Compete for prizes and win the Youth Entrepreneurship Competition title! Show your Pittsburgh Pride!
Engage Your Youth In Interactive Project-Based Learning
Receive Free Training & 10 Hour Project-Based Curriculum
Help Your Youth Become The CEO Of Their Own Lives
BUILD.org is excited to announce our 2023 Southwestern PA Youth Pitch Competition! Youth business teams from schools and community based organizations across Greater Pittsburgh will compete in BUILD’s Design Challenge to create a product, service, or campaign to support a thriving community. This entrepreneurship competition highlights BUILD's mission to arm youth with real world experiences and skills.
Each youth team will create a pitch, alongside an educator sponsor, and submit a video to enter the competition. On April 20th, the top 4 youth pitches will compete LIVE in front of a panel of judges at BUILDFest for nearly $10,000 in prizes for youth and educators!
Engage Your Youth In Interactive Project-Based Learning
Receive Free Training & 10 Hour Project-Based Curriculum
Help Your Youth Become The CEO Of Their Own Lives
BUILD.org is excited to announce our 2023 Southwestern PA Youth Pitch Competition! Youth business teams from schools and community based organizations across Greater Pittsburgh will compete in BUILD’s Design Challenge to create a product, service, or campaign to support a thriving community. This entrepreneurship competition highlights BUILD's mission to arm youth with real world experiences and skills.
Each youth team will create a pitch, alongside an educator sponsor, and submit a video to enter the competition. On April 20th, the top 4 youth pitches will compete LIVE in front of a panel of judges at BUILDFest for nearly $10,000 in prizes for youth and educators!
2023 SWPA Finalists
Please congratulate the top four teams who have made to the finals, and will compete at BUILDFest for the winning title!
What class can the Design Challenge be implemented in?
The Design Challenge can be implemented in all settings with teens. Educators across the country have delivered the Design Challenge in academic courses, CTE classes, enrichment programs, and at Community-Based Organizations and nonprofits (Ex. Boys & Girls Club). The challenge takes about 10 hours to implement. It can be incorporated as a project-based learning unit to help youths learn empathy and practice designing solutions for communities.
What are the due dates for the challenge?
All competition video submissions are due by end of the day of March 20th.
Where should I submit my teen’s video?
Competition video submissions should be submitted at this link. The submission form asks for the following:
Name and emails of the youths that make up the business team
The name of the business
The school or organization the youths represent
The educator’s name and contact information
A shareable link to the video
A shareable link to an accompanying powerpoint or slide deck
Confirmation of completed Educator and Youth Reflection Forms
How long does it take to progress through the Challenge?
It takes about 10 hours to progress through all 5 stages of the design challenge and to prepare the pitch.
When will the final teams compete?
The final 4 teams will meet during the school day on Thursday, April 20th, between 9am-2pm to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges.
What happens after we submit our video pitch?
You will be informed on Friday, March 17th if your team will advance to the next round! If yes, teams should be prepared to deliver their pitch live on Zoom to a panel of judges on either Tuesday, March 29th, or Wednesday, March 30th. The top 4 teams from this round will move on to the finals on April 20th, 2023.
What is the difference between my pre-recorded pitch and in-person presentation?
The video pitch should be 2-3 minutes long. Your in-person presentation may last between 2-5 minutes in order to give teams more time to thoroughly explain the details of their business pitch with the judges.
Thank You To Our Partners
Thank You To Our Partners
Watch last year's competition!
Watch last year's competition!
want to talk with us?
Thinking of participating and have questions or would like to learn more information from a BUILD staff member?
Please email Emily Donato at EDonato@BUILD.org.
Presentation & Slide Preparation
Each business team should submit a 2-4 minute video of their business pitch.
On the video submission form, students should submit a video and the accompanying slide deck
1. Introduction – Greet the audience and introduce yourselves
2. Empathize: Meet our client – Introduce your client and describe their characteristics
3. Define: Point of View (POV) statement – State your POV problem statement (what problem or need you are trying to address with your idea)
4. Ideate: Our idea – State your team’s product/service/campaign idea that aims to help your client
5. Prototype - Your prototype is an example of your product/service/campaign. It can be a skit, storyboard, or physical model. Show a picture of your idea prototype, act it out, or show it for the camera! Explain how your product/service works, or explain how you will launch and run your campaign
1. iPhone, iPad, Zoom and Loom are all choices of recording tools for their video presentation
2. Record with both students and their presentation in view
3. Record horizontally for the best view of the students and their presentation
4. Follow Presentation Diagram to the Right
PRESENTATION TIPS.
- Make eye contact with the camera
- Notecards may be used as cue cards
•Pro Tip: Notecards should avoid having a full script
- Even when you are not speaking, don’t forget the camera is still recording!
•Be aware of your body language while you and your business partners are speaking
- Everyone has an opportunity to speak
- Professional dress is encouraged
- Practice makes perfect
•Practice how you will transition from each speaker
•Project your voice when you speak
Follow positioning format Above
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