stu clark high school pitch workshop

2024 Workshop

Date

Thursday, June 6, 2024
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location

SmartPark Innovation Hub, 100 Innovation Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba

What You Can Expect

Welcome to our high school pitch workshop! In this workshop, students will learn the art of pitching their ideas effectively to others. We will cover the basics of crafting a compelling pitch, including how to identify your audience, how to structure your pitch, and how to incorporate persuasive language and visuals. Students will also have the opportunity to practice their pitching skills in a supportive environment, receiving feedback from both their peers and workshop facilitators. By the end of this workshop, students will have gained valuable communication skills that they can apply to a variety of situations, from class presentations to job interviews to pitching their own business ideas. Join us to take your pitching skills to the next level!

This workshop is free to all students accepted. Food and complimentary t-shirts will be provided. All students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the day. 

Important dates

  • Deadline to apply (11:59 PM CST)
  • Students advised of acceptance
  • Day of High School Pitch Workshop

How to Apply

Application Steps

  1. Create a 250-500 word write-up on which entrepreneur inspires you or why entrepreneurship is important to you.
  2. Fill out the online application at the link below (coming at a later date!)
  3. Submit application form by Monday May 6, 2024 (11:59 PM CST)

Things to include in your write-up

  • Students are encouraged to use real life experiences and or ambitions in their write-up to tell us why you are passionate about entrepreneurship.
  • Why are you interested in attending this high school pitch workshop?
  • What skills do you hope to gain from this workshop?
  • Describe any relevant experiences or achievements that demonstrate your interest in entrepreneurship, business, marketing, or public speaking.

Prizes

All prizes are designed to recognize and encourage excellence in public speaking, entrepreneurship, innovation, and social impact.

  1. Best Pitch: This award is given to the team with the most persuasive and well-delivered pitch.

  2. Innovation Award: This award is given to the team with the most innovative and creative pitch.  

  3. Social Impact Award: This award is given to the team whose pitch has the greatest potential for social impact or positive change in the community. 

2024 Schedule

8:30 AM- 9:00 AM       Students arrive at SmartPark, check-in and breakfast
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM     Welcome
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM   Session 1: It All Begins With an Idea
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM Session 2: Building and Delivering the Perfect Pitch
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM  Lunch Break
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM   Session 3: Group Work and Pitch Development
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM     Pitch Competition
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM     Judges Deliberation  
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM     Wrap up and awards

Session 1: It All Begins With an Idea
SCCE Startup Coach - Ben Isakov will share his knowledge and talk about how to generate creative ideas and other ways to be an entrepreneur without having to come up with a ground breaking new idea. This session will help students identify problems to solve and build solutions those problems.

Session 2: Building & Delivering the Perfect Pitch
Local entrepreneur, Josh Zaporzan will share tips and tricks on how to build and deliver the perfect pitch. Josh will overview what a pitch is, how to pitch and skills learned in this session are a life skill that can be used in job interviews, classroom presentations and more!

Session 3: Group Work and Pitch Development
In this interactive session students will be placed in teams and come up with an idea that solves a problem. Each student will have a workbook to follow along and take home with them at the end of the day. Josh will monitor teams and guide them on how to build a short pitch as they start to practice. During this session Ben will also use his Startup Coach skills and check in with teams and provide coaching as needed.

Eligibility

  • Students must be currently enrolled in a Manitoba High School (grades 9 - 12)
  • Interest in entrepreneurship, business, marketing, or public speaking
  • Willingness to learn and actively participate in workshop activities
  • Good academic standing and behavior record
  • Availability to attend the entire workshop day

It's important to check the specific eligibility criteria of each workshop before applying or registering to ensure that you meet the requirements.

Benefits

Participating in a high school pitch workshop can offer numerous benefits to students, including:

  1. Improved communication skills: Pitching requires students to articulate their ideas in a concise, compelling manner. Through practice, students can improve their verbal communication skills, including their ability to speak clearly, confidently, and persuasively.

  2. Entrepreneurial mindset: A pitch workshop can help foster an entrepreneurial mindset in students, encouraging them to think creatively and develop innovative ideas. It can also introduce them to the basics of business, marketing, and finance.

  3. Real-world experience: Pitching is a critical skill in many careers, including business, marketing, and sales. By participating in a pitch workshop, students gain real-world experience that can be applied in future academic or professional pursuits.

  4. Confidence building: Pitching in front of others can be nerve-wracking, but it can also help build confidence and self-assurance. Through feedback and constructive criticism, students can develop a greater sense of self-awareness and improve their presentation skills.

  5. Networking opportunities: Pitch workshops often bring together students from different schools, backgrounds, and interests, offering an opportunity to network and make new connections. They may also provide access to industry professionals, mentors, or investors who can offer guidance and support.

Overall, participating in a high school pitch workshop can help students develop critical skills and mindsets that are valuable in both personal and professional contexts.

Rules and guidelines

  1. Eligibility: The competition is open to high school students only.

  2. Teams: Students must sign up individually but could be placed in a team, or asked to join a team at the event. 

  3. Pitch Format: Pitches must be delivered in person and more detail will be provided leading up to the event.

  4. Content: Pitches may cover any topic related to entrepreneurship or innovation. Students are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box.

  5. Judging Criteria: Pitches will be judged on their clarity, persuasiveness, innovation, and potential impact. Judges will also consider the quality of the presentation and the team's ability to answer questions.

  6. Code of Conduct: All participants must abide by a code of conduct, which includes being respectful to other participants, judges, and competition organizers. Any behavior that is deemed inappropriate, including harassment, will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification.

Privacy disclaimers

Privacy Notice: This event may be recorded for documentation and promotional purposes. By attending the event, you acknowledge that you may appear in such recordings, and grant permission for them to be used by the event organizers. Please inform the organizers if you do not wish to be recorded. Additionally, please be mindful of any personal information you choose to share during the event and take appropriate precautions to protect your privacy. 

Contact us

Amy Jones
Event Manager
Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship
Room 212 Drake Centre
181 Freedman Crescent
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
 

204-898-7811