MADISON – The deadline is approaching quickly for the 2022 beEntrepreneurial or [beE] High School Idea Competition at the University of Alabama in Huntsville or UAH.

The application deadline is Dec. 7. Any high school student can organize a team, submit an idea by Dec. 7 and compete in the event.

An entrepreneurship and idea competition, beE is open to students in grade 9-12. UAH’s Invention to Innovation Center or I2C sponsors the contest in its effort to empower the next generation of high-school entrepreneurs to research, collaborate and deliver new ideas.

“This year’s competition is fierce with schools from the entire state vying for the top spot. “We are excited to judge the submission for our annual be-Entrepreneurial pitch competition,” Rigved P. Joshi said. Joshi works as I2C Director at UAH.

The UAH Invention to Innovation Center is hosting the be-Entrepreneurial event.

Teams of talented students, who have been receiving support from brilliant teachers and tutoring by I2C mentors, will compete in this challenge for a business idea to win cash and prizes, Joshi said.

“Our judges are ready, and we are excited to see some great ideas from the brightest high-schoolers in Alabama,” Joshi said. “We encourage parents and teachers to get involved, support and encourage students to ideate and win from a $3,000 prize pool.”

In addition, home-schooled high school students are eligible to apply. “A team must have a minimum of two (2) high-school students to qualify,” Joshi said.

The Grand Finale event will take place online with students using the Zoom software program on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The competition is free. To apply for the contest, visit www.be-entrepreneurial.org/2022-bee.

Mentoring sessions are ongoing, and organizers will conduct sessions remotely until Dec. 12.

“Your team will give a seven-minute presentation in PowerPoint / Keynote / Google Slides format to a panel of judges. These judges ultimately will decide the winning teams in two rounds (semi-finals and finals).

No later than Dec. 8, contest officials will notify all applicants about their semi-finals selection (accepted or declined), along with the next steps to take.

For more information, email i2c@uah.edu, or visit be-entrepreneurial.org.