate one person as the team lead who will be responsible for applying and communicating all information to other team members. The application in Moodle opens Tuesday, January 19, 2021 and closes Sunday, Janury 31, 2021. There is no fee to apply or participate in the Moody Business Pitch Competition.
Qualified participants will progress through three (3) phases; idea proposal (Moodle application), speed consulting and business development workshop and the final in-person presentation (pitch). This initiative is sponsored by BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), whose mission is to build an inclusive entrepreneurial eco-system in Louisiana.
Why should I participate?
Participants will have opportunities to receive coaching from industry experts and build comradery with other entrepreneurial minded individuals.
The Top 5 finalists will compete for unrestricted cash prizes listed below, professional services from EAP, and paid passes to the Louisiana Startup Prize 2021. Opportunity Machine will provide a 2-month membership to all accepted applicants (February-March 2021) that includes one-on-one mentoring and the top 5 finalists will also receive an Opportunity Machine 1-year membership.
Cash Prizes
- 1st Place (Winner) - $3,000 cash
- 2nd Place (Runner up) - $1,000 cash
- 3rd Place (Runner up) - $500 cash
Eligibility & Student Enrollment
Applicants must currently be enrolled in at least six (6) credits towards a degree program at UL Lafayette to participate in this competition. One application per individual/team is permitted.
Phase 1 - Application
The application in Moodle on the Moody Business Pitch Competition page (Moodle login required) will open Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. CST and will close Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m CST. Previous Moody Business Pitch Competition applicants will need to reenroll in the Pitch Competition Moodle course. Click here for Official Rules and Application (Moodle login required). There is no fee to apply or participate in the Moody Business Pitch Competition.
Phase 2 – Speed Consulting & Business Development Workshop
Because feedback is a critical component when starting a business or validating an invention, students will have the opportunity to get feedback at the speed consulting virtual session scheduled for Friday, February 12, 2021 at 12:30 -3:00 p.m. Participants will also be required to watch a virtual business development workshop and submit four (4) deliverables afterwards to be considered for the top 5 finalists’ positions. The workshop videos will cover all the steps needed to complete the following four (4) deliverables:
- 1-Page Lean Canvas
- 1-Page Executive Summary
- PowerPoint Presentation (Pitch Deck)
- 1-Page Summary of Financial Projections (2-year)
Templates will be provided for each deliverable and submission packets are due in Moodle by Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 11:55 p.m. CST.
Phase 3 – The Final Pitch Event
The top 5 finalists will be announced on Monday, March 8, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. CST. The final pitch will be held virtually on Friday, March 26, 2021 beginning at 11:00 a.m. CST. Students will have seven (7) minutes to present their business idea to a panel of judges, which will be followed by a three (3) minute question and answer session. All finalists will receive presentation coaching from EAP analysts prior to the final pitch event.
Important Dates
- Application opens (Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. CST)
- Application closes (Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. CST)
- Virtual Speed Consulting Workshop (Friday, February 12, 2021 at 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. CST)
- Final deliverables submission portal opens (Monday, February 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. CST)
- Final deliverables submission portal closes (Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 11:55 p.m. CST)
- Top 5 Finalists announcement (Monday, March 8, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. CST)
- Virtual Final Pitch event (Friday, March 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. CST)
Questions?
Email us at moodybusiness@louisiana.edu.