SEMO Pitch competition showcases student creativity

Southeast and Catapult Creative House believe they thrive off students’ creative ideas and unique initiatives. That is why Catapult is holding its annual SEMO Pitch Competition for the spring semester.

For the competition, students are asked to come up with a business plan of any kind that is complete, feasible and could attract future investors. Judges will narrow the pitches down to the top three, who will then move on to present their full presentation to the judges.

Students who wish to enter the competition are asked to submit a three-minute video of their pitch, as well as a one to two page summary of their idea by March 27. Judges will then decide the top three contenders for the final presentation on April 15 at Glenn Auditorium.

Southeast senior Gabrione Kent, who entered the pitch competition in the past and placed third, said he finds the competition rewarding for anyone with a business idea, not just people who are pursuing business degrees.

“It gives [students] an idea of how feasible [their pitch] is — what other people think of the idea — because these are professionals that are judging you and giving you feedback,” Kent said. “It makes you kind of aware of if [the pitch] is something that can be done.”

Operations Manager of Catapult Creative House Leah Powers said the competition can also help students prepare for pitching ideas outside of college.

“The competition itself allows students to practice developing an executive summary and pitching to a team of potential investors — key skills for all entrepreneurs,” Powers said. “This prepares students for pitching their concepts outside of the university while providing a broad support base through university resources, faculty and staff. Students are able to reach out to our faculty and staff to workshop their pitches and concepts before their final submission and presentation to the judges.”

Information sessions are mandatory for those who wish to enter the competition. Since the final information session was on Feb. 26, Powers said a private informational meeting will be granted upon request.

The first-place team will receive a grand prize of $2,000. Second place will receive $1,000, and third, $500.

For more information about the competition, visit catapultsemo.com/spc. To see the 2019 winning ideas, visit https://news.semo.edu/winners-of-southeasts-2019-startup-pitch-competition-announced/