Aspire to Pitch! Teen Application
Saturday, October 4 • 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Phoenix Country Club
Ready to share your big idea? Whether it’s a business, product, or way to make your community better, this is your chance to take the stage and pitch your idea to local entrepreneurs and leaders, our panel of “sharks.”
What’s in It for You
1st Place: $2,500 seed funding
2nd Place: $1,000 seed funding
Crowd Favorite: $500 prize
Winners also get featured on AspireCast, AYA’s podcast, with professional coaching in storytelling and podcasting to help share your journey.
And every participant walks away with: Professional headshots & photos of you presenting (perfect for LinkedIn, apps, resumes)
A 1-year mentorship with a local entrepreneur
New connections and friendships with other changemakers
Pitch Rules & Prizes
🎤 Pitch Guidelines
Each participant will give a 3-minute pitch that covers:
The problem you’re solving
Your idea or solution
Who it helps & why it matters
How you’d use the funding
✨ You can also bring supportive elements, like slides, posters, or props, to help tell your story. Judges will follow up with a short Q&A.
Not ready to pitch yet? No problem! Join the audience, get inspired, and vote for your favorite pitch.
🗓 Event Schedule
- 11:00 AM – Welcome & Opening
- 11:15 AM – Teen Pitches
- 12:00 PM – Lunch + Networking
- 12:30 PM – Awards
- 1:00 PM – Wrap Up/Photos
🚀 Why It Matters
Aspire to Pitch! isn’t just a competition—it’s a launchpad. You’ll leave with tools, mentorship, and confidence to turn your ideas into action, supported by a community that believes in you.
Get Ready with ASU's Tools for Success
To help prepare for your pitch, we encourage students to use ASU J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute’s resources, including:
- Just Start Guidebook — A practical step-by-step workbook to develop and refine your idea.
- How Can I Optimize My Pitch? — Learn how to structure, polish, and deliver your idea with clarity and confidence.
- ✨ Pro Tip: Peek at our AYA Aspire to Pitch Judges Rubric to make sure you’re hitting the mark on what they’ll be looking for in your pitch!
These tools were created by innovation educators to help you take your ideas from vision to reality!