PNNL Seeks Industry Judges for New Pitch Camp Offering

The Energy Department’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) launched a new initiative called Pitch Camp, offering PNNL inventors a chance to pitch ideas to a panel of serial entrepreneurs, investors, executives, foundations and other industry leaders. 

PNNL researchers/inventors will submit their best ideas, which will be down-selected on January 17. The down-selected group will then pitch them on March 2-3. In the interim, PNNL will provide substantial training to the participants.

PNNL expects that inventions will cover a wide range, including Internet of Things, energy and environment, and they will from early idea stage to well-funded R&D efforts.

The national lab is now looking for industry participants to provide feedback and serve as judges. Specifically, judges are needed to:

  • Meet with teams and other judges on January 17 to review and down select entries.
  • Meet with other industry leaders, venture folks etc. on March 2-3 for three sessions:
    • March 2: Hear 40 pitches (two-minute pitch followed by a two-minute feedback session), followed by a down selection to the top 10.
    • March 3: Hear pitches from the down-selected top 10.

Participation in the hot-seat training sessions is also an option.

If you are willing to participate, or just want to learn more, please contact Me-Ann Villanueva at MaryAnn.Villanueva@pnnl.gov.