ROCKFORD – If you have a product or service idea that can revolutionize the country – or just potentially make you rich – you have three days left to register for a chance to win $5,000 to get that idea moving.
The EIGERlab’s 11th annual FastPitch competition will take place Oct. 4 at Northern Illinois University-Rockford. The deadline to register is Thursday, Sept. 21. In FastPitch (Thinker is a co-sponsor), you have three minutes to make a pitch impressive enough to win over two panels of judges.
The TV show Shark Tank has made entrepreneur competitions popular, but EIGERlab actually launched its competition three years before the ABC show. In the first 10 years, 450 presenters have taken part, pitching ideas from custom skateboard and snowboard covers to emergency stretchers and hats that dispense beer at sporting events.
Many of the winners have used the prizes to take critical first steps on their entrepreneurial journey. One presenter has had their products featured on Home Shopping Network and two have appeared on Shark Tank, with one receiving a deal.
If you want a shot at that prize or just the free training on how to sell your idea in three minutes, go to www.eigerlab.org/fastpitch-competition/ for full contest details and requirements for preparing your pitch. Then, for pre-qualification, submit your pitch in 1,000 words or fewer to Sherry Pritz at SPritz@eigerlab.org.