Mississippi State hosts 2026 SEC Student Pitch Competition
Contact: Emily Daniels
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University is hosting the SEC Student Pitch Competition Oct. 19-20, welcoming student entrepreneurs from across the Southeastern Conference to campus to showcase innovative business ideas and compete for $25,000 in prize money.
Organized this year by MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, the annual competition brings together student-led startups representing SEC universities to pitch their businesses before panels of judges with entrepreneurial and business experience. The competition takes place Tuesday [Oct. 20], at The Mill at MSU Conference Center, with the final 4 p.m. round and awards ceremony free and open to the public.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome student entrepreneurs and their mentors from across the SEC to Mississippi State,” said Nick Pashos, MSU assistant dean for innovation and partnerships and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach. “This competition showcases the creativity, determination and entrepreneurial talent developing across our conference. Hosting it gives us an opportunity not only to highlight these students and their ventures, but also to showcase the entrepreneurial community and culture we have built here at Mississippi State.”
Participants will arrive Monday [Oct. 19], for a welcome reception before competition begins Tuesday. During the preliminary rounds, teams will pitch their businesses twice before the judges. Each presentation follows a 15-minute format, with teams receiving five minutes to pitch their venture and five minutes to answer questions. Judges will select three teams to advance to the final round.
The first place team will receive $10,000, followed by $8,000 for second place and $7,000 for third.
“The networking opportunities these teams receive from being around like-minded students and professionals in the industry are invaluable,” said Margaret Mary Coker, Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach program coordinator. “We’re excited to create an environment that encourages collaboration, supports the exploration of innovation and gives these student entrepreneurs an opportunity to build connections with others who share that entrepreneurial mindset.”
The competition has rotated among SEC universities since its inception in 2015. This year marks MSU’s first time hosting the event. MSU won the 2019 competition with student startup Buzzbassador.
The top three finalists will pitch 4-4:45 p.m., followed by judge deliberation and a reception, 4:45-5:45 p.m. The winner announcement and closing ceremony begins at 5:45 p.m.
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