Why is Pitt Seed Unique?
- Personalized Competition Experience
- Open to Faculty and Staff
- Cohort Stipends
- Six Intensive Training Workshops
- Virtual Regular Check-ins
- Scale up potential for $500,000
- Possibility of University adoption
- Project Management principle training and dedicated professional assigned
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Eligibility
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Who is eligible to serve as a lead applicant on a Pitt Seed Project?
Any Pitt faculty or staff member.
Can an individual serve as a lead applicant on more than one Pitt Seed Project per cycle?
No.
Can undergraduate students be included as Pitt Seed Project team members?
Absolutely!
Can a Pitt Seed Project application include more than one lead applicant?
No.
If I have received a previous Seed award, am I eligible to apply for this cycle?
Yes.
If I have received a previous Seed award, am I guaranteed to be selected for this funding cycle?
No.
Are external collaborators permissible?
Yes.
Which security feature should I choose to share my video in Panopto?
Select “Public: Anyone can find and access this video.” When this option is selected, anyone will be able to access your video.
Does Panopto offer editing functionality?
Yes. If you create your video in Panopto, you can also edit your video in Panopto.
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Video Pitch
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Video pitches are trending across industries as a competitive format to shape ideas. Pitt Seed has adopted this strategy based on reviewer input and overall popularity.
What’s the deadline to submit a video pitch?
The deadline is TBA.
How long should a video pitch be?
Video submissions longer than 90 seconds will be excluded from review.
Whom may I contact with further questions?
Please contact the Pitt Seed team at Pittseed@pitt.edu.
Can a pitch video include multiple people, be creative, etc.?
Yes! You can be as creative as you’d like. Reviewers will focus on the content—not the style—of the pitches.
How will pitches be reviewed and judged?
A peer review panel will evaluate video submissions according to judging criteria. The review process will change in each subsequent stage with the end goal to institutionalize an idea.
How do I share my video in Panopto?
Select “Public: Anyone can find and access this video.” When this option is selected, anyone will be able to access your video.
Does Panopto offer editing functionality?
Yes. We encourage you to view this link on Panopto editing.
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Cohort Sessions
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Can different team members attend the cohort meetings and workshops?
No, for continuity the project lead is expected to attend meetings and workshops and share that information with team members.
How will lead applicants benefit from cohort sessions?
Lead applicants will attend project management sessions led by campus leaders who are regularly involved in executing project ideas. Opportunities will be provided to vet ideas with leaders to identify strengths and weaknesses in the proposals. Lead applicants will also benefit from peer interaction as teams continue to refine their proposals.
What happens if the lead applicant must miss a cohort session?
Attendance is mandatory, however absences will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Unexcused absences will decrease the full stipend of $2000
What is the time commitment for the cohort sessions?There will be six cohort sessions, lasting two hours each. The first half will allow applicants to refine their ideas; the second half will be dedicated to peer collaborations.
When will decisions for Phase 2 be announced?
Decisions will be announced shortly.
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Big Pittch
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What is a pitch?
A pitch is a high-level overview designed to sell the review panel on your concept. It should showcase the “WHY” of your concept and how it might further the Plan for Pitt and the University as a whole.
Who can attend for my pitch?
The project lead and two other team members.
How long will I have?
Your pitch will be 5 minutes and then there will be a 10-minute Q&A with your team and the review panel.
Who will be on the review panel?
The review panel will consist of three university officials well versed in the Plan for Pitt. They may change cycle to cycle.
Do you have any examples?
Here are a few articles to help better explain what a pitch is:
Can the 'Pitch Deck' Help Academics
What visuals can I use?
You will be able to create a 5-slide deck to reference during the pitch.
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Program Phases
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Phase 1: Pitt Seed Video Pitch
Faculty and staff on all campuses are invited to submit a 90-second video pitching a project that addresses one or more of the three pillars in the Plan for Pitt.Phase 2: Cohort Selection
Pitt Seed Council members will review pitches and select up to 20 concepts.Phase 3: Cohort Training
The 20 candidates will each receive *up to* $2,000, participate in program empowerment training workshops and refine their Pitt Seed concepts.Phase 4: Pitt Seed Invited Proposals
Project leads will submit full proposals through InfoReady.
Leadership will review submitted proposals. Both the Chancellor, and Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor will recommend 10 projects to receive *up to* $75,000 each. Selected project leads will work on their projects over the course of a year to further develop their concepts.Phase 5: Big PITTch
Project leads will deliver 5 minute pitches to senior leadership. Recommendations will be shared with the provost, then the chancellor, to fund one or two projects *up to* $500,000 each for broad impact to the University.Phase 6: Pitt Seed Project Funded
One project will be selected to advance to the Chief Financial Officer’s Strategic Planning and Performance Office for possible integration at the institutional level.