Sharpen your Rutgers Edge with ScarletPitch 2026

ScarletPitch is Rutgers-New Brunswick's university-wide pitch competition for undergrads and grads with bold ideas.  Compete for cash and prizes, gain mentorship and visibility, and advance to UPitchNJ or the Hult Prize, all while connecting to Rutgers' vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.  All ideas welcome!

Competition Timeline

Nov. 1st

Application Opens

Dec. 22nd

Priority Deadline

*Applicants receive an amazon gift card, ability to edit later on

Jan. 30th

Final Deadline

Feb. 9th

Finalists Notified

Feb. 27th

ScarletPitch Finals

Prizes

1st Place

$1500

2nd Place

$1000

3rd place

$750

Superlatives

$250

Our Sponsors

Johnson and Johnson MENA

Middlesex County, NJ

IDEA

Division of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics

Rutgers Bonner Leaders

FAQs

• Who can participate?

  Undergraduate and Graduate students enrolled at Rutgers-New Brunswick (part-time or full-time)

• How many people can be on a team?

  Teams can consist of 1 to 5 members

• What is the format for the pitch?

  Each pitch is 5 minutes, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session. Your pitch should address:

  • The problem you're solving
  • The proposed solution
  • Your unique advantage (How is your idea innovative or different)
  • Business model and potential customers
  • Your top competitors

• Where can I apply?

  A link to applications will be published on November 1st.

• What do I need for the application?

  See the Application Guide for timeline, application questions, and judging rubric.

• What are UPitchNJ and the Hult Prize? Are they the same as ScarletPitch?

  • ScarletPitch, UPitchNJ, and Hult Prize are three DIFFERENT pitch competitions.
  • UPitchNJ: A statewide competition held in May. One Rutgers team will be chosen at ScarletPitch to represent Rutgers at UPitchNJ.
  • Hult Prize: An international competition with semi-finals in June. One Rutgers team will be selected at ScarletPitch to compete in the Hult Prize semi-finals.

• Why do I need to select a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for my idea?

  • ScarletPitch encourages sustainability. The SDGs address global challenges, and most ideas align with one or more of them.
  • If you're unsure which SDG fits your idea, email idea.hatchery@rutgers.edu to schedule a consultation session.

• Can I participate if I've already pitched this idea at other competitions?

  Yes! Participation in multiple pitch events is encouraged to gain experience and feedback to advance your idea.

• What is an elevator pitch?

  A concise, spoken presentation of your idea without slides. Imagine describing your idea during a brief elevator ride—how would you convey it before the person steps off?

• Do I need to compete in ScarletPitch to be selected for UPitchNJ or the Hult Prize?

  Yes, participation in ScarletPitch is required for selection to represent Rutgers in UPitchNJ or the Hult Prize.