FastPitch Competition
2018 FastPitch Competition | Save the date! 10.3.18
We’re “Shark Tank” without the bite!
Please click on the link below for an overview of the Competition and NIU-Rockford’s event space.
Stay tuned for more information. Please see below: 2017 news release for an overview of last year’s competition.
2017 FastPitch Competition Post-Competition News Release
An instant success 10 years in the making | Thinker Ventures Blog
2017 FastPitch Competition Winners & Participants
First place: Dr. Trevor Gibbs | Product – Anestand
Second place: Jared Larson | GunkStick
Third place: Elisabeth Stecki | Travel Sufficient Alcohol Kits (TSA-Kit)
Clean Tech Award and Student Award: Chad Wilson | Electric Vehicle Technologies
Dale Falconer, “Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award”: Emarc Malavolti | Fresh2Go
Finalists who made the stage!
Robert Glaser | Virtual Time Capsule
Levi Johnston | AcuTrack | DaVinci Industries
Robert Kuang | Figuro3D
Matthew Noakes | Fantasy Down
Michael Roncke | irockcooler
Aaron Serrano | Military Cost Cutters
Presenters who went the extra mile!
Alyssa Ebert | Feed Fido
Eric Emery | Cool Head
Tom Frank | Pro Athletes Club
Alex Gary | Presidential Poker
Luke Graham | Hivemind
John Gustafson Stone | Ground Whole Wheat Flour | Bear Farms
Martin Hyatte | ANM Athletic Development
Dapo Kolawole | Citispoon
Brandon Kuri | Student Life
Mary Ley | Styr O Tone
Allan Mihelich | CTreeTopUSA
Shana Marotta | Tastefully Healthy Rockford
O’Raphael Okoro | 3rd Grid Generator
Mike Peterson | Tobotics
Andrew Reynolds | Oppspark
Mary Rivera | Jadadom
Omar Saulters | Basketball for Beloit
Nathen Smith | Valet Auto Solutions
Who: Passionate entrepreneurs in all phases of business, including startup, pre-startup or idea stage. High school seniors and college-age students welcome
When: Wednesday, October 3, 2018 | 3:30 p.m. Initial Presentations | 6 p.m. Final Presentations | Open to the Public, 5 PM
Presentation Training-STRONGLY suggested | Tuesday, September 25 and Thursday, September 27, 2017 | 5:30 – 8 PM
Deadline for FastPitch participants to submit their business pitches in writing for pre-qualification is Thursday, September 20; accepted participants will be notified no later than Monday, September 24.
Where: NIU-Rockford, 8500 East State Street, Rockford, IL
Why: To win cash prizes, feedback, and exposure! With a top prize of $5,000 at stake, it will be well worth three minutes of your time! In addition to our traditional first, second, third place prizes, and the student prize, there will also be the Dale Falconer “Spirit of Entrepreneurship” and CleanTech prize.
CleanTech is defined as Companies that seek to increase performance, productivity, and efficiency by minimizing negative effects on the environment.
FastPitch Competition flyer
FastPitch Competition Sponsors
*2018FastPitch Competition_RegistrationForm-coming soon | *May need to choose “Edit View” in Word
The FastPitch Competition is an annual event that draws participants from throughout the region. Starting in 2006, this competition has attracted entrepreneurs in all phases of business from pre-startup, just an idea on a napkin to companies that have been in business or plan to expand with a new service or product. The idea is to answer six key questions (see below) in three minutes or less—your elevator speech—to a select group of judges who are entrepreneurs themselves or that work with entrepreneurs on a regular basis. In business, “three strikes” is generous. If you can’t pitch your product, service or concept in three minutes—you’re outta there!
The FastPitch Competition is your chance to prove the potential of your business idea…meet people who can help you succeed…maybe even win a cash prize! This is no field of dreams: traditionally the top prize that’s awarded is $5,000. All competitors will receive constructive feedback, a fun experience and valuable exposure to investors, business leaders, potential mentors, and media.
Submit your pitch in writing (1,000 words or less) for pre-qualification to Sherry Pritz; verbal presentations only—no PowerPoints. Questions? Call 815.753.2192.
We’re “Shark Tank” without the bite!
FastPitch Competition Signature Sponsors
Contributing Sponsors:
• Camera Craft
• City of Rockford
• First Midwest Group
• Gener8tor
• Growth Dimensions
• J.L. Clark
• Northern Illinois Energy Summit & Expo
• Rockford Buzz
• Rockford Local Development Corporation
• Stillman Bank
• V2 Marketing Communications
• Wipfli
• Wood CPA’s
*ABC’s Shark Tank is not affiliated with this competition.