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Spotlight: Alumni Story

From Uganda to HUVTWF: Betting on Young Entrepreneurs with Piñata Pitch

By: Theodore Grether-Murray, HUVTWF ‘24

Theodore Grether-Murray sharing information about Pinata Pitch to local communities

Hey, I'm Theo!

I'm a 17-year-old from Montreal, Canada, passionate about technology, entrepreneurship, and building solutions that make a real difference. My journey started at 15, when I became fascinated by the future of climate technology and how green energy could transform the world. I explored that curiosity by writing articles on renewable energy, participating in hackathons, and interning with labs and companies working at the forefront of innovation.

But it wasn’t until last year that I truly discovered the power of entrepreneurship.

That moment came when I traveled to Uganda for an internship focused on providing renewable energy to underserved rural communities. I worked with Mandulis Energy, a company building microgrids that bring clean power to homes, health centres, and schools. Seeing the real-world impact of these technologies changed everything for me. It made me realize that creating technology-driven businesses was an incredible way to create impact across the world in a scalable way.

Then, this past December, I had the opportunity to be a Harvard Ventures TECH Winter Fellow, where I connected with inspiring startup founders and a global community of entrepreneurial students. One of the biggest lessons I took away? The power of surrounding yourself with ambitious, like-minded people—and how often that kind of support system is missing for young innovators around the world.

That realization led to an idea. I saw a gap in my home city of Montreal: there weren’t enough opportunities for young people to explore entrepreneurship and build companies of their own. So, I decided to do something about it.

That’s what inspired me to start Piñata Pitch. Piñata Pitch is a student-led, global pitch competition for high school and university students. Our mission is to spark curiosity, inspire bold ideas, and build a supportive community of next-gen founders—right here in Montreal’s growing tech scene.

We’ve already had over 230 teams and 450 participants from more than 15 countries apply! The competition is still underway, and the top 5 teams will earn final-round interviews for the Harvard TECH Summer Program, with the winning team receiving $10,000 and a free trip to San Francisco

Curious to learn more? Visit us at pinatapitch.tech!

Please contact tech@seas.harvard.edu with any questions.

HUVTSP is supported by the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard (TECH) within Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). HUVTSP is also supported by Harvard Undergraduate Ventures, the largest student-run entrepreneurship and venture capital organization at Harvard. We are extremely grateful for our participating startups, world-class speakers, and corporate sponsors which have allowed us to make this program happen.

Terms and Conditions: By applying to the Harvard Undergraduate Ventures-TECH Summer Program (HUVTSP), applicants acknowledge that submitting an application is a request for consideration and does not ensure admission into the program. The application fee is obligatory for the processing of the application and is non-refundable, irrespective of the outcome of the application or subsequent withdrawal. The program’s offerings, including speakers and events, are subject to change depending on their availability and evolving circumstances. Successful completion of the internship and program is contingent upon students meeting predetermined performance standards, and HUVTSP makes no guarantees regarding specific results or achievements. Participation in HUVTSP implies a commitment to fully engage in the learning experience and an acceptance of these terms. Harvard Undergraduate Ventures-TECH Summer Program (HUVTSP) is entitled to and may use third-party vendors to administer and deliver the program.

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