Do you have a big idea?
Calling all OWU Students to apply for Pitch OWU, sponsored by The Woltemade Center!
If you have an innovative and original idea, you are encouraged to apply to compete in The Woltemade Center's annual pitch competition.
Compete against peers in various disciplines to pitch your idea to a panel of judges; the top three teams or individuals will receive funding to foster the growth of your ventures. Students can apply individually or as a team. There is a maximum of four team members per team.
All majors are encouraged to apply.
Student teams are given five minutes to pitch, followed by three minutes of questions from the judges. Presentations may include PowerPoint, visual aids, props or other materials; however, presentations must stand alone without a written business plan.
Pitch OWU Competition
Spring 2026 - February 26th
Prizes
The cash prizes listed below are for the entire team, not for individual team members. Prizes will be allocated as follows:
OWU Students
1st Place: $3,000
2nd Place: $1,500
3rd Place: $750
Eligibility
- All Ohio Wesleyan students are eligible to apply for the Pitch OWU. All majors are encouraged to apply!
- All members of the presenting team must be currently enrolled students at OWU (earning credit toward a degree).
- Teams are not eligible if their business has earned more than $50,000 in revenue.
- The ownership makeup of ventures eligible for the competition is restricted to current students.
- Students must explain in the pitch how they intend to acquire sufficient rights to intellectual property, if the university or another entity owns the patent or research that supports their business model.
- If you competed in the Pitch OWU Competition or Big Problem Challenge previously, you may apply again to compete with a new business idea.
Pitching your Idea
- Problem: A clear description of the problem
- Customer Segment: Who has this problem? Define the characteristics of your typical customer.
- Why is the problem worth solving?
- Existing Alternatives: How do your target customers currently solve the problem? Describe the nature of the competing products or services. What is the advantage of your product or service over the alternatives? Why should people buy your product?
- Solution: A clear description of your product or service and how it solves the problem.
- Cost Structure: Describe your product or service costs.
- Revenue Stream: Describe how you are planning to generate revenue.
Important Dates
Optional Pitch Workshop: 10/16/2025
- Mastering Your Pitch - R.W. Corns Building, Room 312 - Thursday, October 16th from 12 PM - 1 PM - RSVP
- Startups succeed or fail on the ability of their founders to clearly and persuasively articulate their business concept to audiences of various types. The vehicle for doing this is called 'the pitch." In this workshop, you will learn—and practice—fundamental concepts that will greatly help you to pitch your idea. We are deliberately holding this event shortly before the entrepreneurship competition (USEC) that will be held in conjunction with the Kickstart Ohio Conference. After this workshop, you will be well-equipped to observe and evaluate other entrepreneurs' pitches, or perhaps to enhance your own pitch in time for the USEC or the OWU Pitch Competition coming in February. Lunch Provided.
Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026
Competition Date:
February 26, 2026
Application will open in December 2025
Resources to help you prepare:
- You are welcome and enouraged to pitch your own ideas. However, you may also create your pitch around one of these existing concepts. These concepts are based on available intellectual property and technology that has already been developed by researchers at The Ohio State University. These concepts have not yet been spun into viable businesses. They are availbe for licensing to entrepreneurs who have a strong plan. You and your team are invited to develop your pitch around one of these concepts, and if you wish, may then persue the idea in earnest by seeking a licensing agreement. Contact Matt Vollrath at mdvollra@owu.edu to learn more about these opportunities.
- Brainstorming worksheet
- Business Canvas template
