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mountain state innovators summit 

Presented by the Hayhurst family, the Mountain State Innovators Summit is building the next generation of innovators in West Virginia. Pitch your business idea, compete for up to $10,000 and accelerate your growth with expert coaching and resources. 


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About the Competition

The Mountain State Innovators Summit, presented by the Hayhurst family, is a three-day, two-night experience designed to empower the next generation of young talent in West Virginia. Hosted by West Virginia University Extension and the WVU Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab, this summit brings together youth, college students and early-stage entrepreneurs for hands-on coaching, meaningful networking and real-world opportunities.

The event features eight live pitch competitions with a total of $300,000 in prizes and awards. The pitches will take place on November 13, 2025, during the Summit at Stonewall Resort.

The Competitions

The Betty Davis Middle School Pitch Competition will feature middle school students enrolled in the WVU Extension Young Innovators Program and offers $10,000 in prizes.
The track is named for Betty Davis, the second rescue dog of the Hayhurst-Davis family. She was a full-blooded black and tan coonhound who was rescued after being abandoned by a puppy mill operation. The family immediately fell in love with her, and she fell in love with them. She was a bright spot and a source of joy and companionship after the deaths of family members Rob and Robin. 
The  Robin Hayhurst High School Pitch Competition will include high school students participating in the WVU Extension Young Innovators Program and includes $10,000 in prizes.
This competition is named for Robin Hayhurst, who was the youngest son of Morris and Beulah. He graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School, where he was active in Scouting and 4-H. He attended WVU with his brother Rob and graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports management. Robin served as the COO of the family businesses throughout the years and was heavily involved in field operations. He was heavily focused on safety and served as an EMT in Morgantown, and a volunteer firefighter in Hundred, West Virginia.  
This competition is for undergraduate students from any West Virginia college or university and includes prizes of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. 
This track honors Christy Hayhurst Davis, who earned her bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. She serves as the president of Hundred Resources Inc., in Fairmont, West Virginia. Christy has dedicated nearly 25 years to the family business, overseeing its growth and transformation from the small company that her grandfather and uncles started nearly 50 years ago. Her proficiency spans production and distribution, leasing, contracts, land management, finance, accounting, mergers and acquisitions and state laws related to oil and natural gas. In 2022, she played a pivotal role in passing legislation that protects the rights of oil and gas mineral owners in West Virginia. She is deeply committed to charitable and volunteer efforts along with continuing and expanding upon her family’s tradition of supporting WVU and statewide initiatives.
The James Davis Graduate Student Pitch Competition is for graduate students from any West Virginia college or university and includes prizes of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. 
It is named for Jim Davis, who was born in Fairmont and raised in Morgantown. He graduated from Morgantown High School, where he was active in Scouting, earning his Eagle Scout award. He then attended WVU, where he met his wife, Christy, while they were both studying industrial engineering. After earning his bachelor's degree, he began working for Siemens/Mitsubishi, where he worked for more than a decade in escalating levels of responsibility, including mergers and acquisitions. He earned a master's degree in environmental health & safety.
The Ronald Hayhurst Brick and Mortar Pitch Competition is for West Virginia businesses that operate a brick-and-mortar location in the Mountain State. At least one founder must be 35 or under at the time of application and offers prizes of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. 
This track honors Ronald Hayhurst, who was the oldest son of Morris and Beulah. Raised in West Virginia, he graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School and attended WVU, earning a bachelor's degree in accounting. After graduating, he served as an auditor for various large construction projects, including as an auditor during the construction of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline in the late 1970s. It was during this time that he identified the opportunity to transition the family business toward oil and gas.
The Robert Hayhurst Veterans Pitch Competition is for veteran business owners who are within five years of separation (regardless of age) and includes prizes of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. At least one founder must be 35 or under at the time of application and offers prizes of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. 
This track honors Robert Hayhurst, who was the middle son of Morris and Beulah. Raised in West Virginia, he graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School and later served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Force Reconnaissance, during the Vietnam War. After completing his service, he returned to the Mountain State where he served in the National Guard and earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from WVU.
The Beulah Hayhurst Women's Pitch Competition is for businesses that are woman-owned or women-focused and includes prizes of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. At least one founder must be 35 or under at the time of application and offers prizes of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. 
This award is named for Beulah Hayhurst, the matriarch of the Hayhurst family. Born and raised in West Virginia, she attended Potomac State College. Beulah was the mother of Ronald, Robert, and Robin. She was the backbone of the family and served as the CFO of all their business ventures.
The Morris L. Hayhurst Invitational is for established businesses that are prepared to grow and includes prizes of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 (by invitation only). 
This award is named in honor of Morris L. Hayhurst, who was the patriarch of the Hayhurst family. Born and raised in West Virginia, he joined the U.S. Army during World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was responsible for setting up radios on the beach during the D-Day invasion. After the war, he served during the occupation of Japan and the Korean War. Once his service was complete, he returned with his family to West Virginia and served in the National Guard. A lifelong entrepreneur, he had many successful business ventures in the Mountain State, including oil and gas, coal mining, music and vending, and food service.  Click here to nominate a business.

How the Competition Works

  1. Submit Your Application and Video by June 13, 2025.
    Create and submit an application that includes a 90-second video pitching your business.
  2. Semifinalists will be announced by July 3, 2025. 
    Semifinalists will be selected and announced. These individuals will receive coaching, access to webinars, and will be introduced to vital resources that will help elevate their business to the next level.  
  3. Finalists will be announced by September 30, 2025.
    Five finalists in each category will be selected to compete in the final round.
  4. Pitch Day will be held on November 13, 2025, at the Mountain State Innovators Summit.   
    The top five finalists from each category will pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of judges on November 13, 2025, at Stonewall Resort (lodging provided).   

*These dates are subject to change.

Ready to Pitch Your Idea? Apply Now!

Submit your 90-second video to enter the competition. 

Submit Your Application

Contact Us

WVU Extension
Lauren Prinzo
lmprinzo@mail.wvu.edu

WVU Morris. L Hayhurst Launch Lab
Anne Jones
launchlab@mail.wvu.edu
304-293-9391

Introduction 

By entering the Mountain State Innovators Summit (hereinafter referred to as "the Competition"), you agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions. The Competition is organized by WVU Extension and the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab and is open to all eligible applicants as outlined in the competition rules. Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before submitting your application.

Eligibility 

  1. Applicants must be 35 years of age or younger at the time of application, except for applicants in the veteran's category, who must be within five years of separation at the time of application.  
  2. Participants must submit an application and a 90-second video pitch of their business idea. 
  3. Only one business per participant is allowed. Participants can apply for multiple categories but can only compete in one category during the finals. 
  4. Applicants must be residents of or have a business based in West Virginia or be active students in a West Virginia college or university.  
Application Process 

To apply, submit your video pitch via the official website.  
The video must meet the specified guidelines, including length and format requirements. The deadline for applications is June 13, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.  

Competition Stages  

  1. Initial Submission: Participants will submit an application and video pitch by the application deadline. 
  2. Semifinalists: A selection of semifinalists will be chosen based on the quality of their video pitch and business idea. Semifinalists will receive coaching and resources. 
  3. Finalists: Finalists will be chosen in September 2025 and will be invited to pitch on November 13, 2025. 
  4. Pitch Event: Finalists will present their business ideas to a panel of judges, who will evaluate the presentations based on criteria such as innovation, scalability and revenue potential.  
Prizes  

The top prize for each category is $10,000. Other prizes may include mentorship, coaching and additional business resources. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.  

Intellectual Property

By submitting an application, you retain ownership of your business idea and intellectual property. Mountain State Innovators Summit reserves the right to use your submission, including video content, in promotional materials related to the competition. You grant Mountain State Innovators Summit a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use your submission for such purposes. 

Disqualification 

Mountain State Innovators Summit reserves the right to disqualify any participant who violates the competition rules or engages in unethical conduct.  

Liability 

Mountain State Innovators Summit is not responsible for any losses, damages or expenses incurred by participants as a result of participating in the competition. Participants enter the competition at their own risk.  

Amendments 

Mountain State Innovators Summit reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated to participants via email or through the competition website.   

Governing Law 

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the state of West Virginia. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of West Virginia.

Introduction  

We at Mountain State Innovators Summit value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your information in connection with the Mountain State Innovators Summit (the "Competition").  

Information We Collect  

Personal Information: When you apply for the competition, we collect personal information such as your name, age, email address, phone number, and any other details you provide during the application process. 

Video Submissions: By submitting your video pitch, you are providing us with personal data contained in the video. 

Usage Data: We may collect information about how you interact with our website, including IP addresses, browser type and usage patterns.  

How We Use Your Information 

Application Processing: We use your personal information to process your application and notify you about the status of your submission. 

Communication: We may use your contact information to send updates, announcements and important information regarding the competition. 

Promotional Materials: We may use your video pitch or other content provided for promotional and marketing purposes related to the competition.  

How We Protect Your Information

Data Security: We use industry-standard security measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration or disclosure. 

Retention: Your personal data will only be retained for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law.  

Sharing Your Information 

We do not sell or rent your personal data to third parties. Your personal data may be shared with trusted service providers who assist us in conducting the competition, such as hosting services or email platforms. We may disclose your personal data if required by law or to protect our legal rights.  

Your Rights 

Access: You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you. 

Correction: You can request correction of any inaccuracies in your personal information. 

Deletion: You may request that we delete your personal data under certain circumstances, subject to applicable legal requirements.

Changes to This Policy  

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be communicated through the competition website or via email.  

Contact Us  

If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy, please contact the WVU LaunchLab.