UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two Penn State undergraduates presented at an international live pitch competition in June focused on artificial intelligence.
Pitch Across the Ocean saw eight teams compete for one of two international trips sponsored by UAS 7, a group of German universities of applied sciences. Though neither Penn State team earned an international trip to Munich for the Bits and Pretzels Founders Festival, one participant said they still found value in going through the process and putting themselves and their ideas in front of others.
“This event provided students with the opportunity to engage with two current themes in the ENTI minor: international entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship augmented by generative AI,” said Jamey Darnell, director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor and the Center for Penn State Student Entrepreneurship.
Ruthvik Uttarala gave the competition’s first pitch as the founder of WardrobeWise, an AI-based fashion tech solution designed to help users digitally manage and style their wardrobe. Uttarala is a Penn State computer science major and is pursuing an entrepreneurship and innovation minor.
He is no stranger to pitch competitions, having participated in the Happy Valley LaunchBox’s Idea TestLab and FastTrack Accelerator for earlier iterations of his idea. He said his pitch deck went through five iterations, with mentors and former class teammates helping its evolution.
After reading an email about the opportunity to participate in Pitch Across the Ocean, Uttarala said he jumped at the chance.
“I genuinely give credit to my parents for encouraging me to be proactive and responsive to opportunities like this. It was their push that helped me fix that habit, and this was my first real win as a result,” he said. “Seeing an opportunity, taking initiative, and acting on it quickly led me to represent Penn State globally, which felt incredibly rewarding. “
He said pitching in an international competition required a slightly different approach.
“I learned how to communicate my vision more clearly to an international audience and how to adapt quickly during Q&A sessions,” Uttarala said. “It also helped me build confidence in pitching under pressure and deepened my understanding of how to position WardrobeWise as a scalable solution for a global market. Most importantly, it gave me the chance to connect with like-minded student entrepreneurs from around the world.”
Beatrice Sirakaya, director of the Bio-Tech cluster in the ENTI program, served as one of the judges for Pitch Across the Ocean. She is an associate teaching professor in the Eberly College of Science and the ENTI assistant director.
“These events help students improve their communication skills, learn how to tell their story effectively, and build confidence in presenting their ideas,” Sirakaya said. “It’s also a chance to meet industry professionals, mentors, and peers who can support and inspire them along their journey.”
Sirakaya is also a founder of the Bio-Tech Boardroom, featuring a biannual pitch competition and mentoring from Eberly College of Science alumni. When helping students prepare their pitches, she often reminds them to tell their story in a clear and passionate way, to think about their audience and be prepared to confidently answer tough questions.
“I also tell them that failures and setbacks aren’t the end — they’re valuable learning experiences that help us grow and improve,” Sirakaya said. “It’s okay to stumble along the way; what matters is how you learn from those moments. Most importantly, I encourage them to practice often, seek honest feedback and bring their true enthusiasm to the table. When students speak from the heart and communicate with authenticity, it leaves a real impression.”
Daniel Vitale was Penn State’s other entrant in Pitch Across the Ocean. He is the founder of 5South5, a social media marketing agency with a content focus on physical health, mindset and life fulfillment.
To learn more about entrepreneurship education at Penn State, visit the Center for Penn State Student Entrepreneurship. To learn more about programs and services to help Penn State and the community launch their own businesses, visit Invent Penn State.