Science 3K Pitch Competition
Welcome to the Science 3K Pitch Competition hosted by the Science Innovation Hub at UM Faculty of Science. This competition is your opportunity to pitch your ideas to researchers and industry experts.
Join us on April 4, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Marshall McLuhan Hall as science students of all levels pitch their innovative ideas and compete for a chance to win a $3,000 cash prize!
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Competition details
The Science 3K Pitch Competition recognizes and inspires innovation and entrepreneurship in Science. The competition is open to any undergraduate student, graduate student or postdoctoral fellow in the Faculty of Science (or any team with up to 5 members) who has an idea, innovation, invention or technology to pitch and who has undertaken entrepreneurial or commercialization activities or plans to do so in future.
Students must apply to be eligible to pitch at the Science 3K Pitch Competition.
Pitch training, coaching and mentorship will be offered by the Science Innovation Hub to all selected applicants to help support and prepare you for the pitch competition.
If you do not have a commercialization or entrepreneurship plan, but you do have an idea, innovation, invention or technology, we will support you in developing some commercialization or entrepreneurship plans for your pitch.
Information sessions (virtual)
- Wednesday, November 27, 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 7, 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 15, 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 21, 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 29, 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Eligibility and evaluation
Eligibility
The pitch competition is open to all current undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows in the Faculty of Science who have an idea, invention, or technology to pitch and who have undertaken or plan to undertake entrepreneurial or commercialization activities. If you are a recent science graduate student (within 6 months of defending your thesis), you are eligible to apply.
Applicants may be individuals or teams of up to five members. The primary applicant and presenter have to be from the Faculty of Science. The prize will be distributed equally to all registered team members. All team members need to be registered on the application form.
At least one member must be a Faculty of Science student or postdoctoral fellow and that team member must:
- be the primary applicant and
- have contributed substantially to the idea or entrepreneurial activities and not merely be a spokesperson.
I don't have a business plan. Can I still apply?
Yes! You do not need to have a business or even a comprehensive business plan to apply. Research and development activities are considered as entrepreneurial and commercialization activities if they are undertaken to advance the technology readiness or commercial feasibility of your idea, technology, or invention.
My innovation, invention or discovery is part of a research project. Can I still apply?
If the idea, innovation, invention, or technology submitted is the result of a collaborative research project or PI-driven project, the student applying needs to be a significant contributing factor in the idea, innovation, invention, or technology and/or to entrepreneurial and commercialization plans surrounding it, and not just a spokesperson.
My innovation, invention or discovery is not part of a research project. Can I still apply?
If you are a current undergraduate or graduate student in Faculty of Science or a current postdoctoral fellow in Faculty of Science you are eligible to apply, even if your idea, innovation, or invention is not the result of a scientific research project and your commercialization plans do not involve scientific research and development.
My idea, invention or technology was the result of team effort or collaboration. Can I still apply?
Teams of up to five members may apply provided:
- The primary applicant is a current undergraduate or graduate student or postdoc in Faculty of Science
- A current undergraduate student, graduate student or postdoc in Faculty of Science has contributed to the idea or entrepreneurial activities substantially and is not merely a spokesperson
However, this question is best addressed on a case by case and individual basis.
Please contact Christa Kruck to determine if your idea is eligible for this competition.
Evaluation
Applications to the Science Spark 3K Pitch Competition presented by BAM will be evaluated by a selection committee and selected applications will be invited to pitch at the Science Innovation Showcase.
Applicants will be notified whether they will be invited to participate in the pitch competition.
The pitch competition will be judged by external judges and the top prize will go to the individual or team with the highest score.
Applications are now open! Application process
Once you have reviewed the eligibility criteria, apply using the following Microsoft Form.
Past competitions
2023 Science Spark Pitch Competition presented by Thompson Dorfman Sweatman, TDS Law
On April 27, 2023, 11 students pitched their innovative ideas and technologies as they competed for a $3,000 cash prize. Thank you to all our amazing presenters!
Congratulations to our winner, Daniel Heschuk, and the team of Laura Los, Ian Kruk, and Shayna Giesbrecht, our audience choice winners.
2023 sponsors
2024 Science Spark Pitch Competition presented by Bioscience Association Manitoba (BAM)
On April 8, 2024, 9 student teams shared their big ideas in front of students, faculty and industry experts as they competed for a $3,000 cash prize. Thank you to our incredible teams for all their hard work!
Congratulations to the winning team of Randi Roy and Harman Gill, and the team of Jessica Marinelli, Anotidaishe Chimutsa, Rudra Patel, Oyinksansola Oyateru and Kevin Lim, winners of the audience choice award.
2024 sponsors
- University of Manitoba Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilization, and Innovation Office
- Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship – Asper School of Business
- Tech Manitoba
Contact us
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Daniel Heschuk
Program Development Specialist
W230 Duff Roblin
Daniel.Heschuk@umanitoba.ca