competitions

Rise tothe Challenge

Compete for $30,000 on May 1. 

UBalt's longest-running business pitch competition is open to you moving your ideas forward. "Rise to the Challenge" promises to be UBalt’s most exciting competition of the year. 

13th Annual Rise to the Challenge Pitch Competition

Showcase your Entrepreneurial Spririt and bring your business ideas to life!

Competition Timeline:

  • Jan. 27, 2025: Submission Portal Opens
  • Feb. 28, 2025: Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m.
  • Mar. 10, 2025: Finalist Announced
  • May 1, 2025: Live Final (an in-person event)

Application for
Rise to the Challenge

Apply Now

Competition Rules and Eligibility

This competition could be just what you need to bring your unique idea to fruition or take your existing business to the next level. There are two categories in which you can compete:

  • Aspiring Business Idea
  • Existing Businesses

Open to all currently enrolled University of Baltimore students and "Recent} Alumni (graduated after May 2015). The competition has two categories:

  • Aspiring Business Idea
  • Existing Business

Aspiring Business Idea Eligibility:

  1. Current UBalt students, or alumni who graduated after May 2015
  2. An idea for a business earning revenue and/or external investment less than $5,000 (pre- revenue)
  3. Previous "Aspiring Business Idea" winners for this competition are NOT eligible.

Existing Business Eligibility:

  1. Current UBalt student or alumni who have graduated after May 2015
  2. Business generating revenue, or has external investment of more than $5,000
  3. Previous first-place winners for this are NOT eligible. "Attman Competition" first-place winners also are not eligible. 
     
  • Max five (5) members per team
  • Participants can join only one team
  • Teams must be formed at time of entry
  • Cash prizes will be equally distributed among all team members
  • Participants can have only one entry (individual or team member)
  1. Complete online entry application
  2. Submit a one-minute video pitch
  3. Executive summary not more than (2) two pages (Financials as Appendix accepted)
  4. Submissions may be revised up until deadline (February 27, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.).
  5. Participants may not contact judges during the course of the competition.
  6. The proposed or existing idea should, to the best of your knowledge, not be in violation of any intellectual property right.
  7. Entries that do not meet the above rules and requirements will automatically be disqualified.
  8. Intellectual Property - Ideas have little value until they are developed into actual companies or have issued patents. With that said, you should only disclose information with which you are comfortable. At this juncture, it is not necessary to explain exactly how you do something to the point that it might give away secrets. However, realize the opportunity and how you can take advantage of it.

Round 1

 

  1. Entrants MUST use the application link listed on the page
  2. Electronic submission of:
    1. Complete entry application
    2. Submit a one-minute video pitch
    3. Executive summary not more than (2) two pages (Financials as Appendix accepted)\
  3. Each First Round submission will be reviewed and judged according to:
    1. Identifying the target customer
    2. Understanding of competitors
    3. Market opportunities and competition
    4. Product/Service viability
    5. Business model sustainability
    6. Overall attractiveness of the opportunity

Final "Live" Round

  1. On May 1, 2025, at 5:30-8:00 p.m., contestants present their business pitch in three (3) minutes or less to a panel of judges.
  2. Entrants who do not present in the final round will be disqualified.
  3. Judges’ decisions are final.