Pirates Pitch Competition for High School Students
The 2025 Competition will be held on November 21, 2025. Registration will reopen on
August 25, 2025.
2024 Winners
- First-Place Winner: Muhammad Haseeb, Senior, PCTI STEM Academy, Wayne, NJ. Business: Hydro DeFrost
- Second-Place Winner: Jeffery Liu, Junior, Delbarton School, Morristown, NJ. Business Idea: RemeMore
- Audience Choice Award: Caroline Kiernan, Sophomore, Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, NJ. Business Idea: Stress Less
- Honorable Mention: Grace Rhine, Senior, Toms River High School, Toms River NJ. Business Idea: Legally Chic Clothing
Other Finalists Included:
- Nifemi Adeyemi, Senior
Newark Collegiate Academy, Newark, NJ
Business Idea: Irahs_Collection - Ryan Kim, Junior
Bergen County Technical High School, Teterboro, NJ
Business Idea: Smat Pitch; Vivica Electronics - Rishabh Nambiar, Senior
John Jay High School, East Fishkill, NY
Business: Research Chat
- Eve Parrott, Junior
Livingston High School, Livingston NJ
Business Idea: Scolipoly - Jacqueline Perez, Sophomore
Park Ridge High School, Park Ridge NJ
Business Idea: Digital Insurance and Car Registration - Ayden Pinto, Junior
High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ
Business Idea: Eco-Smart Trash Pickup
Here's How You Can Participate:
Step 1: Submit Your Idea
Submit an original business idea that, in 350 words or less, describes an innovative product or service that you would like create. Or, you can tell us about a business you've already launched! You also have the option of creating an unlisted YouTube video pitch of up to three minutes in length. Please send us the link to the video, and please do not put any restrictions on who can watch since multiple judges will review.
Be sure to answer the following questions:
- What problem does your product or service solve?
- How do you propose making money?
- Who are your customers and why will they buy your product or service?
- Who is your competition and how are you going to be better than the competition?
Eligibility: All high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Step 2: Pitch Your Idea
Ten finalists will be selected in early November and invited to the event to present their business ideas to a panel of judges from Seton Hall University on Friday, November 21. This event will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (eastern) on our campus in South Orange, N.J. Judges are successful alumni entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and business faculty.
Step 3: Win Prizes and Recognition!
- 1st Place Winner: $2,500 cash prize. Plus $10,000 scholarship to attend Seton Hall University ($2,500 annually)
- All other Finalists will receive a $4,000 scholarship to attend Seton Hall University ($1,000 annually)
- Audience Choice Award: $300. Audience members vote for their favorite student finalist. The winning finalist will be awarded the $300 Audience Choice Award.
Latest News
- Join us! Cheer on Top Teen Entrepreneurs in Startup Contest
Monday, November 18, 2024
Who is the top high school student entrepreneur in the Pirates Pitch for High School Students Competition? Join us on Friday November 22 for this exciting contest and find out! - Enter the Pirates Pitch for High School Students! Win $50k!
October 3, 2024
Calling all high school entrepreneurs. Enter Seton Hall University's Pirates Pitch Contest for high school students and win an opportunity to pitch your innovative business idea. - High School Entrepreneurs Awarded $50,000 in Cash and Scholarships in Pirates Pitch
Competition 2023
November 30, 2023
Young entrepreneurs celebrate innovation and creativity to solve real world problems at the High School Pirates Pitch. - Ten High School Entrepreneurs Compete for $50,000 in Prizes and Scholarships During
Pirates Pitch 2023
November 9, 2023
Youthful change-makers hoping to positively impact the world pitch their innovative start-up ideas at Stillman's Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship tournament. - Pirates Pitch for High School Students
September 12, 2023
Teen entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their innovative business ideas in Seton Hall University's startup contest for high school students.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Stillman School of Business Pirates Pitch Competition for High School
students?
The competition teaches high school students entrepreneurship basics and idea generation
and recognizes and rewards students with outstanding entrepreneurial know-how.
Who is eligible?
Current high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
How do students apply?
Applications will next be accepted starting from August 25, 2025 through October 22,
2025.
How are winners selected?
An independent panel of judges reviews all entries. The finalists will be invited
to present their business idea (or discuss a business they now operate) in five minute
presentations to a panel of judges. The judges will score all finalists based on their
written submission and oral presentations to determine a 1st and 2nd place winner.
When do students and high schools receive their awards?
Winners and awards will be conferred immediately following the presentations. A check
for the cash prizes will be mailed to the first- and second-place winners. Scholarships
to Seton Hall University will be provided to students upon admission to the University.
Apply Now
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Have Questions?
For more information and details, contact Susan Scherreik, Founding Director, Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, at [email protected].
