2025 WETATi ACADEMY & NYUMBURU CULTURAL
CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK
ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONVENTION
DUREKE iDEA PITCH
COMPETITION
Theme:
NAVIGATING THE NEW WORKFORCE CULTURE 4 THE NEXT GEN
ABOUT THE 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 them to successful business owners to learn how they succeeded. The goal is to teach students early about the power of entrepreneurship and to put them on a path to economic and creative freedom.
faq
- Â 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
- Â The competition is held LIVE In-Person at the 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.
- Work with WETATi Academy business strategic partners
- Get coached and mentored with our esteems practical and experiential experts in your field
- Â 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.
- Receive live feedback on your business iDEA from judges.  Gain the opportunity to win seed funds for your business
2024 Competition Judge
COMPETITION TIMELINE
- 02.03.25 Round 1:
Registration Opens - 03.03.25 Registration Deadline
- 03.31.25 Submit iDEA Pitch Deadline
- 04.30.25 Round 2:
Finalists Announced - 05.01.25 iDEA Coaching Begins
- 05.23.25 Presentation Training
- 05.31.25 iDEA Coaching Ends
- 06.02.25 Round 3:
iDEA Pitch Presentation Submission Deadline - 06.07.25 Dureke iDEA Pitch Competition
- 06.14.25 Scholarship & Awards GALA (Dureke iDEA Pitch Competition Winners Announced)
POWER HOUR
NETWORKING
STUDENT
COMPETITORS
- Network with the WETATi Academy
- community including:
- Business professionals
- Potential employers
- Potential contractors/clientele
- Influencers
- Politicians
- Students
- Entrepreneurs
- Community leaders
- And more!
BUSINESS
EXPO
STUDENT
COMPETITORS
- Be exposed to succesful business professionals.
- Connect with potential employers or internship placement opportunities.
BUSINESSES
- Gain visibility throughout the event.
- Share business information
ALL ATTENDEES
- Connect with and mako contacts within local, regional, and national businesses.
- Gain new ideas and inspiration to start your own business.
