Governor's School for Entrepreneurs Collegiate Pitch Competition!

Governor's School for Entrepreneurs Collegiate Pitch Competition! Compete for Funds to Pursue Your Dreams! Through its Collegiate Pitch competition, The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) encourages innovation and entrepreneurship by engaging students from Kentucky’s colleges and universities with an opportunity to develop and pursue their business ideas.  The competition rewards business models judged by an independent panel as the most innovative and complete, and the most likely to result in successful ventures that create new jobs for Kentuckians. All university and college students throughout Kentucky are encouraged to compete.  

The competition is organized and governed by the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs with support from the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet and KY Inno.  

For all eligibility rules and frequently asked questions, click here to read more.

Rules and exceptions are up to the discretion of the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. Direct any questions about eligibility to the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs at info@kentuckygse.com  

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Read the Rules and Guidelines
• Lined-up your faculty advisor
• The desire to base your business in Kentucky

Collegiate Pitch offers two tracks:

An Exploratory Track for newly formed ideas, and a Developed Track for more advanced ventures and existing companies.  

Collegiate Pitch is divided into three rounds: (1) a business model submission, (2) a video submission, and (3) a pitch during the final event. Up to 16 teams will be chosen based on the judging results from the business model submission, and only those teams advance to rounds 2 and 3 of the Collegiate Pitch competition. Typically, there will be up to 8 teams for each Track, but this can vary based on the submissions.

The final event culminates with an awards presentation where judges determine the winners of the following cash prizes.  Final Competition Awards  Competition prizes are scaled to provide larger prize packages for existing ventures, or those that are more developed and closer to commercialization. Smaller prize packages are awarded for business models or ideas in earlier stages of development.  

Developed Business Track Prizes:

1st Place: $15,000  

2nd Place: $7,000  

3rd Place: $5,000  

Exploratory Business Track Prizes:  

1st Place: $5,000  

2nd Place: $3,500  

3rd Place: $1,500  

Important Dates & Deadlines

December 4, 2023
Intent to Compete Due - click here to fill out the intent to compete form

February 2, 2024
Business Models Due

February 12, 2024
Selected Teams Announced

February 26, 2024
Pitch Deck & 90-Second Highlight Video Due

March 2 or March 3, 2024
Pitch Event in Louisville, Kentucky