Faculty who are working on an innovation with commercial potential can get financial help through the Pitt Ventures Student Challenge.

The challenge requires students to develop a business model and investor pitch for a faculty-generated innovation. The students can pursue their entrepreneurial interests and learn how to advance innovations toward the market. They will receive hands-on mentoring with a business mentor and present the pitch at the Innovation Showcase in fall 2019.

Faculty member can get up to $20,000, awarded to the professor’s department for the innovation, as well as feedback on commercialization strategy from business professionals and investors and a complete pitch presentation.

If a professor wants to participate and doesn’t have a student to team up with, the Innovation Institute can help find one.

The challenge gives awards in two categories:

• Health care: The Michael G. Wells Competition offers a $20,000 First Place, $10,000 Second Place and $5,000 Third Place awards.

• Non-health care: The Kuzneski Innovation Cup offers a $15,000 First Place, $7,500 Second Place and $5,000 Third Place awards.

Application deadline is May 31, 2019. Final pitch competition is October 16, 2019. Students can apply here.

Read about last year's winners here.