Information & Eligibility

The ACBSP Student Pitch Competition is your opportunity to bring bold, entrepreneurial ideas to a global stage. Whether you're pitching a product, service, or social initiative, this competition offers students from ACBSP member institutions the chance to gain exposure, refine their business thinking, and compete internationally for recognition.

What Is the Competition?

The ACBSP Student Pitch Competition 2026 invites students from ACBSP member institutions to develop and present bold, original ideas that have the potential to create meaningful impact in business, education, or society. This is not a business plan competition for existing companies or ventures already on the market. Rather, it is a platform to pitch early-stage, creative concepts that are still in development or the ideation phase. We are looking for fresh, innovative thinking - the kind of idea you would develop in a classroom, lab, or incubator, not something that's already launched or for sale.

Participants submit a short video pitch and a written executive summary. Regional finalists will compete in a live final round at the ACBSP Annual Conference, held in Phoenix, Arizona from June 11-13, 2026.

Who Is Eligible?

The competition is open to:

Students currently enrolled at institutions that are members of ACBSP, or who were enrolled within the past academic year (July of the prior year through June of the year of the competition).
Individuals or teams (maximum 4 per team).
Each team must have an assigned faculty or staff mentor.
Teams must submit a signed Letter of Support from their institution.

Note: A team may include students from outside institutions, but the lead student and letter of support must come from the ACBSP member institution.

International Participation

ACBSP encourages participation from students around the world. International teams must:
Begin visa and documentation processes immediately if selected as regional finalists.
- ACBSP welcomes and encourages participation from international students. All submissions and live presentations must be in English. If selected, international teams are invited to attend the final round of the competition in person in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Because wait times for visa appointments are often long and unpredictable, international students are strongly encouraged to make their visa appointments immediately after submitting their materials, even before finalists are announced. Appointments can always be canceled later if the team is not selected. However, waiting until finalists are announced could result in an inability to travel to the competition due to lack of appointment availability.
ACBSP will provide an official invitation letter to support visa applications upon request once finalists are selected. Each finalist team will receive $2,500 in travel support from ACBSP. Any remaining costs must be covered by the student team or their institution.
Ensure that at least one team member is proficient in English (all submissions and presentations must be in English).
Assign a mentor willing and able to travel to the U.S. for the final competition.
Understand that ACBSP provides a $2,500 travel stipend per finalist team, but additional travel costs (flights, lodging, meals) must be covered by the institution, region, or student team.

What Are the Submission Requirements?

To be considered, each team must submit the following by their region’s deadline:

Pitch Video
- Up to 7 minutes, recorded in advance
- Must clearly explain:
  - The problem or opportunity
  - Your solution (product/service/idea)
  - Market or audience
  - Implementation plan
  - Team strengths
  - Financial plan (if applicable)
Executive Summary (2-3 pages)
- Must include:
  - A compelling introduction or "grab"
  - Clear problem/opportunity statement
  - Description of the proposed solution
  - Competitive analysis or market fit
  - Business model or operational plan
  - Financial outlook or scalability
  - A concluding ask or vision for next steps
Institutional Letter of Support
- Signed by a dean or senior administrator
- Must confirm:
  - Financial support for any costs beyond ACBSP's $2,500 stipend
  - Commitment to assign and send a faculty/staff mentor to the final event
  - Endorsement of the team and their submission

What Happens Next?

Each ACBSP region will judge submissions and select one winning team to advance to the semi-final round. The top four overall teams will be invited to compete in-person in Phoenix.

Regional deadlines vary. Please consult your region's website (acbsp.org/regions) or contact your regional leadership for details.

The four finalists will receive: