EPCC@Hood 2025 Pitch Competition

The Delaplaine School of Business at Hood College is thrilled to announce the Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition and Conference (EPCC@Hood) on Friday, April 18, 2025. The one-day event is designed to showcase entrepreneurial mindset and innovative thinking among Hood students, celebrating the relationship between academic research and the practice of entrepreneurship across the Mid-Atlantic region. A total of $4,000 in awards and prizes will be up for grabs.

EPCC@Hood will feature recent Hood alumni as well as current undergraduate and graduate students in a business pitch competition. Each team will have eight minutes to impress the judges, including five minutes for their presentation and three minutes for Q&A. Submissions for the pitch competition are due by March 16, 2025, with finalists notified by March 30.

The second part of the event focuses on academic research that promotes an entrepreneurial mindset. Academics and researchers are invited to submit extended abstracts of “works in progress” that focus on entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, innovation management and/or leadership. The conference will provide a collaborative platform for authors to receive feedback on their work, with two exceptional submissions receiving cash prizes. Submissions are due by March 16, 2025, with acceptance notifications by March 30.

EPCC@Hood 2025 is generously supported by Indian American Business Impact Group (IAMBIG).

Pitch Competition Research Paper

Who is eligible to apply for the pitch competition?

Answer: Any team can participate in the pitch competition (EPCC@Hood), as long as one of the team members is a Hood College student or Hood College alum (independent of their major)

Is there a registration fee for the Pitch competition

Answer: No. There are no registration fees for participating in the pitch competition. We thank the generous support by Indian American Business Impact Group to cover the costs and prize money.

Can I participate virtually?

Answer: No. The pitch competition as well as Workshop development conference is designed for in person participation.

Do I need an established business to participate?

Answer: No. You may participate in the pitch competition with an idea only. There is no need for an existing business.

Can I participate in the pitch competition as part of a team?

Answer: Yes and not all team members have to be affiliated with Hood College.

As an alum of Hood College who can participate in the pitch competition.

Answer: The pitch competition allows any Hood College alumni who graduated from Hood College any time from 2017 or later years.

How will I know if I’ve been selected as a finalist ?

Answer: The organizers will inform you via email if you are selected.

How do I make sure my intellectual property is safe?

Answer: The IP belongs to the participant and their team members. Hood College, or the organizers do not have any claim to the IP. You may still take steps

How will winners of the competition be announced?

Answer: Winners for the competition will be announced by the organizers on the day of the Pitch competition and conference (April 18th, 2025). Please see the complete schedule.

Are there limitations to visuals and props I can use when pitching my idea?

Answer: Pitch competition will provide MS PowerPoint for presentation. If you prepare your presentation in other programs, please convert them to PPT format.

How long should my pitch be?

Answer: No longer than 5 minutes for the pitch competition.

What are the judging criteria for pitch competition ?

Answer: A rubric will be provided for the finalists before the competition.

Am I allowed to bring friends or family with me?

Answer: Absolutely yes. We will seek RSVP from each finalist to list their friends and families.

Will there be a live stream available for my friends and family to view?

Answer: Unfortunately, livestreaming for this event is not planned for this year. May be in future events.

Is there a registration fee for the EPCC Conference for paper development)

Answer: No. There are no registration fees for participating in the paper development workshop. We thank the generous support by Indian American Business Impact Group to cover the costs and prize money.

Can I participate virtually?

Answer: No. The pitch competition as well as Workshop development conference is designed for in person participation.

Do I need a completed paper to submit to this conference?

Answer: No. You may participate in the conference with a working paper. There is no need to submit a completed paper for this workshop.

How will I know if my paper has been selected for the workshop?

Answer: The organizers will inform you via email if your paper is part of the program.

How many papers can I submit?

Answer: You may submit multiple papers but only one may be selected for the workshop.

What happens after my paper is accepted?

Answer: You or any of your co-author commits to being present in person and participating in the conference.

Is there a CASH prize for best paper idea?

Answer: Yes.

How will winners of the CASH prize be announced?

Answer: Winners for the best paper idea will be announced by the organizers on the day of the conference (April 18th, 2025). Please see the complete schedule.

Can I attend without submitting a paper?

Answer: Yes. Please let us know in advance so we organize the event accordingly.

Will anyone be available to review and discuss research methodology, research instruments, and quantitative analysis?

Answer: This will depend on the key topics you list for feedback.

Is there a page limit for my research paper submission?

Answer: N. A work in progress manuscript can be up to 20 pages long.

How long should my paper presentation be?

Answer: No longer than 10 minutes for the initial introduction of the paper. After that it will be roundtable conversation with other participants.

Will there be a live stream available for my peers to watch the workshop?

Answer: Unfortunately, livestreaming for this event is not planned for this year. May be in future events.

Event Date: Friday April 18, 2025 (Whitaker Campus Center, Commons)
7:30-8:15 a.m. - Networking breakfast
- 8:20-11:45 a.m. - Student Pitches for Venture Ideas
  - Undergraduate, Graduate, Alumni of Hood (Graduation date 2017 or later)
- Noon-12:30 p.m. - Lunch
- 12:30-1:15 p.m. - Keynote Speaker
  - Amanda Elam, research Fellow, Diana International Research Institute at Babson College; co-founder, Galaxy Diagnostics, Research Triangle Park, NC
- 1:30-2 p.m. - Student Pitch Awards
- 2:15-5:30 p.m. - Academic Research Conference (with multiple breaks)
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Reception, including award for the best paper presentation

Pitch Competition Tracks (Total Prizes - $3,000)
Best Pitch by an Undergraduate team (Commercial or Social Venture)
- Four finalists (max) will be invited (cash prizes for top two pitches).
- Best Pitch by Graduate team (Commercial or Social Venture).
  - Four finalists (max) will be invited (cash prizes for top two pitches).
- Best Pitch by Hood Alumni (Commercial or Social Venture).
  - Four finalists (max) will be invited (cash prizes for top two pitches).

Competition Format
Pitch competition submissions invited (due date March 16, 2025)
- Finalists notified (latest by March 30, 2025).
- Presentation coaching (online) available (March 31–April 4).
- The pitch competition will be held at Hood College on April 18, 2025 (in person).
- Time allocated per pitch eight minutes total (five minutes of presentation and three minutes Q&A).

Conference Format (Total Prizes – One Thousand Dollars)
Extended abstract of “work in progress” submissions invited (due date March 16, 2025)
- Research topics must broadly include entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and/or innovation management.
- “Work in Progress” acceptance notifications (latest by March 30, 2025).
- Roundtable feedback organized for each selected paper (in person) on April 18, 2025.
- Two most promising “work in Progress” papers will be identified for cash awards.

Title: Entrepreneurial Practice and Research: Who Informs Whom?

What is the value of research to help new businesses thrive? What works in real life? How does research inform ecosystem building? In this keynote, Amanda Elam, Ph.D., explores the critical intersection of entrepreneurial practice and research, revealing how evidence-based insights can enhance decision-making, mitigate risk and fuel sustainable growth. Drawing on her extensive research on entrepreneurship, innovation and venture ecosystems, as well as her hands-on experience as a life science entrepreneur, Elam will discuss how research-backed strategies can empower founders, investors and policymakers to create more inclusive, resilient and high-impact ventures.

Speaker Bio

Amanda Elam, Ph.D., is a globally recognized scholar in entrepreneurship research, known for her groundbreaking work on gender dynamics, entrepreneurship, innovation and venture growth. With a deep commitment to advancing academic rigor and real-world impact, Elam has shaped critical conversations about the role of gender in entrepreneurial ecosystems, providing data-driven insights that challenge traditional narratives and inform policy and practice.

With a dynamic presence and a rare blend of academic rigor and real-world experience, Elam delivers compelling insights on entrepreneurship, innovation and the future of life sciences. She is the cofounder of Galaxy Diagnostics, a medical diagnostics company in emerging infectious disease, exemplifying her leadership in translating research into practice. She also holds a Research Fellowship at Babson College’s award-winning Diana International Research Institute, where she leads the annual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Women’s Report, providing critical insights into women's business activities worldwide (more than 10,000 downloads in 2024 alone).

Elam’s scholarship has been widely published in top-tier academic journals, technical reports and edited volumes. Over the past two decades, including 15 years leading her company, she has authored 35 publications, which have garnered over 3,000 citations, reflecting her significant influence in the field. Elam is also the author of "Gender and Entrepreneurship: A Multilevel Theory and Analysis," a book offering a critical exploration of the factors driving gender differences in business creation in diverse contexts, and she is an active journal reviewer, serving more than 15 years now on the editorial Board of Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice.

As a seasoned researcher and strategic advisor, Elam is a vocal advocate for data-driven decision-making in entrepreneurship policy and healthcare innovation. She has collaborated with leading institutions, governments and organizations to drive evidence-based strategies for fostering inclusive innovation and high-growth entrepreneurship, including the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and ENERGIA. Elam’s work continues to shape the future of entrepreneurship by challenging biases, informing policy and fostering an inclusive, high-growth economy. Passionate about translating research into practice, she is further committed to empowering the next generation of business founders, leaders and scholars.

Organizing Team: Pitch Competition

Contact email:EPCC@Hood.edu