CEO Pitch Night

CEO Pitch Night is the flagship Spring event of the CEO, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit at Columbia University. This event is designed to showcase the hard work and dedication of startup founders, providing them with a platform to present their ventures, receive valuable feedback, and connect with investors, mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs.

This year, we are excited to welcome both business and engineering students, fostering a strong collaboration between entrepreneurs and technical talent. We are encouraging partnerships between startup founders and potential technical co-founders.

Event Format:
🕕 6:00 – 6:30 PM | Check-In & Opening Remarks
Welcome address by Columbia Entrepreneurship Organization
Light refreshments served

🕡 6:40 – 7:40 PM | Founder Pitches – Pre-Seed Track (Idea Stage)
Each startup will present:
4-minute pitch
4-minute Q&A with judges
Estimated: 5–6 startups

🕖 7:40 – 8:30 PM | Founder Pitches – Seed Track (MVP Stage)
Each startup will present:
10-minute pitch
5-minute Q&A with judges
Estimated: 2–3 startups

🕣 8:30 – 8:45 PM | Judge Deliberation & Audience Voting
📲 Live audience voting via poll

🕥 8:45 – 9:00 PM | Awards Ceremony & Closing Remarks
🏆 Awards:
Best Pre-Seed Pitch
Best Seed-Stage Pitch

Pre-Seed ( Idea stage) & Seed (MVP stage) Startup Divisions: Startups will compete within their respective funding stages, judged/given feedback by a panel of VCs and industry leaders specialized in early-stage investing.

Recognition & Awards
- To appreciate the incredible efforts of Columbia’s entrepreneurs, we will be awarding prizes for outstanding pitches sponsor together with Columbia Lang Center

Who Should Attend?
- Startup Founders & Entrepreneurs from Columbia Business School, the Engineering School, and other disciplines.
- Investors & VCs scouting high-potential pre-seed and seed-stage startups.
- Industry Leaders & Mentors offering guidance and expertise.
- Students & Aspiring Entrepreneurs looking to learn and network.

Why Attend?
- Gain exposure and credibility for your startup.
- Receive targeted feedback from VCs specialized in pre-seed and seed-stage investments.
Gabriella Monico (Primary Venture Partners)
Maurice Russo (Lerer Hippeau)
Matthew Vine (RRE Ventures)
Tomasz Felpel (Felpel Ventures)
- Build valuable connections with investors, mentors, and engineers.
- Win up to $4000 in prizes and recognition for your hard work!

Apply to be a pitching founder by April 2 - https://forms.gle/UfihBPuZ9sEMQXu9A

Pizza served for dinner.

Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization | Website | View More Events

Contact the organizers