Name: Pitch Competition & Lunch
Start: 2025-06-27T11:30:00-0700
End: 2025-06-27T13:00:00-0700

Friday June 27, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT

Grab your lunch and enjoy one of the most exciting events of the day—the BELL Pitch Competition! Watch as up-and-coming entrepreneurs pitch their boldest ideas for a chance to win $2,500. A panel of judges will offer live feedback and select the winner. Whether you're pitching or spectating, you'll walk away with inspiration and insight.

BELL Summit Pitch Competition: Rules & GuidelinesEvent Date & Time:
📅 Friday, June 27th
⏰ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍UC San Diego Park & Market

Competition OverviewFinalists will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas live in front of a panel of expert judges and an engaged audience of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and government officials.

Eligibility Requirements

Must be a business owner or founder.
Must complete the official Pitch Competition Sign-Up Form by the deadline.
Finalists will be selected and notified by email prior to the event.

Pitch Format

Each finalist will have 3 minutes to present their pitch.
Immediately following the pitch, judges will engage in a 2-minute rapid-fire Q&A session.

Judging CriteriaPitches will be evaluated based on the following four categories:
participants will be evaluated based on the following categories:

Presentation – Clarity, confidence, and engagement of the speaker.
Brand Identification – Clear articulation of brand identity and value proposition.
Product/Service – Quality, usefulness, and differentiation of offering.
Business Plan – Strength of planning, including operations, marketing, and team.
Scalability & Growth – Realistic pathways to growth and expansion.
Uniqueness – Originality and innovation of the idea or model.
Sustainability & Impact – Consideration for environmental, social, or community impact.
Financial Results – Demonstrated traction, revenue, or financial planning.
Contractor Readiness – Is the business positioned to secure government or corporate contracts?

Prizes🏆 1st Place:

$2,000 Cash Prize
In-kind Business Support (marketing packages, website services, mentorship)

🥈 2nd Place:

$500 Cash Prize
In-kind Business Support (marketing packages, website services, mentorship)

Additional Guidelines

Participants must arrive at least 30 minutes early for check-in.
Respect time limits—points may be deducted for exceeding the pitch or Q&A time.
All business ideas must be original and owned by the participant.
Judges' decisions are final.
Pitch application requires submission of a pitch deck PDF.
Last Day to Apply is Saturday June 21st at 11:59PM

For questions or additional information, please contact the event organizer.
🔗 Sign up here: Pitch Competition Sign-Up Form

Speakers

Roosevelt Williams III

CEO and President, Young Black & 'NBusiness

Mr. Roosevelt Williams, III is a native San Diegan who is an industrious, conscientious, disciplined and self-motivated small business owner. He is also the 2025 CEO and President of Young Black & ‘NBusiness, also known as YB&NB. YB&NB is a community organization devoted to serving... Read More →

Karen Bryant

Hospitality Community Engagement Manager, Better Business Bureau

Karen Bryant is the Hospitality Community Engagement Manager at the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where she oversees the organization’s versatile Meeting and Event space. This space includes five conference rooms and an open collaborative area, providing a professional environment... Read More →

Alex Waters

Executive Director, The Program Labs

Alex Waters is the Executive Director of The Program Labs, a nonprofit consultancy providing design, development and operations support for entrepreneurship and workforce training programs. Previously he was the Director of Economic Development and Innovation at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (JCNI), where he designed, launched... Read More →

Friday June 27, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
UC San Diego Park & Market 1100 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Pitch Competition

BELL 5th Annual Business & Government Contracting Summit

Roosevelt Williams III

Karen Bryant

Alex Waters

Get help with the event

BELL 5th Annual Business & Government Contracting Summit

Roosevelt Williams III

Karen Bryant

Alex Waters

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