FAST PITCH

Fast Pitch is Columbia’s longest running pitch competition on campus since 2013. Teams have 60 seconds to sell their business ideas to a panel of judges to win up to $5,000.

Do You Have a Startup Idea?

Apply to compete in Fast Pitch, Columbia Engineering’s campus-wide annual elevator pitch competition to win prize money for your startup idea. Applications will go live in October 2024.

The Competition

60-second pitch

60-second pitch of your business to a panel of judges that includes successful Columbia alumni and members of NYC venture community

$5,000 prize pool

There will be a $2000 prize pool solely for undergraduates and a $3000 pool for the best overall pitches

For CU students and Alumni

Opened to all undergraduate and graduate students across campus. Alumni 2 years out are welcome.* Preference will be given to current students and first time participants

Improve your sales skills

Your elevator pitch could be the most impactful way to convey your business to an outsider. Mastering the skill of the pitch to hook your investors, partners, or customers within the first minute is crucial

No charge

Attendance and participation is free. As for the experience, it’s priceless.

Fast Pitch Competition dates

Video Pitches Due

Submit your application with a link to your video on Younoodle Apply by October 30, 11:59 PM

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

Feedback

Feedback on videos released to applicants November 11 - 15

Columbia alumni and members of NYC’s venture community will review your pitch and provide you with feedback before the live event.

Fast Pitch Live Competition

on November 20

Applicants will be contacted a week before the live event to pitch the evening of November 20 on campus.

Can Columbia alumni apply?

Recently graduated alumni (no more than 2 years; i.e. 2022) can apply.

I have a blended team of Columbia and non-Columbia team members.
Are we eligible to apply?

Yes, however at least 50% of the team must be Columbia students/alumni.

I am unable to pitch live at the event on November 20.
Can another team member pitch for my team?

Yes, actual team members can pitch at the event.

Winners of Fast Pitch 2023

✨Undergraduate Challenge

Graduate Challenge

MabLab

Detecting deadly lacing agents in recreational drugs. Vienna Sparks, Barnard ‘2026; Skye Lam, Harvard ‘2026

Iku Bio

Manufacture bioproducts using electronics. Hooten Sterling, GS ‘2023

Iku Bio

Manufacture bioproducts using electronics. Hooten Sterling, GS ‘2023

Surgonomic Solutions (Tie)

Intuitive, Ergonomic Surgical Instruments. Arvind Nandakumar, SEAS ‘2023

Bulletin

One-stop shop for everything happening on Columbia’s campus. Lucy Chen, CC ‘2023; Ariel Chai Nurieli, GS ‘2025; Rotem Weiss, GS ‘2024

RoachThatWaste (Tie)

Use Cockroaches to Process Mixed Organic Waste. Yuheng Chen, CBS ‘2025

Audience Choice Award

Revive-A-Rhythm

Device that makes CPR easier to perform, SEAS 2024 undergrads Lauren Bazay, Ijeoma G Obi, Carol Xu, Erica Bonheur, Elizabeth Angelina Caso and Hadeel Sajidah Abdul-Rehman.