Entry requirements
  • All HBAP students, enrolled as of May 2021 and alumni, are invited to participate.

  • Students who enroll in HBAP after May 2021 can ask to join an existing team or form a new team, initial pitch decks must be submitted by the end of phase 1 (see details below). Some workshops and events will be open to all students, whether or not they are participating in the competition.

  • Students can only be on one team (one student cannot be on multiple teams in supporting roles, not even as an advisor).

  • Students who previously submitted an idea to the ideation activity or pitch competitions but were not selected as finalists/winners, may submit a more developed version of their idea, but must be able to show that they've iterated on or honed their idea since the prior submission.

  • Previous finalists and winners of the pitch competition and ideation activity are not eligible to submit the same idea, but may join the pitch competition with a new idea. Previous finalists of the pitch competition and ideation activity can join the annual pitch competition with a new idea.

  • Students are permitted to work individually or in teams of up to 4 people. We encourage students to team up with peers to strengthen their founding team. One student must be named as the founder/CEO and main point person. Teams can include non-HBAP members but those members may not be able to access workshops or other program resources.

  • Students are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the pitch competition program throughout the timeline. Teams must submit their initial pitch deck at the end of phase 1 to be considered a qualified entry. 

  • The pitch competition organizers reserve the right to restrict access to workshops/resources if participants do not adhere to the policies or miss submission deadlines.

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection