Catch The Wave Pitch Competition Pre-qualifier

Are you ready to share your pitch with the world?

Submission Dates: June 9th - July 18th

Notification of finalists: July 23rd - 25th

Competition Rules:

• Participant must have a ticket to attend Catch the Wave 2025
• Participant must be a WBENC-Certified WBE whose certification is in good standing
• Pitch must be less than 60-seconds
• Pitch must capture the audience’s attention and spark interest (entertaining & informative)
• Existing product, service, or business solution that is ready for market or currently in market (not a future idea or endeavor seeking an investment).
• Applicant must be a female owner of the company
• If the solution is a result from a joint venture between multiple WBE companies or if the business has more than one female owner, the application must be submitted on behalf of only one of the WBE companies or owners. Only one WBE will be permitted to pitch in each round and it will need to be the same WBE in each round

Video Guidelines

Set up your pitch 

• Make sure to set your mobile device on something steady rather than completely going handheld

• Shoot somewhere indoors, preferably in a private room without other conversations in the vicinity or background noise. A more interesting location is fine if it is quiet

Light your pitch 

• Your set-up should be in a well-lit area with the light source somewhere behind the recording device.  If the light source is behind you, it will cause a silhouette effect

Record your pitch 

• If you are filming this on your own with a mobile device, and do not have access to a microphone set up, we recommend using ear buds with mic/mouthpiece, or something very similar. If you have no choice but to use the internal mic of your phone or camera, it is OK. Just be sure to speak loud enough to pick up decent sound, and that the room you choose has little to no background noise, echo, or overwhelming HVAC room hum 

• Don't worry about speaking too slowly or too fast. Instead, focus on being clear and concise

• All videos should be HD quality, with a resolution of at least 1920 x 1080. (16:9, minimum 1080p)

• Mobile device video must be shot horizontally, not vertically

 

Catch The Wave Pitch Competition

All Catch The Wave Attendees will attend the 2025 Pitch Competition Breakfast.

Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Time: 8:00 am

The winners will receive:

First Place

• $1,000 cash prize
• Placement in semi-finals of the WBENC National Pitch Competition

Second Place

• Catch the Wave 2026 Registration and hotel ($500 value)
• Placement in semi-finals of the WBENC National Pitch Competition 

Third Place

• $250 cash prize
• Placement in semi-finals of the WBENC National Pitch Competition