N.C. A&T to Host Thurgood Marshall College Fund Pitch Competition March 19-21

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 13, 2026) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host The Pitch™, an innovation experience in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Thursday, March 19, through Saturday, March 21. 

As part of TMCF’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship programming, The Pitch™ is an immersive, place-based learning experience designed to empower historically Black college and university students with the technical, creative and business skills needed to excel in emerging technology fields.

The program will bring together 100 North Carolina A&T students to develop solutions to real-world challenges, build prototypes and compete in a culminating pitch competition. Anchored in a curriculum that blends “intrapreneurial” and entrepreneurial principles, the three-day event will feature hands-on product development, builder workshops and a high-impact pitch competition. Participants will gain real-world experience solving industry challenges while benefiting from direct mentorship, industry exposure and a startup-style innovation environment.

Events begin at 8 a.m. March 19-20, and will take place in the Student Center, primarily in the Deese Ballroom, while the final pitch competition March 21 will be held throughout Frye Hall.

Students will work in teams of five through an innovation process that moves ideas from concept to prototype while exploring real industry challenges and gaining experience in product development, startup simulation and strategic problem-solving.

The event begins Thursday with an opening keynote in the Deese Ballroom followed by hands-on workshops that introduce students to design thinking, AI-assisted innovation and emerging technologies. Throughout the day, participants will develop ideas and take part in sessions focused on business model development, product design and early prototyping.

On Friday, March 20, teams will continue building their products, participate in pitch practice sessions and receive feedback from mentors and industry professionals before competing in a qualifying round to determine which teams advance.

The program culminates in a final pitch competition Saturday, March 21, in Frye Hall with professional development sessions and the final pitch competition. Students will also have opportunities to connect with employer partners during a recruitment fair and networking event. The top teams will present their final pitches before a panel of judges, with winners announced during the closing awards ceremony.

While student participants have already been selected to take part in this experience, some sessions including keynotes, networking opportunities and the pitch competition viewing are open to the public.