Rocket Pitch Competition
The Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence (CEBE) hosted its annual Rocket Pitch and Entrepreneurial Celebration on May 7, 2025, in Monteabaro Recital Hall. This year, applicants from across campus were encouraged to apply, as the competition was open to all currently enrolled HCC students, regardless of discipline. After careful consideration, ten presenters were chosen to share their marketing pitches, granting them the opportunity to win a number of scholarship awards.
We are pleased to celebrate this year's winners:
First Place ($1,800) – Veronica Deriquito – Likha App & Events, a platform dedicated to promoting and celebrating Filipino culture
Second Place ($1,400) – Ubachukwu Odunukwe – Surrounds, offering situational awareness controllers as an alternative solution to standard noise-cancelling headphones
Third Place ($1,000) – Michael Akinyele – Attayn Live, a virtual health coaching platform, which would expand access to preventative and primary care
Fourth Place ($800) – Kehinde Akinsehinwa – Just Wear It, a business dedicated to providing custom tailored suits for everyone, paying particular care to include women and non-binary individuals
People’s Choice Award ($400) – Yosel Cruz – INK-YM, offering realistic, long-lasting temporary tattoos as an alternative to the commitment of a permanent tattoo
The Betty Noble award was created by the Howard Community College Educational Foundation, Inc. to honor former Business Dean and CEBE Director, Betty Noble, and her legacy. This award is bestowed upon students who have demonstrated a passion for entrepreneurship and most embody Betty’s qualities and attributes. The 2025 Betty Noble award winner was Michael Kimack. The CEBE congratulates Michael and wishes him continued success as he continues his business and entrepreneurial journey.
The audience also heard business pitches from students Olusegun Akinnusi, Sophia Bond-Aguilera, Peter Congedo, Rabail Khan, and Leydi Estrada Romero. Congratulations to all presenters and winners!
This celebration would not be possible without generous support from our sponsor, The Rotary Club of Columbia/Patuxent, as well as from the college and surrounding Columbia community. Our panel of six judges was carefully selected for their proven business acumen and entrepreneurial experience. The CEBE gratefully acknowledges the volunteer services and contributions of the 2025 Entrepreneurial Celebration judges: Joan Athen, Community Leader, Entrepreneur, and Former Special Assistant for Community Colleges to the U.S. Dept. of Education; Susanne Caviness, PhD, MSN, Mental Health Nurse Counselor and Industry Leader for National and Local Mental Health; Myra Dorsey, Founder/CEO of MD HR Consulting & La Bodi Massage; Jerry Freishtat, Founder/CEO of The Confidence Factory & Wealth Climbers and former CEO of Heartland Home Foods; Kashonna Marrow, President/CEO of Simply Kashonna, and Author of “7 Days to Simply Shift;” and Lexi Young, Owner of Your Journey Nursery & Preschool, Your Journey Gymnastics & Dance, Your Journey Jump, and Here We Grow Stables & Agricultural Learning Center.
HCC’s Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence (CEBE), in partnership with Student Life, will host its annual 'Rocket Pitch' Entrepreneurial Celebration on May 7, 2025. Students are invited to present their business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurial professionals with a chance to win a scholarship award. This event is sponsored by the Columbia Patuxent Rotary Club.
Deadline for submissions: April 15, 2025
Selection of students: April 23, 2025
Rocket Pitch presentations and awards ceremony: May 7, 2025, from 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Monteaboro Hall (reception in HVPA lobby)
Learn more and submit your application!
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Application Instructions
Rocket Pitch is open to all currently enrolled HCC students. Ten students will be selected to pitch their business ideas to our audience and an esteemed panel of judges.
To apply, create a 5-minute video pitch with 5 slides in total.
- Cover slide – name of business and your name
- Problem Slide
- Solution Slide
- Market Analysis Slide
- Financial Slide
Click below to download the PowerPoint template with instructions and slide examples:
Rocket Pitch InstructionsReady to apply? Submit your idea below!
Rocket Pitch Application
If your slides are not complete, please submit what you have as soon as possible to express your interest in participating. Final video with slides can be resubmitted until April 21, 2025 (final deadline). Mentoring with faculty is available to help review and critique your presentation.
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Scoring Criteria
The judges will review and score the video presentation prior to the live event which accounts for 75% of the score. The remaining 25% of the score will be based on the live presentation on May 7. See scoring criteria below.
Video Presentation: 75% of Score
Problem: Define the problem the business is solving succinctly and to the point. Include the causes of the problem: describe the situations and forces that are causing the problem. (10%)
Solution: Describe the solution being provided and how it addresses the causes of the problem and the effect it will have on stakeholders. (10%)
Differentiation: Describe how your solution is innovative and different from what currently is available. (5%)
Target Market: Define your target market using the four basis of market segmentation: demographic, geographic, psychographic, and behavioristic. (10%)
Market Potential: Estimate of the size of your target market, the potential demand you expect, and the projected initial capture rate for the first year. (5%)
Start-up Costs: Identify start-up costs needed to launch the business in all four categories: assets, people, intellectual property, and financial. (5%)
Revenue Sources: Describe the sources of revenue for the business. (5%)
Profit Potential: Identify the potential revenue, projected expenses and cost structure, and potential profitability. (5%)
Slides: All 5 slides are uploaded, and slides are well-designed with pictures and not too many words. (10%)
Five-minute Presentation: Address all aspects of the Rocket Marketing Pitch. (10%)
Live Presentation: 25% of Score
Eye Contact (5%)
Convincing/Persuasive Argument Made (15%)
Success Probability: Explain why your business will be successful, using the elements of a persuasive argument: present your position clearly, establish your authority with credentials and experience, support your position with evidence using facts, statistics, quotes, and examples, disapprove any opposing viewpoints, and state conclusions. (Explain verbally, not needed on slide) (5%)
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Prizes and Awards
The following scholarship awards will be announced during the Rocket Pitch ceremony:
- 1st Place $1,800
- 2nd Place $1,400
- 3rd Place $1,000
- 4th Place $800
- People’s Choice Award $400
- Betty Noble Entrepreneurship Award $500
The Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence (CEBE) helps aspiring and existing business owners and students develop themselves and their businesses by utilizing the center’s programs, services, and resources.
For questions or to request mentoring assistance, please contact Helen Rose, Co-Director of the CEBE.
Please click here to view the 2024 Rocket Pitch Competition.
