All entries should follow the Judging Rubric and be submitted via the Seeds for Change Pitch Submission Form.

Entrants must be a resident of D.C. or Northern Virginia.

Entrants must currently be in grades 9 to 12 to be eligible to win.

Entrants may work together in groups or submit entries as individuals. In the event of a group submission, one person must serve as the main point of contact. Recognition and prizes will be shared with all students listed on the submission form.

All entrants under 18 years of age must submit a signed/completed Parental Consent Form for each student formally participating in the pitch competition.

All entries must be submitted in English.

Applicants must attend at least one office hour to be eligible for entry. You can schedule an office hour for pitch guidance HERE 

The length of the elevator pitch should not exceed 60 seconds.

Each pitch submission must be a business idea that presents a solution to improve the student’s community in one or more of the following areas:

1. Access to healthy and affordable food

2. Access to safe green spaces

3. Environmental justice and sustainable innovation

4. Supporting local small businesses

5. Ensuring fair and equitable labor practices

Entries will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis starting on Friday, March 11, 2022 through Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:59pm EST. All submissions must be reviewed and receive feedback from the judges in order to submit a final pitch for the competition Students must incorporate the feedback and submit their final pitch by 11:59pm EST on Friday, April 29, 2022.

No copyrighted materials (music, images, video clips, etc.) may be used for this contest unless you own the copyright or have a license to use the material for this contest. Written permission must be obtained and provided upon request for all copyrighted materials.

All information presented in the pitch must be cited, giving credit to the original source. Plagiarism of any kind will result in disqualification. You DO NOT need to include your citations in your pitch submission. IF CHOSEN AS A FINALIST, you must submit a list of your sources, properly cited.

Top 10 finalists will be announced no later than Monday, May 9, 2022. All finalists must be able to attend the Live Pitch Competition and Awards Ceremony at the Farm at Kelly Miller to be considered for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, or for the People’s Choice Award.

Awards will be presented as follows:

1. Ten (10) Finalists will be awarded one year full access to the BloomCatch app

2. Within the Ten (10) finalists there will be the following awards decided at the Live Pitch Competition and Awards Ceremony at the Farm at Kelly Miller:

   1. One (1) First Place: $500

   2. One (1) Second Place: $300

   3. One (1) Third Place: $200

   4. One (1) People’s Choice Award

   5. First, second, and third place winners will be connected with a local professional who will provide mentorship and support their business idea.

The judges’ decision is final. Decisions will be made based on the Seeds for Change Judging Rubric.

There is no entry fee.

Students may only submit ONE pitch to be considered for the Pitch Competition.

The only compensation for participating in the pitch competition is the opportunity to be awarded a prize if the entry wins. City Blossoms and BloomCatch will pay entrants no additional compensation nor be liable to the filmmaker under any circumstances.

Students should keep at least one copy of their pitch submission. City Blossoms and BloomCatch are not responsible for any submissions that are lost, damaged, or that do not upload properly.

Ownership of the underlying intellectual property of the project remains with the entrant, with the following exceptions:

1. Entrants grant City Blossoms and BloomCatch the right to use their names, photographs, statements, quotes, testimonials, and pitch submissions for advertising, publicity, and promotional purposes without notification or further compensation.

2. Entrants also grant City Blossoms and BloomCatch the right to use, reproduce, reprint, distribute, perform, and/or display the entrant’s pitch submission without further compensation or notification to the entrant.

3. City Blossoms and BloomCatch maintain the right to reproduce, reprint, distribute, perform, display, or exhibit the project for advertising, publicity, and promotional purposes on their website, at conferences, or at any other venues.

By accepting the prizes, winners agree to hold City Blossoms, BloomCatch, and all other third-parties harmless against any and all claims and liability arising out of use of such prizes. Winner assumes all liability for any injury or damage caused from participation in the contest or use/redemption of any prize.

Entrants agree to be bound by the official contest rules and decisions of the judges.