Ohio Pitch Contest

YEI's Ohio Pitch Challenge is an exciting pitch contest for Ohio students in grades K-12.

It offers a hands-on experience where students can develop key skills like creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, and presentation abilities. Through this challenge, students gain essential workforce readiness skills and build a mindset for future careers—whether or not they pursue entrepreneurship.

Students compete in one of three groups by grade level: K-4, 5-8, or 9-12.

There are two ways to enter. To get started with either submission option, create an account in our submission portal and select whether you are entering as a student or an educator.

Submit Your Pitch Videos Here

It's as easy as 1-2-3:

• Students, individually or in a team, come up with a business idea.
• Students create a video (30-90 seconds) presenting their idea.
• Students should keep the camera on themselves for most of the video—judges need to see and hear them pitch their idea. It should not be slideshow or visuals with a voiceover.

Helpful Hints:

• Practice is key. We do not want to see students reading from a script.
• Be enthusiastic! Viewers will be more interested if students are passionate about their idea.
• If filming on a cell phone, hold the phone horizontally – vertical videos do not work well for this contest.

Click here for the Official Rules

Click here to see the Judging Rubric

Download The Parent Permission Form

Timeline

Registration Open:  Sept. 15 - Dec. 1, 2025

Videos Due:  March 2, 2026

Winners Announced:  April 14, 2026

Volunteer To Be A Judge 

We are seeking educators, entrepreneurs and professionals to serve as volunteer judges for the Ohio Young Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge. Judges will listen to student pitches and provide valuable feedback during this one-time event. Judging will begin March 2026. 

• Time commitment: 1–2 hours
• One-time opportunity

Sign Up Here