Competitive Coaching Clinic returns to HudsonAlpha

The Competitive Coaching Clinic, offered by the ICE Lab of the College of Business Administration at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), is resuming its regularly scheduled pitch coaching sessions at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. The Clinic is offered in two parts - Pitch101 and Open Pitch - every other Friday afternoon beginning Oct. 17.

Pitch101, from noon to 2 p.m., is an introductory two-hour session for startup entrepreneurs, established business professionals, students, government employees, and others interested in learning how to make pitch-perfect presentations to target groups that can include investors, customers, prospective employees, upper management, suppliers, competition coaches, and others. The session helps individuals understand the most important elements of both substance and style in making presentations. Presentations can be as short as a 30-60 second elevator pitch to a longer presentation of 10-12 minutes, often practiced with a team preparing for a business plan competition. Pitch101 need be attended only once.

Following Pitch101 is a two-hour Open Pitch. Held from 2 to 4 p.m., it provides an opportunity to practice a pitch before an audience of peers and others in the community, who offer constructive feedback. In addition to providing comments on the pitch itself, participants often engage in a broader conversation about the business model, sources of support including financial support, potential customers, and other valuable feedback. These sessions are highly constructive as well as informative and entertaining. Those who have completed Pitch101 may pitch at Open Pitch as many times as they wish.

Holding the Clinic at HudsonAlpha is an outgrowth of an agreement between the UAH College of Business Administration and the biotech institute designed to collaborate to build entrepreneurship and strengthen skills for both HudsonAlpha associate companies and students enrolled at the College. The ICE Lab is engaged in building the entrepreneurial ecosystem for the Huntsville/Madison County community.

The Clinic is open to the public at no charge and participants can join at any time. There is no need to register. To receive an introductory package of materials, email john.whitman@uah.edu or call (781) 708-2764.