2024 WETATi Academy & Nyumburu Cultural Center, University of Maryland College Park
Entrepreneurship Convention
Dureke iDEA Pitch
Competition
We give aspiring young entrepreneurs, the next generation students and inventors the opportunity to pitch their business ideas before potential business investors, their peers, the public, and parents. It exposes then to successful business owners to learn how they succeeded. The goal is to teach students early about the power of entrepreneurship and to put then on a path to economic and creative freedom.
The Dureke iDEA Pitch Competition includes the following:
Who can participate?
- Part of partnering schools or have been approached personally by a WETATi Academy team member
- New business idea
- Idea has not been entered in other competitions
All preparation along with the competition is held LIVE In-Person Nyumburu Cultural Center, University of Maryland College. The results and awarding ceremony will be held in person at the WETATi Anne Reese Carswell Scholarship & Awards Gala.
What are the important dates to know?The competition will take place on June 7th, 2025. Finalist coaching will be coordinated to the finalist and coach’s discretion.
- Registration Monday, February 3, 2025
- Registration to complete closes Monday, March 3, 2025
- Preliminary Submission Dureke iDEA Pitch slide decks due: Monday, March 31, 2025 11:59 PM NO EXCEPTIONS email slide deck to joanna@wetatiacademy.org
- Finalists announced: April 30, 2025
- Dureke iDEA Pitch competition coaching begins:: May 1, 2025
- Dureke iDEA Pitch competition coaching ends:: May 31, 2025
- Presentation training: Tentative, May 23, 2025
- Final Competitors Slide Deck Submission Due: June 2, 2025
- Dureke iDEA Pitch Competition: LIVE In-Person, Saturday, June 7, 2025 @ Nyumburu Cultural Center, University of Maryland College Park.
- Scholarship & Awards GALA, in-person: Saturday, June 14, 2025
- Work with WETATi Academy business strategic partnersÂ
- Get coached and mentored with our esteems practical and experiential experts in your field
- Receive coaching from WETATi Academy strategic business partners on your business idea and pitch.Â
- Participate in training to gain insight and a customized template on how to package and pitch your idea.Â
- Present your business idea in front of business professionals who may choose to invest regardless of contestant placement.Â
- Receive live feedback on your business idea from judges. Gain the opportunity to win seed funds for your business
- Part of partnering schools or have been approached personally by a WETATi Academy team memberÂ
- New business idea
- Idea has not been entered in other competitions
Business Expo
Student Competitors
- Be exposed to successful business professionals.
- Connect with potential employers or internship placement opportunities.
Businesses
- Gain visibility throughout the event.
- Share business information.
All Attendees
- Connect with and make contacts within local, regional, and national businesses.
- Gain new ideas and inspiration to start your own business.
Power Hour Networking
Student Competitors
- Network with the WETATi Academy community including:Â
- Business professionalsÂ
- Potential employersÂ
- Potential contractors/clienteleÂ
- InfluencersÂ
- PoliticiansÂ
- StudentsÂ
- EntrepreneursÂ
- Community leadersÂ
- And more!
