It’s hard enough pitching a startup idea to a room filled with maybe half a dozen judges, each looking to find holes in your idea.

Now imagine doing this in a fully decorated ballroom filled with 600 people, including friends, family and peers, and things get interesting.

That was the challenge for founders at the final round of the University of Maryland’s Pitch Dingman Competition. Hosted March 6 by the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, the competition gave aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to win up to $15,000 in startup capital with second and third place winners snagging $7,500 and $3,500, respectively. The audience had the chance to vote via text for a fourth candidate to take home $1,000. The contest features seven judges from assorted industries. Throughout the competition, organizers work to gather entrepreneurs from across the University of Maryland’s campus to create a signature competition.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE