• Prepare a “7-minute” slide deck which outlines
  • Unique value created, industry & competitor analysis, key customers & stakeholders, operational model, financial plan, and impact potential.         
  • Link to Detailed Criteria Here…
• By 5 p.m. Thursday April 9^th, submit “draft” slide deck to your college/school’s coordinator for consideration:
  • GSB (Erik Monsen), RESNR (Dave Kaufman), CALS (Andrew VanLeuven), CEMS (Keith Doyle), others (Erik Monsen)

2026 Competition

Competition Overview

Undergraduate students from across the University of Vermont are gearing up to present their innovative new venture ideas to a panel of expert entrepreneurial judges from the Vermont community at the upcoming annual UVM Business Pitch Competition on Thursday, April 23, 2026 in Waterman 413 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event brings together projects aimed at addressing contemporary challenges and seizing emerging opportunities. Entrepreneurship fans from UVM and the local community are encouraged to attend this showcase of student innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

Competition Structure

The competition invites UVM students with innovative and impactful plans to start and grow either a business or a mission-driven organization. Participants will craft a short and compelling presentation outlining their business's unique value proposition. Students will be required to demonstrate a viable business solution and plan that addresses an existing consumer need or creates one, identify target markets, and outline operational and management plans for success.

__________

• Compete on Thursday April 23^rd from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Waterman 413.
• Deliver a 7-minute pitch followed by 5-minute expert Q&A.
• Be evaluated by panel of outside experts including UVM Alumni, experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and entrepreneurial advisors

This year’s confirmed competition judges include:

• Noragh Devlin SI-MBA '24, Director @ LaunchVT
• Jesse Stein, Technology Licensing Officer @ UVM Innovations 
• Nicole Eaton '23, Director - Venture Platform @ Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies
• Sarah Kearns, Business Advisor @ Vermont Small Business Development Center
• Eli Moulton, Managing Member @ Moulton Law Group

These expert judges will evaluate the business ideas based on unique value created, industry and competitor analysis, key customers and stakeholders, operational model, financial plan, and impact potential, as well as the quality of pitch delivery and Q&A. 

2026 Judging Criteria (PDF) 

Local community sponsors include Moulton Law Group, Gallagher, Flynn & Company, and Fuse Marketing. These sponsors play a crucial role in supporting the entrepreneurial community within Burlington and across Vermont.

Alumni sponsors include David Aronoff ’86, Jodi Goldstein ’89, and Richard Bass ’66,  who have helped to make this event even more special for our aspiring student entrepreneurs.

At UVM, this cross-campus competition is a collaboration between the Grossman School of Business, Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, UVM’s student Entrepreneurship Club and UVM’s Office of the Vice President of Research.