The Pirates Pitch Startup Competition is held annually and open to all Seton Hall students. The competition is part of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s education program. At the event, six finalist student entrepreneur teams pitch to a panel of alumni entrepreneur judges and faculty members for $16,000 in seed funding, plus legal services.
We invite students, faculty, alumni, parents, and members of the community to join us for this incredible night of new ideas. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to select their favorite business venture and vote for the $500 Audience Choice Award.
This year's Pirates Pitch will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in University Center Theater. View last years competition.
About the Competition
The student teams spend several months attending a series of networking and mentoring events and workshops to assist them in turning their innovative and creative ideas into viable business models. The judges evaluate the teams based on their ability to execute their business model and turn it into a viable, profitable business.
Finalist student teams pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, comprised of successful entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, as they compete for $16,000. All students, faculty, alumni, families and members of the public are invited to attend the event in person or watch the livestream and vote for their favorite team. The Finalist team with the most votes wins the $500 Audience Choice Award. All finalist teams also receive pro bono legal services from the Pirates Pitch contest legal sponsor, OGC Outside General Counsel Solutions. The contest will be held in University Center Theater starting at 6:30 p.m.
The judges will award a 1st place prize of $8,000, a 2nd place prize of $4,500 and a 3rd place prize of $3,000.
Big Thanks to Our Law Firm Sponsorship
CIE thanks attorneys Christopher Santomassimo and Anthony Davis and their staff for providing legal assistance to our Pirates Pitch Finalists.
The following successful alumni entrepreneurs will serve as contest judges: Bryan Jakovcic '09, president and owner, Fusion Health; Gabino Roche,’98, chief executive officer and founder, Saphyre; Shannon D.M. Morris ,’92/M.A. ’94, managing partner, Tent Collective, and founder, The Whistle Company; and Carina Castagna ‘21/M.P.A. ‘22, founder and chief executive officer, Pesto Joe.
Meet the Student Entrepreneurs
The 2025 Student Finalists Teams will be announced on March 12.