WHEN:
Monday April 6 | 5:00PM - 7:00PM

WHERE:
The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823

Description:
Pitch Lab: Mastering Every Pitch is a hands-on experience during 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week designed to help founders, entrepreneurs, and aspiring business owners sharpen their pitching skills and confidently communicate the value of their ideas.

This session features founders and innovators who have successfully won regional and national pitch competitions. Panelists will share practical insights into how they prepared for their pitches, structured their storytelling, handled Q&A, and stood out to judges, investors, and decision-makers. Attendees will hear firsthand how these entrepreneurs secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding through clarity, confidence, and strategy.

The first portion of the event includes a moderated panel discussion focused on:

How to structure a compelling pitch

What judges and investors are really listening for

Common mistakes that weaken otherwise strong ideas

How to prepare for pitch competitions and high-stakes presentations

The second half of the session transitions into a workshop-style experience where participants will actively refine their own pitches. Attendees will receive guidance on messaging, clarity, and delivery, with opportunities for feedback and peer collaboration.

This event is especially timely for founders planning to participate in The Hatching Pitch Contest, hosted by LEAP in May. Participants will leave with sharper pitches, clearer narratives, and actionable feedback to help them perform at their best in upcoming competitions and funding opportunities.

Pitch Lab is designed to turn strong ideas into fundable stories.

Organizer
Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)