Energy Week Pitch Competition
What’s your bright idea to save energy and reduce carbon emissions? NC State’s Energy Week Pitch Competition is your chance to share your idea with energy industry judges and win cash prizes.
About the Competition
The goals of this event are to build on NC State’s culture of innovation and entrepreneurship while also exploring creative solutions for meeting energy-saving and carbon reduction goals. Student participants will compete for prizes while also gaining public speaking experience and having the opportunity to share their idea with energy industry judges. Additionally, all participants have the option of uploading their resume, which will be shared with judges and partners.
Event Sponsors:
Judges:
- James Flynn, Pickett Engineering
- Wendi Runyon, Schneider Electric
- Rebecca Diederich, NC State Energy Management
- Zach Williams, NC State Office of Research and Innovation
Submit A Pitch
Submissions were due Sept. 20 by 5 p.m.
- Pitches should highlight your creative solution to help North Carolina and NC State meet our goals for saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.
- Participants must be currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students.
- You may compete as an individual or as a team.
- Submit a 90-second video that may contain a single slide or visual element. These videos must be submitted as a public-accessible YouTube link.
- The competition will take place in two rounds. Winners from the first round will make it to the final round.
- The final round is on Sept. 27 at 7 pm (see event details and registration) and will include questions from the judges and audience polling.
- Resources that may be helpful: technology lending from the University Libraries and the NC State Annual Energy and Water Report.
- Top three winners will receive awards.
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $250
- Third Place: $100
Scores will be tallied in the following areas to select a winner.
| Poor (1 point) | Fair (2 points) | Good (3 points) | Excellent (4 points) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem Statement | Did not clearly explain the problem | Problem explained, but no connection to applications | Problem and connection to application explained | Clearly and simply described the problem and application |
| Proposed Solution | Did not clearly explain the solution | Solution explained but not well connected to problem | Solution explained and connected to problem | Exhibits clear expertise in how solution connects to problem |
| Broader Impact | Did not discuss benefits of the technology | Minimal description of benefits | Adequate description of benefits | Clear, compelling description of benefits |
| Call To Action | Call to action not included | Call to action is unclear or not compelling | Call to action is clear and well-articulated but only somewhat compelling | Call to action leaves you wanting to get started or yearning to learn more |
| Presentation Polish | Presentation was not well rehearsed and/or substantially exceeded the time limit | Presentation was generic and/or slightly exceeded the time limit | Presentation was engaging and within the time limit | Presentation was amazing and ended right on time |