Make Your Pitch is a video competition in which Ontario high school students are given the opportunity, through a 2-minute video, to pitch their business idea to Expert Judges and to the public for votes.
Successful young entrepreneurs earn themselves a guaranteed spot in Summer Company, a Government of Ontario funded program designed to offer you the chance to be your own boss, receive startup funding of up to $3000 and access to advice and mentorship from local business leaders.
For the past two years, I have had the pleasure of serving as one of the Expert Judges. I am provided a scorecard, asked to review a list of videos and provide feedback to the submittor. I always try to give them something positive and something to work on to make their pitch or idea more solid. Some of the things I review include: the viability of the business (is it realistic, does it fill a need, is there a defined target market), creativity (messaging, brand development, and creative use of the platform provided), and persuasion (their tone/clarity, is there evidence to back up their claims, does their product alter consumer thinking).
To submit your two-minute video about your business idea, see www.makeyourpitch.ca. For tips on how to do an outstanding business pitch, check out 1 Minute To Win It (The Elevator Pitch).
Good luck!