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Vertical Track Requirements
Vertical Tracks Round Breakdown & Requirements
Round Breakdown
The vertical tracks encompass those who have selected the tracks of Consumer Goods & Services, Business Goods & Services, Social Innovation, Health & Life Sciences, or Food Innovation. Participants in this track will compete in three rounds.
- The top 10 teams from each track from Round 1 will advance to Round 2.
- Results are announced on February 11th, 2026.
- During Round 2, teams will pitch virtually via zoom on March 18th, 2026, with the top 5 teams in each track advancing to Round 3.
- Results are announced on March 20th, 2026.
- During Round 3, teams will pitch in-person at Western Market on April 22nd, 2026, with the top 3 teams winning prize money.
- All finalists who advance to round 3 are also eligible for special category prizes.
- During the Award Ceremony, teams will pitch live and in-Person at Jack Morton Auditorium on April 23rd, 2026.
- Results for all tracks and prizes are announced during the Award Ceremony on April 23rd, 2026.
Below are the requirements for each round.
Round 1 Requirements
Online Application Submission:
What you'll need to submit by Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST:
- Team Information.
- 50-word business thesis.
- Responses to 5 questions regarding your venture idea (250 words each).
Resources:
Criteria & Templates:
Helpful Workshop Recordings:
You can find additional recorded workshops through the Innovator's Academy here.
Round 2 Requirements
Online Application Submission:
What you'll need to submit by Sunday, March 15th, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT:
- 1-page executive summary (.pdf).
- Maximum of 1 page.
- Using Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman font, 10–12 pt.
- This will be shared with judges prior to the virtual pitch.
- Maximum of 1 page.
- 8-slide PowerPoint deck (.pptx).
- Maximum of 8 PowerPoint slides (title slide included! Remember to include the content and data requested as per the judging criteria).
- Optional appendix slides can be included outside of the 8-slide limit, these may be referenced during Q&A but will not be presented during the pitch.
- Creative fonts and designs are welcome, but must be PowerPoint-compatible.
- Maximum of 8 PowerPoint slides (title slide included! Remember to include the content and data requested as per the judging criteria).
Pitch Virtually:
Pitch virtually on Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 between 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM EDT during an assigned 20-minute session, which includes:
- 7-min virtual pitch with the PowerPoint deck
- 8-min Q&A with judges
- 5-min reserved for judge scoring and minor schedule fluctuations
Note: Per our eligibility requirements, only GW-affiliated members may pitch during live rounds (Round 2, Round 3, Award Ceremony). Non-GW teammates may assist behind the scenes or during Q&A.
Mentor Meetings:
Meet with your assigned mentor at least twice before Round 2.
- Mentor Meeting #1: Discuss Round 1 feedback and review Round 2 draft materials.
- Mentor Meeting #2: Come prepared to discuss a Unit Level Cost Analysis.
Resources:
Criteria & Templates:
Supplemental Worksheets:
Helpful Workshop Recordings:
You can find additional recorded workshops through the Innovator's Academy here.
Round 3 Requirements
Online Application Submission:
What you'll need to submit by Sunday, April 12th, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT:
- 1-page executive summary (.pdf).
- Maximum of 1 page.
- Using Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman font, 10–12 pt.
- This will be shared with judges prior to the in-person pitch.
- Maximum of 1 page.
- PowerPoint deck (.pptx).
- No slide limit restriction.
- Creative fonts and designs are welcome, but must be PowerPoint-compatible.
In-person Pitch:
- Pitch in-person at Western Market 7th Floor on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 between 12:55 PM - 4:10 PM EDT during an assigned 25-minute session, which includes:
- 10-min pitch with the PowerPoint deck
- 15-min Q&A with judges
Mentor Meetings & Pitch Coaching:
Meet with your assigned mentor and pitch coach (Bob Smith).
- Mentor Meeting #1: Review Round 2 feedback + start building deck.
- Practice Pitch #1 w/ Bob Smith (1hr): Bring rough draft of Round 3 slides.
- Mentor Meeting #2: Incorporate Bob’s feedback + finalize deck.
- Practice Pitch #2 w/ Bob (45 min): Bring final draft of Round 3 slides.
- Mock Pitch w/ Greg Wong (45 min): Full dry-run of Round 3 pitch + Q&A practice + Ceremony pitch
Resources:
Criteria & Templates:
Supplemental Worksheets:
Helpful Workshop Recordings:
You can find additional recorded workshops through the Innovator's Academy here.
Award Ceremony Requirements
Award Ceremony Materials:
What you'll need to submit by Sunday, April 12th, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT:
- PowerPoint deck (.pptx).
- Creative fonts and designs are welcome, but must be PowerPoint-compatible.
- No slide limit restriction
- 30-sec video.
- Guidelines for your video:
- Maximum 30 seconds - (STRICT TIME LIMIT!)
- Think of this as a visual representation of your business thesis.
- Use your Round 1 business thesis and Round 2 executive summary to pull key, high-level information.
- Address the “Who”, “What”, “How” and “Value Add”
- Use your Round 1 business thesis and Round 2 executive summary to pull key, high-level information.
Format Requirements:
Submit as a .mp4 file ONLY (no Google Drive/YouTube links).
- 2880 x 1600 pixels ⟶ close to 16:9 aspect ratio (standard widescreen format, will be shown on JMA screen).
- No copyrighted music unless you have permission. Consider using royalty-free, AI-generated, or original audio.
Final Notes:
- This video will NOT be scored, but it will be shared with the OIE mentor community and shown at the Award Ceremony.
- Treat it as your first impression to the broader audience—make it engaging and polished!
- Don’t wait until the last minute to film—this is your moment to shine!
- Guidelines for your video:
Live In-person Pitch:
- 2-min in-person pitch at Jack Morton Auditorium on April 23rd, 2026.
Resources:
Helpful Workshop Recordings:
You can find additional recorded workshops through the Innovator's Academy here.