The Piranha Pit is TARDISS’s very own Shark Tank™-style pitch competition designed to fuel innovation in natural rubber technology. Sponsored by the NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) TARDISS, the competition provides budding students, faculty, and postdoc entrepreneurs with the chance to pitch new ideas for natural rubber technologies and products. Winners will secure $10,000–$25,000 in seed funding to advance their concepts over 6–12 months. Applicants will submit a written application describing their innovative concept, work plan, and potential impact on natural rubber technology and commercialization. The top 5 finalists will be mentored and advance to the live Piranha Pit Pitch Event, presenting their ideas before a panel of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Judges will provide feedback, ask tough questions, and decide who will walk away with funding.