Budding entrepreneurial students are taking centre stage on May 1, at KPU’s first annual Student Pitch Competition, hosted by the Melville School of Business.
The event gives students the opportunity to put the knowledge they’ve gained at KPU to the test, provides opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations and cultivates the entrepreneurial spirit as they pursue their personal and professional career goals.
“We want to give students the experience of being in an environment that encompasses multiple elements of what entrepreneurialism is,” says Natasha Campbell, Foundation in Design Chair and Project Manager of the Student Pitch Competition. “There’s something for everybody, whether you’re there to participate, cheer on the participants or if you just want to learn and see how KPU supports our students.”
A faculty panel will select the initial candidates to advance in the first round, based on a one-to-three-minute pitch presentation.
During the second round, students present a five-minute pitch, followed by a question-and-answer session.
The top candidates will advance to the final round, where they will deliver a pitch in an interactive session with industry judges.
“It's exciting that we have included our Alumni as judges for the competition, allowing us to celebrate their experiences,” explains Campbell. “They’re coming back to their alma mater as seasoned entrepreneurs to give insight to new entrepreneurs. We have some alumni from the Wilson School of Design as well because entrepreneurs aren’t just business majors, they come from everywhere.”
The interdisciplinary nature of the event is reflected in the number of KPU employees involved, including from the Office of Research Services, the Office of Sustainability and the Office of Alumni Affairs, alongside the Melville School of Business and Wilson School of Design. The event is sponsored by the Surrey Board of Trade and Pave Pal, with Community Partner YWCA.
The keynote speaker at the event is George Melville, for whom the Melville School of Business is named for in recognition of a generous donation made to KPU. Melville is owner of Melville Global Investments Inc. and is a former chancellor of KPU.
The idea of an entrepreneurial-focused event for students originally started with Melville School of Business instructor Michael Schanz. The idea was born and voted upon at an Entrepreneurial Leadership meeting and subsequently supported by the chair, Dr. Brad Anderson.
“Michael came up with the idea after considering how the Melville School of Business could better support entrepreneurship. Dean Heather Harrison immediately recognized its potential by emphasizing the possibility for more cross-faculty collaboration,” recalls Campbell. “The idea of a pitch competition sounded like a good outcome for students to participate in upon graduation.”
In the early days of 2022, Chris Motiu and Kevin Peters, both business instructors, created a concept and made initial connections to faculty from across KPU. Potential interest became immediately apparent.
It sounded like such a good idea that Campbell decided to pursue it. After applying for a time-release funding in April 2024, Campbell was awarded the grant and began working on putting the competition together by September.
“I'm half Wilson School of Design and half Melville School of Business, with my focus being on the interdisciplinary convergence of business and design,” explains Campbell. “For me, I naturally see how these two disciplines work together, but I have also noticed that on a larger institutional level, we don't always have alignment with other faculties.”
In talking with students outside of those faculties, Campbell found that entrepreneurship was seen as a topic only for business students. While that perception is understandable, it’s a misconception that entrepreneurs are limited to business majors. In fact, they come from every field and discipline.
“If you’re in a horticulture program or in entertainment arts and you want to be an entrepreneur, this is the kind of event that will bridge that gap. It will provide the resources students need to start their entrepreneurial journeys, begin dialogues with their peers, and of course see what resources and courses are available to them at KPU.”
The event is also a unique opportunity for KPU faculty as well, according to Campbell.
“It's exciting for us as faculty to also have opportunities to showcase our experiences outside of teaching with our students, and when we have opportunities like that, it is amazing how enriching it is to the student experience and the overall environment that we create.”
While Campbell is the driving force behind the event, she says there are many people who have helped bring this event to life, including Afshin Doustmohammadi, Marcelo Machado, Victor Martinez, Chris Motiu, Michael Schanz and Mike Ford, among other KPU faculty.
The Student Pitch Competition will take place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 1 at the KPU Surrey Conference Centre. The event is open to all and admission is free. Guests are asked to register in advance.