Mulerider EPIC is Southern Arkansas University’s annual virtual pitch contest. The competition aims to give students an opportunity to learn how to develop a business pitch and develop their business idea. Startup ideas and student-owned businesses are welcome to compete.
The preliminary round is virtual with 10 undergraduate and 3 graduate teams moving to the final live presentation, EPIC LIVE, on November 6, 2025 at 6 p.m. This Live Event, held in Foundation Hall, Reynolds Center, will be open to the public. One of the winning teams of the Live Round will be coached and mentored by an experienced local entrepreneur and the ASBTDC and participate in the Governor’s Cup.
Undergraduate Prizes^
1st Place – $1,000
2nd Place – $750
3rd Place – $500
Graduate Prizes
1st Place – $750
2nd– 3rd Place – $100
^ Must present at EPIC LIVE to win
Forge Prize* $1000 for best pitch offering a solution awarded for the best pitch offering a solution to a social, cultural, or environmental problem.
SOAR Prize* $500 to best pitch addressing sustainability. Winner invited to present at the SOAR Sustainability conference.
Community Prize* $300 to the team chosen as the favorite by the community.
Wisewirx Media Award* $300 for the best pitch involving creative/imaginative media content in the business idea or presentation.
*These prizes cannot be awarded to the same entry. Can be awarded in combination with 1st – 10th place awards
Video pitches must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 24.
The top ten Undergraduate and top three Graduate presentations will be notified. These winners will be invited to present at EPIC LIVE on November 6, 2025.
Points will be awarded for:
- Innovative and relevant business idea
- Well thought out product or service that customers will appreciate (and buy!)
- Knowledge of the market and the people who will be your customers
- Details of how you plan to start or grow your business
- Enthusiastic presentation
Requirements:
For the virtual portion, the contestants will record and submit a video of their pitch. You will need the following:
- Executive Summary– a short description (one-half to one page) describing the product, market, business set-up, and estimated funding needed to launch the first stage. Also include brief descriptions of yourself (and your team, for team presentations), summarizing your qualifications.
- Pitch Video– three-minute maximum pitch video
- Visual aid – pitch deck, prototype, something to support your idea.
For the live portion, contestants will present their pitch to the public, either as individuals or in teams.
In order to pitch, you have to be an actively enrolled student at Southern Arkansas University.
A good pitch is clear, emphasizes your passion and expresses a need. All contestants must include what they plan to use the prize winnings for and how it will advance his/her venture.
The pitch should be no longer than 3 minutes in total. Please prepare a concise and detailed pitch for your product/service business.
A PowerPoint, prototype, or some other visual representation is required.
The judging rubric will not be released, but the judges will evaluate on concept feasibility, how well the company solves a problem, “investability,” and the individual’s enthusiasm for the idea.
- Students with an idea to start a business
- Students who have started a company
- Students interested in enhancing their presentation skills
- Students who want to explore the idea of starting a company
- Students who want to demonstrate their ability to clearly communicate an idea to a group
NOTE TO STUDENT-PARTICIPANTS: All participants should be aware of something called 35 USC 102(b), which contains a nasty “gotcha” called an “in-use or on-sale bar” to patentability. This is not legal advice, look up 35 USC 102(b) yourself. Be familiar with this. Participants might want to consider (Prior to their presentations) taking their PowerPoint or other presentation materials, printing everything on 8.5 x 11 paper and mailing this into the US Patent Office with a check for $65 (Prior to their presentations). Doing so is not a cure-all, there are many other steps necessary in the patent process, but doing at least this can be somewhat helpful to somewhat prevent the nasty “gotcha” of 35 USC 102(b). Just be aware, doing nothing could harm your patent rights.
