Awards
We believe that grit, persistence, and hustle correlate with long-term entrepreneurial success. We like to encourage that by sponsoring awards at colleges/universities, incubators/accelerators, workforce development organizations, and similar programs.
School-wide Business Pitch Competition
2023 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Jonah Willard
Pitched Grease Garage, a DIY auto shop for car enthusiasts
“Using the Pitch Creator course allowed me to have a strong foundation for my presentation. It alleviated some of the overwhelming feelings when not knowing where to start, and what to include in my pitch deck”
This is our 7th year working with the University of Baltimore’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. University coaches and mentors used our College Foundation Course to help prepare finalists for their 2023 Rise to the Challenge Business Pitch Competition. We were thrilled to sponsor the Pitch Creator Hustle Award ($500). Congratulations Jonah Willard on Grease Garage!
Entrepreneurial Finance Class
Spring 2023 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winners
“Pitch Creator was instrumental in helping our group outline our pitch and investment summary. The template and resources are both easy-to-use and customizable – which was exactly what we needed.”
At the end of the 2023 spring semester, the Entrepreneurial Finance class at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School held a business pitch competition between ~100 students in all sections of the class. Pitch Creator sponsored its Hustle Award for the team which delivered the best business pitch. Congratulations to Marisa Fraimow, Alex Anderson, Nathan Berger, and Greg Badessa on Flourish Food Allergy App!
Accelerator Demo Day
2023 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Nina Guise-Gerrity
Pitched GFTD app, a wish list and gift-giving app that streamlines sending and receiving gifts
“The Hustle award caps a 10-week accelerator program that demanded excellence. Excited to keep the momentum going and watch my business take off :)”
In April 2023, we were happy to co-sponsor the Pitch Creator Hustle Award for Loyola University of Maryland’s Baltipreneurs Accelerator Demo Day. Congratulations to Nina Guise-Gerrity on GFTD app!
Entrepreneurial Finance Class
Spring 2022 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winners
“We all loved the Pitch Creator course and found it to be so valuable when organizing our pitch!”
Pitch Creator sponsored a Hustle Award ($500) for the team which delivered the best business pitch. Congratulations to Carolyn Kimmick, Todd Andrew, Sarah Morley, and Victoria Simpri on MendAI!
Minority Innovation Weekend
2022 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Dr. Nao Gamo
Founder and CEO, Neurosonics Medical
“Finally, a program that gives specific guidance and concrete examples to craft my pitch deck, and from an investor’s point of view! Pitch Creator helped me to prepare an investment summary and pitch deck in an efficient way, and I quickly started receiving positive feedback from potential investors. This process was especially helpful for me as I shifted my mindset from preparing an academic presentation, to a business presentation.”
In May 2022, the Minority Innovation Weekend held its second annual business pitch competition. We were honored to again sponsor the Pitch Creator Hustle Award ($1,000) for the entrepreneur who made the most improvement during the pitch preparation process. Congratulations to Dr. Nao Gamo on Neurosonics Medical!
Accelerator Demo Day
2022 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Maritza Alcoreza-Dominguez
Founder, Mindful y Radiante
In April 2022, Loyola University of Maryland’s Baltipreneurs Accelerator had its demo day. The University instructors and mentors used our online Foundation Course to prepare entrepreneur finalists for this event. We were excited to sponsor the Pitch Creator Hustle Award ($500) for the entrepreneur who made the most improvement during the pitch preparation process on the learning objectives in our online Foundation Course. Congratulations to Maritza Alcoreza-Dominguez on Mindful y Radiante!
School-wide Business Pitch Competition
2022 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Clarissa Cozart
Founder, Tailored Fit
“Pitch Creator gave me the tools necessary to not only build my investment summary but to create an impactful slide deck from start to finish. I felt confident during my presentation and won the grand prize.”
Video (~1.5 min): 2022 Student Hustle Award – Clarrissa Cozart
This is our sixth year working with the University of Baltimore’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. We were excited to help prepare finalists for their 2022 Rise to the Challenge Business Pitch Competition and sponsor the Pitch Creator Hustle Award ($500).
Intro to Entrepreneurship in Education Class
2021 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winners
Student Team Led by Yurou Liu
“I did not expect to win the competition because there were so many great presenters. I learned a lot from Pitch Creator while preparing for the competition.” – Yurou Liu
In December 2021, The Johns Hopkins School of Education held a virtual, inter-class business pitch competition between 80 students in multiple sections of Introduction to Entrepreneurship in Education (graduate level). Pitch Creator sponsored a Best Pitch Award for a Student Team ($250). Congratulations to Yurou Liu and the BIFROST team!
Minority Innovation Weekend Pitch Competition
2021 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Tina Williams-Koroma
Founder, CyDeploy
“I plan on using the pitch I created for this competition with other investors”
Summary video (45 sec): Hustle Award – Tina
Award video (2.5 min): Hustle Award – Presentation
The Minority Innovation Weekend (MIW) Summer 2021 Pitch Competition and Innovation Marketplace was sponsored by Fearless Technologies and showcased tech-focused startups that have been launched by a founder of color or by founding teams that include a co-founder of color. Pitch Creator was an education partner and we were honored to sponsor our Hustle Award ($1,000) for the entrepreneur who made the most improvement during the pitch preparation process.
School-wide Business Pitch Competition
2021 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Rebecca Thompson
Founder, Crate & Craft Co.
Video (~2.5 min): 2021 Hustle Award – Rebecca Thompson
This is our fifth year working with the University of Baltimore’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. We were thrilled to be an education partner again this year and help prepare the student-entrepreneur finalists for the final business pitch competition. We also sponsored the Pitch Creator Hustle Award ($500) for the entrepreneur who made the most improvement on the core learning objectives in our Foundation Course.
Accelerator Demo Day
2021 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Matthew Featherstone
Founder, Hiatus Cheesecake
“I really wanted to learn how to pitch when I started this, so this award is certainly an accomplishment for me.”
Loyola University of Maryland used our online Foundation Course to prepare 13 entrepreneurs in their Baltipreneurs Accelerator program for their demo day on April 21, 2021. We were excited to sponsor our first Hustle Award ($250) for this event.
School-wide Business Pitch Competition
2020 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
James Soldinger
Founder, Flave
“Pitch Creator is an invaluable resource. It not only helped us to have a more focused pitch but a more focused plan for executing our goals as it pertains to the business.”
Video (~2.5 min): 2020 Hustle Award – James Soldinger
During covid, the University of Baltimore converted their live business pitch competition (“Rise to the Challenge”) to a virtual pitch event. We were honored to participate and sponsor our Hustle Award ($500) for the student entrepreneur who showed the most improvement during the pitch preparation.
School-wide Business Pitch Competition
2019 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Nikia Madison
Video (~2 min): 2019 Pitch Creator Hustle Award – Nikia Madison
For University of Baltimore’s Fall 2019 business pitch competition, Pitch Creator sponsored its Hustle Award ($500) for the student entrepreneur who shows the most improvement during the pitch preparation program.
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School-wide Business Pitch Competition
2018 Pitch Creator Hustle Award Winner
Crystal Santiful
Video (~2.5 min): 2018 Hustle Award – Crystal Santiful
For University of Baltimore’s Fall 2018, “Attman Competitive Business Prize,” Pitch Creator sponsored its Hustle Award ($500) for the student entrepreneur who showed the most improvement during the pitch preparation program.