Innovation Center

CfA PitchFest 2.0

A CfA Innovation Initiative Pilot Program


Wednesday Oct 30th 4pm-6pm (Perkins Lobby)

Refreshments Provided by SRC!


Two Opportunities To Participate This Fall: 


PITCH: Share your fresh, offbeat, and bold concepts, near-term or far-future, on anything aligned with the CfA's mission


Submission Deadline: Mon October 21st at 6pm October 14th at 6pm




INCUBATE: A 6-week opportunity for experts across the CfA to support pitch participants after the event (commit a few hours per week)


Kickoff meeting for engagement reps has passed 


PITCH (MORE INFO)

SUBMIT PITCH HERE: https://forms.gle/DH3XP2n27BVrJ1ro9


Track 1: Engage

5 minute pitches on your early-stage concepts

[Follow up: 6-week engagement period with an appointed engineer, PM, scientist, or branding expert to refine concept]


Track 2: Open Mic

Just for fun. Share your wild ideas on anything CfA

[No formal follow up. We'll connect you with others when possible]



** PLEASE NOTE that all submitted pitches will be reviewed. Invitations to pitch will be extended shortly after the submission deadline.  



INCUBATE (MORE INFO)

We are offering part time roles to CfA employees who are excited about blue-sky concept development and can support a 6-week post-event incubation period for pitch participants.

 (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO


WHO: PM’s, engineers, scientists, and branding experts across all levels of seniority excited to support early stage concepts


WHAT: Pair with a pitch participant to refine their concept


WHEN:

Sept '24: kickoff meeting for potential reps (kickoff meeting has passed)

Nov/Dec ’24: few hours commitment per week  


(if needed, hourly costs covered)


HOW: EMAIL innovation@cfa.harvard.edu to indicate your interest, or fill out form below. Join kickoff meeting (on CfA calendar)



PREVIOUS EVENTS


CfA Summer Solstice 

PitchFest


A CfA Innovation 

Initiative Experiment


Thurs, June 20th 4pm-6pm


Listen in on fresh, offbeat, and bold concepts; near-term or far-future. 


Pitches are either for fun, or to win internal support!



EVENT DATE: Thurs, June 20th 4pm-6pm 

Location: Asgard - the Astronomy Garden

Refreshments in collaboration with SRC !


PITCH PROPOSAL DEADLINE HAS PASSED


Track 1: Open Mic

Just for fun. Share your wild ideas on anything CfA and make us laugh or cry


Suggest a pitch: 1-2 paragraphs

Prize: certificates (+swag?)

Track 2: Blue Sky Summer

You’re interested in resources to mature a concept this summer. Wild ideas of all flavors still encouraged 


Suggest a pitch: 1-2 pages

Judge: Panel (TBD)

Prize: Innovation center engagement package to advance your concept (up to a few days of science/engineering/ PMO support; strategy meetings with innovation team; feasibility review)

SAO PI required for award.

SUBMIT PROPOSALS...

By Email To: innovation@cfa.harvard.edu 

Or Via Form below: