2010-2011‎ > ‎

Elevator Pitch Competition (Finished Fall 2010)



The Elevator Pitch Competition runs from  

November 3rd through 12th. Any Duke student (undergrad or grad), or postdoc can participate. 

Here's how it works: 

  • From November 3rd through 10th, 16 Finalists will be selected from 8 tracks (5 Functional Tracks, 3 Special Interest Tracks).  

  • Select the Functional Track which you would like to compete in.

  • And if your team is led by an undergraduate or a woman, compete in an additional Special Interest track.

Each team gets one minute to pitch their idea to a panel of judges.  


The 16 Finalists will advance to the Elevator Pitch Finals with Greylock Partners, where they will give their elevator pitch again, and the following prizes will be awarded:
  • $5000 for the Judge's Choice prize
  • $1500 for the Audience Choice prize, selected that night via text-messaging

Qualifying Track Events

Track events are as follows: 
You can compete in one Functional Track and up to two Special Interest Tracks (women-led, undergrad-led).  But the same person needs to pitch in all tracks/rounds.

Spectators are welcome (and will select the Audience Choice winner)!

Here's the timing for each track event
-7:00pm Competition Starts

The top two teams from each track advance to the Elevator Pitch Finals with Greylock Partners


Competitors and Winners

(The competition order has been randomly generated)

Duke Start-Up Challenge Elevator Pitch Competition 2010



11/3 - Women-led Startups
Important Note: Whoever is pitching must be a woman, and the same people pitching in this track must pitch in all other tracks and in the Finals.
  1. Complete makeover and personal shopping in one location
  2. Expressions
  3. Bubble Tea Factory - Audience Choice Winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
  4. Pure Hair Salon
  5. Street Snacks - Judge's Choice Runner-up
  6. Asteria Propulsion
  7. Innovation Education International
  8. dreamPl8 - Judge's Choice Winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
  9. The Morph Purse
  10. TheRushie
  11. K Kane
  12. Scribblit 

11/3 - Social Enterprises

  1. Scribblit - Judge's Choice Runner-up
  2. dreamPl8
  3. TheRushie - Audience Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
  4. Innovation Education International
  5. Connectwork
  6. The Ujamaa Project 
  7. Expressions
  8. WETOA - Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!

Picasa Web Slideshow



11/4 - Undergraduate-led Startups Track 1

Important Note: Whoever is pitching must be an undergrad, and the same people pitching in this track must pitch in all other tracks and in the Finals.
    1. Auris Ingenum
    2. Airmart
    3. Gebshed
    4. inCadence - Judge's Choice Runner-up
    5. Yoh Show
    6. CarBone
    7. Corona Enterprises
    8. Askapade - Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    9. Smart Shot
    10. EnergySync
    11. Pocket Blue Light
    12. HeyCouldYa.com (formerly Emom.com) - Audience Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    13. Winyata
    14. ClearBolus

    11/4 - Undergraduate-led Startups Track 2

    Important Note: Whoever is pitching must be an undergrad, and the same people pitching in this track must pitch in all other tracks and in the Finals.
    1. InterestIn
    2. Nooch - Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    3. The Ujamaa Project 
    4. FriendCal
    5. Pure Hair Salon
    6. ShelfRelief.com - Audience Choice winner! (and Judge's Choice Runner-up) See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    7. Connectwork
    8. Golden Diamond Mansion Certification
    9. Mufu
    10. AdApt
    11. time2work
    12. TheRushie
    13. Advisync
    14. Scribblit 
    15. Smarticles - Best Freshman-led Team Prize $150

    Blog post is here: http://entrepreneurshipatduke.blogspot.com/2010/11/day-2-of-duke-start-up-challenge.html


    11/9 - IT & Media

    1. VOCAB
    2. Smarticles
    3. JobStock - Bonus Audience Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals! 
    4. time2work
    5. AdApt
    6. LifeDash
    7. Mufu
    8. CheatedOn.com
    9. Sidewalk - Audience Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals! 
    10. ShelfRelief.com
    11. FriendCal
    12. Nooch
    13. GroceryMe
    14. Winyata
    15. MyPlucks.com
    16. Siren Alerts - Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    17. Pocket Blue Light
    18. Askapade
    19. Yoh Show
    20. inCadence
    21. iNight
    22. MoxMe!
    23. Redeemio - Judge's Choice Runner-up
    24. InterestIn
    25. Emu

    11/9 - Products & Services

    1. Advisync - Audience Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals! 
    2. K Kane
    3. Am Dumpling
    4. Kingrock International
    5. Golden Diamond Mansion Certification
    6. Street Snacks
    7. Pure Hair Salon
    8. Chakra Mantra
    9. Airmart - Judge's Choice Runner-up
    10. Smart Shot
    11. HealthTrip.com
    12. Drink-Up Devices - Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    13. Auris Ingenum

    11/10 - Energy & Environment

    1. High Tower Energy - Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    2. Longbow Dynamics
    3. CarBone - Audience Choice winner! (and Judge's Choice Runner-up) See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals! 
    4. Gebshed
    5. EnergySync
    6. SmartHVAC
    7. Corona Enterprises

    11/10 - Healthcare & Life Sciences

    1. Medical Learning Games - Audience Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals! 
    2. Autoextract
    3. Last Call
    4. Camras Vision - Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals!
    5. ClearBolus - Bonus Judge's Choice winner! See you at the Elevator Pitch Finals! (read the blog post to learn more)

    Next steps