The largest pitch competition at Columbia University since 2013.
Do You Have a Startup Idea?
Would you like feedback from CU alumni?
Enter Fast Pitch, Columbia Engineering’s campus-wide annual elevator pitch competition, and win money to support your idea. Teams have 60 seconds to sell their business ideas to a panel of judges to win up to $5,000. Fast Pitch is Columbia’s longest running pitch competition on campus since 2013.
The Competition

Sign up for alerts and notifications about the next Fast Pitch competition.
Enter Fast Pitch, Columbia Engineering’s campus-wide annual elevator pitch competition, and win money to support your idea. Teams have 60 seconds to sell their business ideas to a panel of judges to win up to $5,000. Fast Pitch is Columbia’s longest running pitch competition on campus.
Are we eligible to apply?
Can another team member pitch for my team?
Winners of Fast Pitch 2022
✨Undergraduate Challenge
Graduate Challenge

Lion Market
First place for undergraduates went to team Lion Market, represented by Christian Valadez (SEAS ‘24) and Christhian Salazar (CC ‘23). The Lion Market team suggested an app for Columbia students to safely buy and sell, winning a $1,200 prize.

RePlaste: Creating Sapor™️
In the graduate group, Hamza Haider (SPS ‘23) came in first for a $1,200 prize with RePlaste: Creating Sapor™️ – Marble of the Future. Hamza presented the idea of reducing plastic pollution by recycling plastic wastes into solid blocks.

Plugged
Undergraduate team Plugged, represented by a solo competitor, Gal Lev Ari (GS ‘26), came in second place, winning $800. Gal presented a platform connecting artists to businesses through live performances.

Airflow Seating System Technologies
Cooper Shifrin (SEAS ‘23) came in second place and won $800 with Airflow Seating System Technologies. Cooper pitched a medical mattress technology that eliminates pressure injuries.

Blush
Another solo player, Kentrie Tran (SEAS ‘25), came in third place, winning $400. Kentrie competed with her idea of a new social networking platform, Blush, that provides a safe sexual environment.

Elivio Health
Albert Go (SEAS ‘22) came in third place for $500 with Elivio Health. Albert aims to use Elivio Health to redefine postoperative care.
Audience Choice Award

Apart from the places, Graduate/Alumni Team Sourceable, run by Lena Arkawi (SIPA ‘22) and Siddhant Rajeev Kumar (SEAS ‘23), won the Audience Choice Award, receiving $100 prizes. Sourceable presented a platform that provides verified data in real-time.
Timeline for the Fast Pitch Competition
Video requirements:
- 60 seconds
- 1 – 2 people pitching for the team
- no slides (a custom zoom background with your team logo is encouraged)
- record in landscape on your phone or laptop
- use good lighting and audio – these are crucial
Columbia alumni and members of NYC’s venture community will review your pitch and provide you with feedback before the live event.
Applicants will be contacted a week before the live event to pitch the evening of November 16th on campus.