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.


Public Voting through April 24

2025-2026 Grand Prize Winners

K-4th grade
Neuroendocrine Vaccine
Boulevard Elementary School

5th-8th grade
Help ME
Bio-Med Science Academy

K-4th grade
Food Waste and Hunger
Elementary Parkside School

5th-8th grade
The Fruit Saver - Extend the Life of your Fruit
Midview Local School District

K-4th grade
Wander Whiz
Oak Creek Elementary

5th-8th grade
SpikeSkin
Shore Middle School

9th-12th grade
Money Savvy
Laurel School

9th-12th grade
Bridge -The Opportunity Engine for High School Talent
University School

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

2025-2026 Timeline

Registration Open:  September 15 through December 1, 2025

Entries Due:  March 2, 2026

Winners Announced:  April 18, 2026