Grid Pitch 2023

Applications for Grid Pitch 2023 are now open. Grid Pitch is a showcase that allows for UMB students to pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of experts and investors in the entrepreneurial community. Accepted participants will receive five weeks of one-on-one coaching and mentoring from an experienced entrepreneur or business expert. The program culminates in a pitch showcase on April 20, 2023.

Eligibility:
Grid Pitch will have two participation tiers: Vision and Venture. Both tiers are open to all current and aspiring University of Maryland, Baltimore students. Each team must have at least one (1) current or aspiring UMB student. Each team member must participate in the proposed business idea.

Vision Tier:
For aspiring or current students who have an idea to change the world, but have not yet begun the journey of implementation.

Venture Tier:
For aspiring or current UMB students who have an idea that is fleshed out and have begun the journey of implementation. Applicants for the Venture tier can have an established business.

• The proposed idea should be in the innovation, healthcare, biotech, life science, health tech, public health, health tech or social entrepreneurship fields.
• Teams that have acquired over $100,000 in gross revenue from operations to date resulting from the sales of products and/or services are not eligible.
• Please do not contact any panel members prior to the date of the competition. This will automatically disqualify an entry from this competition.
• Please address any questions to Taylor DeBoer, Assistant Director, at taylor.deboer@umaryland.edu.

Timeline:
Applications open: Jan. 30, 2023, at 9 a.m. EST
Applications close: Feb. 20 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST
All applicants will be required to submit team bios and headshots, a rough draft of pitch to be submitted the week prior to the Grid Pitch Showcase on April 20. Additionally, all participants will be required to submit a recorded version of the pitch by April 27.
Grid Pitch Showcase: Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 601 W. Lombard St., 3rd floor in the Grid

Other mandatory meetings, events, and workshops will be scheduled during the semester.

Submission Details:
Proposals will be scored based on the following criteria:
• Potential benefit and appeal to patients, clients, consumers and/or community
• Likelihood of development: investment potential and consideration of ongoing funding support
• Intellectual property strategy and status: freedom to operate (if applicable)
• Timeframe and probability of success
• Fit with overall competition requirements

Mentors will be working with student teams to develop and improve their concepts and business models. Individual mentoring assignments will be determined by The Grid's leadership team.

Selected Proposals/Finalists: Each team will have either 3 or 5 minutes to present the concept in person and participants and panels will be able to provide written and verbal feedback to finalists after all have pitched their ideas. This isn’t “Shark Tank” but instead a celebration of ideas and aspiring student entrepreneurs.

In addition to the 5 minute pitches, participating teams will be required to submit pre-recorded versions of the pitches.