Cal Poly Pomona's Startup Challenge
Fall Fast Pitch Competition
Application Due Date: November 15, Midnight
Competition: November 21, 2024, 5pm - 7 pm (Library 2nd floor Community Space by Maker Studio)
Prizes: TBA
Spring BSC Competition
Application Due Date: April 11, 2025, Midnight
Competition: April 24th, 2025 (Library 2nd floor Community Space by Maker Studio)
Prizes: TBA
CSU Sunstone Startup Launch
Application Due Date: TBA (Spring 2025)
Competition: TBA (San Francisco State University)
Prizes: TBA
The Bronco Startup Challenge includes a series of workshops, networking events, and business pitch competitions, on and off campus throughout the academic year. The ecosystem is designed to challenge and support students from different backgrounds, specialties, and interests to create a unified vision and bring their ideas to life. From ideation to a solid business plan, the ecosystem facilitates student growth and innovation.
It's also an opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, receive mentorship from successful business leaders, and gain valuable feedback on your ideas. The competition is open to all Cal Poly Pomona students, regardless of major or background. Students can participate in all 3 competitions throughout the academic year or choose which events to participate in.
So, whether you have an existing business or just a great idea, we encourage you to participate in the Bronco Startup Challenge. You'll gain valuable skills, make connections, and have the chance to win prize money to help fund your venture. Don't miss this chance to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality!
2023 Fast Pitch Competition Results
Founders: Sharon Chen, Lucky Hughes, Chris Peacock, Angel Solano, Larissa Wellman
Founders: Rosa Martinez, Yvette Cardenas, Sophia Ha, Kimberly Camargo
Founders: Alyssa Even, Julia Burton, Sydney Daruwala, Sucre Herrera, Aubrey Moran
Founders: Summer Tauch-Hubbard, Josue Ibarra, Jayden Aggers, Amir Samuel, Mike Bernal
2023 Judges and Participants
Judges: Nitin Dvivedi (SCORE Mentor), Maha Ghosn (CPP International Business and Marketing Professor), and Jesus Bermudez (CPP Administrative Analyst)
Timeline
| Date | Event | School(s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Applications Open for Spring Pitch Competition | --- |
| March 31, 2024 | Applications Due for Spring Pitch Competition | --- |
| April 18, 2024 | Spring Pitch Competition | Cal Poly Pomona |
| May 2024 | CSU Startup Launch Competition | California State University, Dominguez Hills |
Challenge Grading Criteria
PROBLEM: What is the significance of the problem/issue being addressed?
SOLUTION: How adequately does the product/solution address the problem?
MARKET: Is the target customer market significant, well-defined, and growing?
COMPETITION: Is the solution clearly differentiated from its competitors?
VALUE: Is the potential for sustainability (revenue, profits and/or measurable social/environmental impact) clearly articulated?
INVESTMENT: How will the prize money be used to further develop the next steps of the concept?
TEAM: How believably or credibly have the presenters demonstrated their ability to actually execute the concept?
PRESENTATION: How is the overall organization and passion of the verbal pitch?
Additional Resources
The Entrepreneurial Workshop series is offered by SIIL during the Spring semester to all students. In this series, we guide you through the foundations of launching your own business and help you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. You can view the recorded webinars HERE.