Rutgers School of Business – Camden

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Raptor Rise Pitch Competition (in collaboration with SPARK Week, April 13–17) is Rutgers–Camden’s inaugural pitch showcase for student ventures, welcoming everything from early ideas to operating startups. The 2026 event will be limited to 20 current Rutgers–Camden student entries (an entry can be an individual or team).

Prizes

Prizes include seed funding and support from mentors and partners.

Placement Awards
First Place – $3,000
Second Place – $1,500
Third Place – $1,000

Category Awards
Community Impact Award – TBD
People’s Choice Award – $500

Individual/Team Registration for Raptor Rise Pitch Competition

Registration Deadline: Sunday, March 15 at Midnight
Click Here to Register

Attendee Registration for Raptor Rise Pitch Competition

Come support your classmates as they present their innovative business ideas and compete for cash prizes at the Raptor Rise Pitch Competition from 3 pm – 6 pm in 110 Fine Arts Building (314 Linden Street) on April 15, 2026. Your attendance will truly make a difference – a strong audience will encourage and energize our entrepreneurs and contribute to a truly dynamic experience.

You’ll also gain valuable insight into what makes a strong pitch, how ideas are evaluated, and how to sharpen your own presentation skills. Whether you plan to compete one day or just want to learn, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Your voice matters at Raptor Rise! We’ll be awarding a People’s Choice Award, where the audience votes for their favorite pitch at the end of the event. Bring a friend, support your classmates, and help choose a winner!

Click Here to Register

Competition Information and Process

Who should apply:

Raptor Rise is open to current Rutgers–Camden students with a venture idea or startup at any stage – from “just getting started” concepts to projects already in motion. You can apply as an individual founder or as a team. If you’re curious about entrepreneurship and want structured feedback, a deadline, and a chance to build momentum, this is for you.

Participants receive a high-support pitch experience designed to accelerate venture progress. Finalists compete for seed funding and gain access to feedback from experienced judges, plus support from mentors and partners. You’ll leave with a clearer venture story, sharper priorities for next steps, and a stronger network inside the Rutgers–Camden ecosystem.

Raptor Rise is a two-stage pitch showcase. In Round 1 (virtual), teams deliver short (10-minutes or less) pitches followed by Q&A with judges; a subset of teams advances to the finals.

In the Final Round (in-person), finalists pitch live and compete for seed funding and awards. All participants will receive simple guidelines in advance (pitch length, format, and what to prepare) to make the experience accessible for first-time pitchers and valuable for more advanced teams.

Judges evaluate ventures using a straightforward rubric that rewards clarity, creativity, and realistic next steps. Criteria typically include: (1) the clarity and importance of the problem, (2) how well the solution fits the target customer, (3) feasibility and traction (where applicable), (4) differentiation or unique insight, and (5) the team’s skillset and readiness to take the next step.

Interested in judging or mentoring?

We welcome alumni, founders, operators, investors, and community leaders who want to support student entrepreneurs with thoughtful questions and practical feedback. Judges are needed for March 25–26 (virtual prelims, 5–8 PM) and April 15 (in-person finals, 3–6 PM). If you’re interested, please contact Dr. Thomas Fewer at tom.fewer@rutgers.edu.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities are available to support seed funding, awards, and the continued growth of Rutgers–Camden’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. To learn more, please contact Ian Williamson at ian.williamson@rutgersfoundation.org.

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BLDP Executive Shadowing Application v2

This form is set to automatically delete an entry 180 days after it has been submitted.

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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Student Information

Major(s)*
Minor(s)

Shadowing

Preferred Work Environment
Preferred Area of Work*

Signatures

If I am chosen and matched with an executive, I will follow through and prepare a one-page report giving honest feedback about the experience. The written summary is due by the start of the next semester. By typing my name in the box to the right I am offering my digital signature in lieu of my handwritten signature.

After the shadowing event, I will write a personal thank you letter to the executive and copy Dr. Kaufman-Scarborough and Ms. Bridget Britton for their records. By typing my name in the box to the right I am offering my digital signature in lieu of my handwritten signature.

After notified of a match, students are responsible for providing personal information to the matched executive (e.g., current resume and cover letter with information on career ambitions). The information on this application is for internal use only, for us to match you as well as possible with and executive from among our alumni database.

BLDP Application

The Spring 2023 Application is now open! 

Priority will be given to applications received by November 18. Applications are accepted until all seats are filled. Space is limited, so apply early!

The seminar application process is our gateway for entry into the program. Upon acceptance into BLDP, students will be emailed their acceptance letter plus a special permission number allowing registration for the BLDP seminar.

Requirements

Seminar applications are solicited each semester and require the following:

  1. Completed application form (at the bottom of this page),
  2. For students with GPA 3.0 – 3.49, two (2) letters of recommendation (one academic; one other)

Rutgers-Camden students are invited to apply to apply for enrollment in the BLDP seminar. All applicants are expected to meet both of the following selection criteria:  (1) have sophomore standing or above and (2) have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. First-semester transfer students will be evaluated based on their GPA earned at Rutgers. Students who fail to meet these admission criteria may still be allowed to apply for (and possibly enroll in) the BLDP seminar, but they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The director balances evaluations to make final decisions on people accepted for the seminar (up to a maximum of 15-20 each semester).

Students who are admitted to the BDLP are required to adopt the BLDP Code of Conduct. A signed contract is required from each student.

Students may count activities toward “leadership units” that were initiated prior to taking a seminar, as long as those activities occured primarily during their enrollment in their academic program.

Application for Admission to BLDP Seminar

Applications for the BLDP Seminar will be ongoing until class is filled.

BLDP Program Application

This form is set to automatically delete an entry 180 days after it has been submitted.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • * Indicates a required field.

  • Contact Information

  • Academic Information

  • Please enter a number from 0 to 500.
  • Transfer students only.

  • Employment Information

  • List relevant employment history

  • EmployerPositionDates of Employment 

  • School Leadership Information

  • Provide evidence of leadership initiative while enrolled in school by listing all school-based organizations and activities in which you have held a leadership role while a student.

  • OrganizationRoleDates 

  • Community Leadership Information

  • Provide a list of community or volunteer activities in which you engaged in a leadership role.

  • OrganizationRoleDates of Activity 

  • Statement

  • In your own words (100-350), discuss the reasons why your application should be considered for the Business Leader Development Program, including what you hope to gain from the program and what you can contribute.

  • Additional Submission Instructions

  • If you need to submit two reference letters, please email them to ldrshp@camden.rutgers.edu. Ideally, you should receive one letter from an academic source (e.g., a former or current instructor), and one from a business source (e.g., a former employer - even if for a part-time or volunteer position).

    Please only submit one application. If you experience any technical problems or need to submit the application again, please contact ldrshp@camden.rutgers.edu.

    Thank you.