Pitch Dingman Competition, the Dingman Center’s signature annual competition, provides the university’s most talented student entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for seed funding and exclusive access to venture development resources. This year, the Dingman Center had more prize money available than ever before and three competition tracks for University of Maryland students to compete. Students from any college or major can now compete for over $90,000 in non-dilutive startup funding.
- Grand prize is $30,000 for The Quattrone Venture Track
- $20,000 for Main Street Track
- $5,000 for Fearless Ideas Track
Beyond funding, the competition provides a vehicle for entrepreneurs to learn the skills needed to grow their ventures and deliver a successful venture pitch. In the finals, the top student entrepreneurs deliver pitches to an expert panel of judges composed of founders and investors.
Use Pitch Dingman Competition to…
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Find an entrepreneurship program
Students who make it into the semifinals of Pitch Dingman Competition are provided with workshops and resources to grow their ventures. Additionally, if a student has not yet taken Dingman Center courses or programs, they are encouraged to try out additional opportunities to accelerate the growth of their business.
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Find entrepreneurship events
Pitch Dingman Competition consists of two events. Selected student startups pitch in a semifinal round to determine six finalists. At the finals, six student startups pitch for the Grand prize of $30,000 for The Quattrone Venture Track, $20,000 for Main Street Track, and $5,000 for Fearless Ideas Track. Students competing in the Pitch Dingman Competition are encouraged to attend other events and programs that may help them secure funding and accelerate their business.
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Get business advice for my venture
The Dingman Center offers an abundance of resources, including coaching and mentorship to students who apply to Pitch Dingman Competition. Finalists are assigned a designated venture mentor to coach them through the competition, and in addition Dingman Center staff provide ongoing support and feedback on how to give a venture pitch and position a startup for success in a pitch competition.
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Learn about entrepreneurship
The process of applying to and competing in Pitch Dingman Competition provide an excellent experiential learning opportunity for student entrepreneurs. Whether or not students make it to the semifinal round, the application contains questions that are vital to have answers to for a business to succeed. Students who advance in the process are given additional access to workshops and mentoring to learn more about entrepreneurship.
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Mentor entrepreneurs
Regional and alumni entrepreneurs and business leaders are encouraged to get involved with the Dingman Center to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs. The six student startups who advance to the final round of Pitch Dingman Competition are paired with a venture mentor who has the subject matter expertise to help them grow their business.