Defeat the Odds Pitch Competition 2025 for U.S. College Entrepreneurs (up to $15,000) Deadline: 25 July, 2025

Applications for the Defeat the Odds Pitch Competition 2025 are now open. The Defeat the Odds Pitch Competition is a platform for college entrepreneurs to share their business ideas for the chance to pitch to a panel of judges and win a cash prize. The competition is designed to give students hands-on learning experiences including honing pitch skills, thinking critically about business models and harnessing innovation.

In addition to the opportunity to win a cash prize, all participants are invited to a virtual Meet the Founder session with Wes Schroll to learn more about how he defeated the odds to build a successful tech unicorn now known as Fetch – America’s Rewards App. Pitch Finalists will receive mentorship to help them prepare for their live pitch.

Prizes

• 1st Place $15,000 plus 1:1 mentorship opportunities with Fetch CEO & Founder Wes Schroll 
• 2nd Place $5,000
• 3rd Place $2,500

Eligibility

• Students enrolled in a US university or college are invited to participate;
• Participants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submission;
• Pitch applications can include up to 4 members maximum.

Application

To enter, complete the online application by Friday, July 25. The application will ask you for information about your business idea, the problem you’re solving and your business model. You’ll also be required to upload a pitch video that’s three minutes or shorter. 

Heads up: You won’t be able to save and return to your application, so have your information and video ready when you apply. Here is a list of questions from the application that you can work off of until you’re ready to officially submit your application.

For more information, visit Defeat the Odds Pitch Competition.