Beyond Health Mental Health Equity Innovation Award
Part of the Eagle's Edge Pitch Competition, the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship's inaugural signature pitch competition.
A $2,000 award for mental health equity
Why it matters
Too many communities, including Black, LGBTQIA+, and low-income residents, still face barriers to culturally competent mental health care. HBCU student founders bring lived experience and fresh thinking to problems traditional systems have missed.
Who can enter
- Coppin student founders whose ventures address mental health disparities
- Apply solo or with a team of up to 4
- Any venture stage: idea, prototype, launched, or already earning revenue
How it works
- 1
Apply online
Tell us about your venture, your team, and the community you want to serve.
- 2
Finalists pitch live
Finalists pitch on November 20 alongside the full Eagle's Edge field.
- 3
A Beyond Health judge joins the panel
Clinicians and program leaders from Beyond Health score the live pitches.
- 4
One student founder wins
Beyond Health presents the award on stage.
The rounds
1. Application Review
Four to five judges score every application against the rubric. The top 3 become finalists, confirmed by the competition admin.
2. Live Pitch, November 20
Each finalist gives a 3 minute pitch followed by 2 minutes of Q&A, and visuals are welcome. Finals judges, including the Beyond Health judge, score each finalist. The winner is the highest Live Pitch average. A tie breaks on the higher Community Insight average, then the panel vote.
How applications are judged
Every criterion is rated 1 to 5. Points = (rating / 5) x weight, and the four criteria add up to 100 points.
The rubric will be posted here shortly.
Need support?
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Coppin counseling
Coppin State students can also reach the campus counseling center. Contact details coming soon.
Questions? Contact the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship.