Event Details
Sponsored by PPG Industries, the 12th Annual Elevator Pitch Competition is an opportunity to pitch your research in TWO minutes or less, using no more than four supporting slides. Graduate students will briefly convey their research to a curious and technically diverse audience in hopes of taking home CASH PRIZES and developing new COLLABORATIONS.
Competition Date
June 3, 2026
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Top 5 pitches will present live at 11:30 am.
Registration is open to individual graduate students doing research in engineering, materials, or science-related disciplines (no teams)
Prize Money
1st - $1,000
2nd - $750
3rd - $500
Consolation prizes (2 total) - $50 Gift Card
Guidelines
- In-person event
- 2 minutes to present
-
Optional: Bring up to four 8 1/2" x 11" slides (printed on individual sheets of paper to be hung the day of the competition)
Pre-Competition Workshops Held Back-to-Back
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Workshop #1: "You Need an Elevator Pitch!"
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Andy Gustafson from the Smeal College of Business will focus on the content of your pitch.
Workshop #2: "Effective Presentation Skills for Elevator Pitches."
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Marcy Milhomme from Communication Arts and Sciences will focus on the delivery of your pitch.