Middle-school and high-school students are invited to participate in a technology-focused Reverse Pitch, assisting companies with innovative technology solutions to real-life challenges.

Regular pitch competitions have participants’ ideas proposed to anyone willing to hear them.

The reverse pitch involves local companies presenting their existing challenges to participating teams, with the teams deciding which challenge to solve.

Students use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to harness the power of technology and innovation.

Ray Jones, the director of the Department of Economic Development, said, “It’s always refreshing when we get to witness Bermuda’s young, bright minds come together to contribute to the success of their country. As the tag line for the Reverse Pitch states: there may be three challenges, but there is unlimited potential.”

The various company pitches will be simultaneously provided in short videos to competing teams on October 8, and each team will have until October 15 to select the one challenge on which they will focus.

Teams will then have until November 19 to develop their solutions, formulating comprehensive plans and presentations with support from mentors who will have been hand-picked from technology professionals.

All solutions will be presented before a panel of judges as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week on November 26 and the winning team will walk away with a school-based prize.