Pitch Competitions
Peak25 features three pitch competitions designed to inspire innovation and celebrate entrepreneurship. From student ideas to groundbreaking outdoor recreation startups, these events provide a platform to share your vision, connect with experts, and compete for valuable resources and funding.
Mini Pitch
January 30th 5-7pm | Innovation Hall at NMU
The Mini Pitch is a competition for U.P. students to gain experience in entrepreneurship and innovation, hosted virtually to encourage participation without the pressure of presenting on stage. After our panel of judges review the submissions, eight finalists with be chosen. Everyone will be invited to a reception on January 30th for viewing of the submissions and final judging. Applications are open until January 16, 2025. Students can apply by submitting a video (3 minutes or less) describing their innovative product or business idea.
The Big Pitch
1:00-4:00 | Forest Roberts Theatre
The Big Pitch is the culminating event of the annual New Business Venture Competition at NMU. The campus and Marquette communities are welcome to attend this "Shark Tank" style competition where students pitch their ideas to a panel of judges as they try to win thousands of dollars to get their business ideas off the ground. Designed to encourage entrepreneurial activity among students by recognizing and rewarding those who present detailed plans on designing and creating new business enterprises, drawing on their own ideas and inventions or those of others, the competition provides a forum for these students to: Present their new venture plans to investors, receive meaningful feedback, have the opportunity to start a new business, apply classroom learning to real-world project. The business plans must propose ventures that will be financially profitable, create new jobs, and be lawful.
Outdoor Innovation Pitch
1:00-4:00 | Forest Roberts Theatre
During Peak25, competitors will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. Pitch competition finalists will compete live on stage on Friday, February 21, 2025, at the Forest Roberts Theatre on Northern Michigan University's campus in Marquette, MI for the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes. Eligibility: Michigan-based startup company Eligible companies must be focused on outdoor recreation Eligible companies should have received less than $2,500,000 in private-sector investments Eligible companies should have less than $1,500,000 in revenue in the immediately preceding 12-month period. How to apply: Complete this application form and upload a pitch deck or executive summary. Pitch deck requirements and instructions on how to upload are provided below. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM EST on Friday, January 31, 2025. Grand Prize: One (1) "Grand Prize" will be awarded. The "Grand Prize" winner will receive up to $50,000 in services and investments from the MI Outdoor Innovation Fund* **Investment from the MI Outdoor Innovation Fund is pending the results of the competition, completion of due diligence, and will be provided in investment in the form of a convertible note or SAFE. Make it in Michigan Award: One (1) "Make it in Michigan Award" will be awarded and the winner will receive up to $5,000 in product development services. The "Make it in Michigan Award" is sponsored by Centrepolis Accelerator, Innovate Marquette, and the MI Outdoor Innovation Fund.** **The "Make it in Michigan Award" winner will receive product development services up to $5,000 in value. The services will be available through Centrepolis Accelerator and/or other Michigan service providers. Eligible services include product design, engineering, prototyping and/or manufacturing readiness services. Applying companies will be reviewed and the finalists will be invited to advance to the live pitch competition. Finalists will pitch live to a panel of judges on Friday, February 21, 2025, in Marquette, MI.