The 2020 Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition – where Cal State San Bernardino students will have the opportunity to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams by presenting their business venture ideas to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs for cash prizes – is accepting submissions.

The competition, held by CSUSB’s Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, is accepting entries until Sunday, Sept. 27 by midnight.

Up to 15 student entrepreneurs will be chosen as semi-finalists from the initial submissions. The semi-finalists will receive mentoring and coaching in preparation for making a 90-second pitch to the panel of investors at the qualifying virtual event on Oct. 8. Each fast pitch is judged for the quality of the presentation and its investment potential.

At the Oct. 8 event, three finalists will be chosen to make a final pitch at the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards set filming on Oct. 20, at which time the cash prizes will be awarded with a top prize of $4,000.

The following criteria must be followed to enter the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition:

  • All students entering must be currently enrolled at Cal State San Bernardino at the undergraduate or graduate level.
  • All students will pitch proposed potential business ideas or current businesses that have been in operation less than 1 year.
  • All submitted materials must be the original work of the student.

Entering is simple: Students can visit the Garner Holt Student Fast Pitch Competition entry form website and provide their contact information, Coyote ID and describe their potential business idea in 250 words or less. Multiple idea entries are highly encouraged. Those ideas chosen to move on to the semi-finalist competition will be notified by Oct. 30.

The Fast Pitch Review Committee reserves the right to reject any business idea for the following reasons:

  • Deemed to be in violation of the CSUSB Code of Ethics.
  • Violates any local, state or national law.
  • Appears to be pornographic in nature.

To learn more, visit the Fast Pitch Competition website.

For more information about the competition or entry process, contact Stacey Allis at (909) 537-3217 or email stacey.allis@csusb.edu.

Garner Holt Fast Pitch banner, 2020 competition