Grid Pitch

Grid Pitch empowers student innovators with tailored mentorship, real-world connections, and funding opportunities to turn ideas into impact.

Grid Pitch is a mentorship-forward innovation program that pairs aspiring student entrepreneurs with expert mentors, connects them to industry leaders and investors, and helps accelerate their projects through strategic feedback and funding. Over six weeks, participating student teams work closely with mentors to refine their ideas and strengthen their pitches.

Join us for the Grid Pitch Showcase

Thursday, April 23 at 4:30 p.m.
The Grid, HSHSL
601 W. Lombard St.

After six weeks of mentorship and pitch development, 14 student teams will pitch their ideas to a live audience of mentors, entrepreneurs, and community supporters. Join us and support the next generation of student innovators.

Mentorship First

✔ Personalized mentorship from industry and community leaders
✔ One-on-one guidance to refine your idea and strategy

Support, Not Just Access

Build your network with real advisers and collaborators

Get feedback that matters before your pitch event

Develop skills in pitching, business modeling, and design thinking

Impact for the Individual

Grow from concept → to prototype → to pitch-ready vision

Expand your confidence and professional trajectory

Join a community of innovators across disciplines

Grid Pitch will have two participation tiers: Vision and Venture. Both tiers are open to all current and aspiring University of Maryland, Baltimore students. Each team must have at least one (1) current or aspiring UMB student. Each team member must participate in the proposed business idea.

Vision Tier

For aspiring or current students who have an idea to change the world, but have not yet begun the journey of implementation.

Venture Tier

For aspiring or current UMB students who have an idea that is fleshed out and have begun the journey of implementation. Applicants for the Venture tier can have an established business.

The proposed idea should be in the innovation, healthcare, biotech, life science, health tech, public health, health tech or social entrepreneurship fields.
Teams that have acquired over $100,000 in gross revenue from operations to date resulting from the sales of products and/or services may not be eligible.

Applications close: Feb. 12 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST

All accepted applicants will be required to submit team bios and headshots, a rough draft of pitch to be submitted the week prior to the Grid Pitch Showcase on April 23. Additionally, all participants will be required to submit a recorded version of the pitch by May 1.
Grid Pitch Showcase: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 601 W. Lombard St., 3rd floor in the Grid.

Other mandatory meetings, events, and workshops will be scheduled during the semester.