The B.E.T.A. Challenge Goes Online

Writer

Kait Smith Lanthier

Kait Smith Lanthier is the Director, Content Strategy at Babson College and the Managing Editor of Babson Thought & Action. Her writing has appeared in print and online in a variety of outlets including USA Today, Yahoo Shine, YourTango, CosmoGirl, and First for Women magazine. Smith earned her undergraduate degree in journalism and graduate degree in integrated marketing, both from Marist College.

April 2, 2020

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As the Babson campus moved online, the B.E.T.A. Challenge moved online with it.

Eighteen semifinalists across the alumni, graduate, and undergraduate categories pitched their ventures at the virtual B.E.T.A. Venture Expo on April 1. They polished their pitch for a virtual environment, tested their tech, and went live to compete for a spot in the finale. The finalists will pitch on April 16 for $75,000 in cash prizes, plus “services-in-kind” donations from corporate sponsors. Finalists will pitch in the B.E.T.A. finale on April 16.

Meet the B.E.T.A. Challenge finalists »

“Pitching online can be challenging, but our semifinalists delivered,” said Debi Kleiman, executive director of The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship. “We were really impressed with their ability to adapt to this new environment and showcase their startups. We are also grateful for the support of over 280 members of the Babson community who tuned in to cheer them on—you could feel the community spirit throughout the competition.”

Even from a distance, the Babson community came together to support this year’s semifinalists. See photos of the community tuning in below.