HCC PitchFest Competition & EXPO

Unleash Your Innovative Potential at the HCC Spring 2025 Entrepreneur PitchFest!

Are you an HCC student with a groundbreaking idea or innovative project? The HCC Spring 2025 Entrepreneur PitchFest is your platform to showcase your technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision.

This competition invites HCC students to present their creative solutions and innovative projects with the potential for real-world impact and market viability. All engineering-focused ideas and innovations are encouraged!

Compete for up to $3,000 in cash prizes, sponsored by the Southwest Center for Entrepreneurship, to fuel the development of your venture.

The PitchFest is designed to foster an environment where engineering ingenuity meets entrepreneurial drive. We're looking for innovative approaches to address significant challenges and create impactful solutions.

Submit your application outlining your engineering concept between February 21 and May 2! Application Below.

Finalists will have the opportunity to present their ideas at the Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 9, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the West Loop Campus.

This is more than just a competition; it's a chance to gain valuable feedback, network with entrepreneurial resources, and potentially launch your engineering innovation into a successful business. HCC is committed to supporting student entrepreneurs and harnessing the power of engineering talent to drive innovation and create impactful ventures.

Key Highlights for Engineers:

  • Focus on Innovation: Showcase your technical solutions and engineering ingenuity.
  • Entrepreneurial Focus: Present your idea with a business-oriented perspective.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with mentors and resources in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
  • Seed Funding Potential: Compete for cash prizes to help bring your engineering venture to life.

Don't miss this opportunity to turn your engineering expertise into a thriving entrepreneurial endeavor!

More about the competition

The HCC PitchFest competition allows students to share and showcase their creative ideas and innovation projects. Individuals or teams can compete in the competition by delivering a pitch to a panel of judges. Students should pitch a product or service, exploring innovative approaches to market gaps and needs.

OnDemand Sessions:

  1. PITCHFEST@HCC On-Demand Training Sessions
  2. Verizon Small Business Digital Skills: 40+ Courses, free from Verizon)

SPRING@2025 Live Sessions: 

  1. The Inventor's Patent Academy (2/18: Noon-2 p.m., 2/25: Noon-2 p.m., 3/4: Noon-2 p.m.)
  2. How to Build and Train your AI Models (2/28: 5:30 p.m., 3/8: 9 a.m., 3/24: 5:30 p.m., 3/31: 5:30 p.m.) 
  3. Rice University - Engineering Networking event: 2/28 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.): RSVP to ravi.brahmbhatt@hccs.edu by 2/26.
  4. CCIC at HCC - Student Innovation Challenge 
  5. Codefest at HCC South Campus - 4/12

The criteria are based on solving the societal need that has high impact (affects many), sustainable (Eco-friendly/Green), creates value or fills a gap, and can (or has) be prototyped, tested, or validated.

Ideas will be judged on the following primary criteria:

  • Social Impact (Number of people impacted or lives affected)
  • Economic Impact (value creation)
  • Environmental Impact (Sustainability/Green Footprint)
  • Completeness/Delivery(Presentation/Team)
  • The originality of Idea (Ownership/IP by the student(s))

1. Provide a Pitch Presentation. 
(Download a sample template) - (Google doc)

2. Provide a Visual Concept of the idea, if applicable

  • Photo/Drawing/Other
  • 3d Printed Sample or design

3. Develop a short video* pitch (Optional - but recommended)

  • Post it on YouTube as a public video or an unlisted video

*Need help recording your pitch?

Visit the HCC One Button Studio at any of the following campus libraries:

  • HCC Spring Branch Campus
  • HCC Central Campus Library
  • HCC Alief Hayes - West Houston Institute Learning Commons

Entrepreneurial Initiatives

Dr. Maya Durnovo

Chief, Entrepreneurial Initiatives Officer