V2 Pitch Competition
Kickstart your startup.
Each spring, the Venture Vetting (V2) Pitch Competition catalyzes the entrepreneurial spirit of our University of San Diego community. Organized by the Free Enterprise Institute's Catalyzer, the V2 Pitch Competition is a campus-wide competition where USD students can pitch their businesses (concepts or operating enterprises) for cash awards.
Students with nearly any type of business idea are invited to participate. Ideas can range from any industry and target any business model.
By taking part in this competition, participants will learn the basics of turning a business idea into a fully developed startup. Participate in hands-on workshops, get paired with industry and faculty mentors and create a pitch deck and presentation fit for investors. Applications will be assessed by a team of reviewers. The best projects will be invited to present to a judging panel of investors. The best three to seven proposals will get to present to a live audience at the Seven-by-Seven and V2 Pitch Competition finals on April 20, 2022, for a chance to win up to $25,000 in funding, an invitation to the FEI’s new incubator and a chance to compete in the San Diego Angel Conference for $200,000.
Get ready to transform your entrepreneurial dream into meaningful and financially rewarding work. Win up to $25,000, refine your skills and build your network to succeed as an entrepreneur! As a participant, you will:
- Build a successful and scalable business
- Explore your inner entrepreneur
- Build your network
- Work with a mentor/coach
If you have any questions, please contact the Catalyzer team at entrepreneurship@sandiego.edu.
Attend the Grand Finale
Join us for the first ever, combined Seven-by-Seven and V2 Pitch Competition on April 20, 2022. Bring your friends to celebrate and watch our entrepreneurs go from wild dreams to wildly successful.
Register today using the Seven-by-Seven registration link:

Schedule
Unless otherwise noted all events will be held virtually during "dead hours" (12:15 to 1:45 p.m.).
There are four workshops scheduled for all V2 participants. Each workshop may have multiple speakers and may cover several topics. These events are open to all USD students, including those not participating in the V2 Pitch Competition. All events are eligible for Passport, Compass and Connect points.
2/17 | Workshop: All You Need to Know About V2 Pitch Deck Essentials | REGISTER |
2/24 | Workshop: Business Model and Revenue & Value Proposition | REGISTER |
3/3 | Workshop: Customer Discovery | REGISTER |
3/10 | Workshop: Pitch Practice | REGISTER |
3/17 | Workshop: Financial Projections | REGISTER |
3/24 | San Diego V2 (10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) -or- Open Office Hours -or- Pitch Decon -or- Pitch Round Robin | REGISTER |
3/31 | Where Do You Go From Here Workshop & Announcement of Finalists Kickoff for Finalists; Digging for Fire Prep |
REGISTER |
4/7 | Pitch Practice and Feedback on Slides | |
4/14 | Pitch Practice (optional) | |
4/19 | Final Pitches for Judges | REGISTER |
4/20 | V2 Awards Ceremony (and Seven-by-Seven event) |
REGISTER |
Everything Students Need to Know
Entrepreneurship
Knauss School of Business