HUSTLE Pitch (Cohort Program Event)

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To enter HUSTLE, students must first apply and pitch in the fall. This initial round ensures that selected teams are serious, prepared and ready to commit to building a real venture. Only a limited number of teams will be accepted into the spring cohort.

THE HUSTLE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS OCT. 20, 2025


What is HUSTLE?
The HUSTLE (Helping University Students Tackle Leadership and Entrepreneurship) Program is USF's Nault Center for Entrepreneurship incubator, designed to support student founders who are ready to take their ideas from concept to launch.

Each spring, a competitive cohort of student teams is selected to participate in this hands-on, high-accountability program. Unlike pitch competitions or business plan contests, HUSTLE simulates the real startup journey—from building to pitching to potentially closing a deal.

Throughout the semester, students attend weekly workshops, meet with mentors and work through a structured curriculum covering legal formation, customer discovery, MVP development, financial modeling and pitch training.

The most promising teams will pitch to Chessler Holdings, a real-world investor group with a track record of funding student-founded startups, for the chance to secure an investment deal.

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