March ’26 Industry and Innovation Highlights
ASPIRE Perfect Pitch Competition
ASPIRE will host its internal Perfect Pitch Competition on March 25, 2026, at 4:00 PM MST. This event will select one outstanding student to represent ASPIRE at the NSF ERC Perfect Pitch Competition (PPC) during the ERC Biennial Meeting September 28-30, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
The competition is open to current undergraduate, master’s, PhD students, and Post-Docs affiliated with ASPIRE. Participants will deliver a 90-second pitch using one slide, clearly presenting:
- The real-world problem or opportunity
- Their proposed solution
- The broader impact of their technology
The Perfect Pitch Competition promotes innovation and entrepreneurship while strengthening student’s ability to communicate complex ideas concisely and persuasively. Through the experience, students develop skills in public speaking and strategic thinking, while connecting their work to broader real-world applications.
Judging criteria include:
- Clarity and strength of of the problem statement
- Quality and originality of the proposed solution
- Broader impact of the technology
- Fit within ASPIRE’s mission
- Visual design, poise, delivery, and style
We are seeking approximately 10 industry judges and several mentors to support participants. If you are interested in serving in either role, please register below and contact Don Linford at don.linford@usu.edu.
Registration is FREE
Please register in advance using the link:
https://usu.zoom.us/meeting/register/Us5klDTLTk6UZICUJ10VSg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting.
2026 Student Cohort Trip
The ASPIRE Student-Industry Cohort Trip will be taking place May 31 – June 6, 2026. 12 students across the ASPIRE campuses will be participating in this multi-disciplinary experience. We will be visiting Washington, D.C. and Utah.
This is one of the most valuable ways that ASPIRE fosters student-industry connections. The cohort trip provides students with the opportunity to gain exposure to industries and to gain real-world professional experience. Industry partners involved get to foster connections with highly qualified ASPIRE students and be a part of their journey as they step into the corporate world and gain recognition as a professional.
If you have an office in any of the following locations, this is your chance to get involved:
- Washington, D.C.
- Salt Lake City, UT
Please reach out to Don Linford at don.linford@usu.edu if you’d like a visit to your office as part of the 2026 cohort trip.
Pictures from the 2025 Student Cohort Trip
