Viking Business Pitch Competition

All current Salem State University students are eligible to participate. This includes students from the College of Arts and Sciences, Bertolon School of Business, Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services, School of Education, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Previous years' SSU business competition’s participants can participate again if they meet the above conditions, but ideas that advanced to the second round in previous years cannot be repeated. Individual students or teams (up to three members) are eligible to submit their applications.

All applicants must be available to present their business pitch in person in the first round and the final round.

To apply for the competition, applicant(s) must complete the following steps by 11:59 pm (ET), Friday, February 28, 2025.

1. Review and complete the application form
2. Create a business pitch PowerPoint presentation and upload it with the application form. The PowerPoint must have no more than 6 slides (including title slide). You are welcome to provide appendix slides (no more than 3) to cover additional information, but the appendix is not intended for the main presentation.

1) Define the opportunity: Provide evidence to show there is demand for your business idea (industry statistics, market trends, market size etc.)

2) Identify the specific problem you are looking to solve for customers

3) Describe your business idea

4) Explain what new value you can provide customers with; what problems you solve; how you are better than competitors

5) Identify next steps; resources needed; use of funds

Competition Judging Criteria and Example Slides

Download this year's judging criteria.

Download an example of business pitch slides.

• At least one team member must be available to present in person in the first round, and on April 8 if advance to the final round.
• All applicants must agree to be video recorded and sign a photo release.
• All applicant(s) must agree that the materials they are submitting are their original work and that applicant(s) are not under any restrictions/prohibitions that prevent them from sharing this work for the purposes of this competition. The applicant(s) will always retain all rights to the materials regarding their use prior to and following the event.
• The applicant(s) are solely responsible for the confidentiality and legal protection of their ideas.
• Applicant(s)’ work including information about their presentations will be made available on the Salem State University website, and may be used in other online and print media for promotional materials. 

• Business pitch practice session: Hosted by the Center of Entrepreneurship, presenters can get feedback on their presentation skills and content of slides by Salem State faculty and MSBDC staff.
• SSU library has a variety of business databases, including IBIS World and Statista for industry and market research.

Questions about this year's Viking Business Pitch? Contact Professor Jian Gu at jgu@salemstate.edu.