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The 20 Best Business Plan Competitions to Get Funding

Business plan competitions can provide valuable feedback on your business idea or startup business plan template , in addition to providing an opportunity for funding for your business. This article will discuss what business planning competitions are, how to find them, and list the 20 most important business planning competitions.

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What is a Business Plan Competition?

How do i find business plan competitions, 20 popular business plan competitions, tips for winning business plan competitions, other helpful business plan articles & templates.

A business plan competition is a contest between startup, early-stage, and/or growing businesses. The goal of the business plan competition is for participants to develop and submit an original idea or complete their existing business plan based on specific guidelines provided by the organization running the contest.

Companies are judged according to set criteria including creativity, feasibility, execution, and the quality of your business plan.

A quick Google search will lead you to several websites that list business planning competitions. 

Each site has a different way of organizing the business planning competitions it lists, so you’ll need to spend some time looking through each website to find opportunities that are relevant for your type of business or industry.

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Below we’ve highlighted 20 of these popular competitions, the requirements and how to find additional information. The following list is not exhaustive; however, these popular competitions are great places to start if you’re looking for a business competition.

Rice Business Plan Competition

The Rice University Business Plan Competition is designed to help collegiate entrepreneurs by offering a real-world platform on which to present their businesses to investors, receive coaching, network with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, fine-tune their entrepreneurship plan, and learn what it takes to launch a successful business.

Who is Eligible?

Initial eligibility requirements include teams and/or entrepreneurs that:

• are student-driven, student-created and/or student-managed
• include at least two current student founders or management team members, and at least one is a current graduate degree-seeking student
• are from a college or university anywhere in the world
• have not raised more than $250,000 in equity capital
• have not generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period
• are seeking funding or capital
• have a potentially viable investment opportunity

You can find additional  eligibility information on their website.

Where is the Competition Held?

The Rice Business Plan Competition is hosted in Houston, TX at Rice University, the Jones Graduate School of Business.

What Can You Win?

In 2021, $1.6 Million in investment, cash prizes, and in-kind prizes was awarded to the teams competing.

This two-part milestone grant funding program and pitch competition is designed to assist students with measurable goals in launching their enterprises.

Teams must be made up of at least one student from an institution of higher education in Utah and fulfill all of the following requirements:

• The founding student must be registered for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours during the semester they are participating. The credit hours must be taken as a matriculated, admitted, and degree-seeking student.
• A representative from your team must engage in each stage of Get Seeded (application process, pre-pitch, and final pitch)
• There are no restrictions regarding other team members; however, we suggest building a balanced team with a strong combination of finance, marketing, engineering, and technology skills.
• The funds awarded must be used to advance the idea.

The business plan competition will be hosted in Salt Lake City, UT at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah.

There are two grants opportunities:

• Microgrant up to $500
• Seed Grant for $501 – $1,500

Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards is a worldwide business plan competition for students from all majors. The GSEA aims to empower talented young people from around the world, inspire them to create and shape business ventures, encourage entrepreneurship in higher education, and support the next generation of global leaders.

• You must be enrolled for the current academic year in a university/college as an undergraduate or graduate student at the time of application. Full-time enrollment is not required; part-time enrollment is acceptable.
• You must be the owner, founder, or controlling shareholder of your student business. Each company can be represented by only one owner/co-founder – studentpreneur.
• Your student business must have been in operation for at least six consecutive months prior to the application.
• Your business must have generated US $500 or received US $1000 in investments at the time of application.
• You should not have been one of the final round competitors from any previous year’s competition.
• The age cap for participation is 30 years of age.

You can find additional   eligibility information on their website.

Regional competitions are held in various locations worldwide over several months throughout the school year. The top four teams then compete for cash prizes during finals week at the Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City.

At the Global Finals, students compete for a total prize package of $50,000 in cash and first place receives $25,000. All travel and lodging expenses are also covered. Second place gets US $10,000, while third place earns US $5,000. Additional prizes are handed out at the Global Finals for Social Impact, Innovation, and Lessons from the Edge.

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The collegiate entrepreneurs organization business plan competition.

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization Business Plan Competition (COEBPC) exists to help early-stage entrepreneurs develop their business skills, build entrepreneurial networks, and learn more about how they can transform ideas into reality. It also offers cash prizes to reward entrepreneurship, provide an opportunity for recognition of top student entrepreneurs around the world, and provide unique opportunities for networking.

To compete, you must:

• Be a currently enrolled student at an accredited institution
• Have a viable business concept or be the creator of an existing business that generates revenue.

If you are among the top three finalists of the business plan competition and successfully receive prize money, you will be required to submit a class schedule under your name for the current academic semester. Failure to do so will result in the forfeit of the prize money.

All competitions are held online. The finalist will receive a trip to the International Career Development Conference, where they have an opportunity to win additional prizes from CEO’s sponsors.

• First Place – $7,000
• Second Place – $5,000
• Third Place – $3,000
• People’s Choice Award – Collegiate Entrepreneur of the Year – $600

MIT 100k Business Plan Competition and Expo

The MIT 100K was created in 2010 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to foster entrepreneurship and innovation on campus and around the world. Consists of three distinct and increasingly intensive competitions throughout the school year: PITCH, ACCELERATE, and LAUNCH. 

• Submissions may be entered by individuals or teams.
• Each team may enter one idea.
• Each team must have at least one currently registered MIT student; if you are submitting as an individual, you must be a currently registered MIT student.
• Entries must be the original work of entrants.
• Teams must disclose any funding already received at the time of registration.

Hosted in Cambridge, MA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology beginning in October through May of each academic year.

Top finalists will have a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at a live event for the chance to win the $5,000 Grand Prize or the $2,000 Audience Choice Award.

20 Finalists are paired with industry-specific business professionals for mentorship and business planning and a $1,000 budget for marketing and/or business development expenses.

The 10 Top Finalists participate in the Showcase and compete for the $10,000 Audience Choice Award while the 3 Top Finalists automatically advance to LAUNCH semi-finals.

The grand prize winner receives a cash prize of $100,000 and the runner-up receives $25,000.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Business Plan Competition

The FAU business plan competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate student entrepreneurs. The competition covers topics in the areas of information technology, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, operations management, etc.

All undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate.

The business plan competition will be held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

• First prize: $5,000 cash
• Second prize: $500 cash

Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition

The Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition is designed to offer an opportunity to develop your business plan with the guidance of industry experts. It provides the opportunity for you to compete against fellow entrepreneurs and explore big ideas.

• Participants must be the legal age to enter into contracts in the country of residence.
• Participants may not be employed by an organization other than their own company or business that they are launching for this competition.
• The plan should be for a new business, not an acquisition of another company.

The Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition is held in the USA.

There is a cash prize for first, second, and third place. There is also a potential for a business incubator opportunity, which would provide facilities and assistance to the winners of the competition.

Washington State University Business Plan Competition

The Washington State University Business Plan Competition has been serving students since 1979. The competition is a great opportunity for someone who is looking to get their business off the ground by gaining invaluable knowledge of running a successful business. It offers a wide range of topics and competition styles.

• Any college undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree-seeking student at Washington State University
• The company must be an early-stage venture with less than $250,000 in annual gross sales revenue.

The Washington State University Business Plan Competition is held in the Associated Students Inc. Building on the Washington State University campus which is located in Pullman, Washington.

There are a wide variety of prizes that could be won at the Washington State University Business Plan Competition. This is because the business plan competition has been serving students for over 30 years and as such, they have offered more than one type of competition. The common prize though is $1,000 which is awarded to the winner of each class. There are also awards for those who come in second place, third place, etc.

Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition

The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition is one of the most well-known competitions in the country. They have partnered with many prestigious institutions to provide funding, mentorship, and expertise for the competition.

Education ventures with innovative solutions to educational inequity from around the world are encouraged to apply, especially those ventures founded by and serving individuals from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.

We encourage applicants working in every conceivable educational setting–from early childhood through corporate and adult training. We also welcome both nonprofit and for-profit submissions.

The competition is held at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

All finalists receive $1,000 in cash and $5,000 in Amazon Web Services promotional credits.

Next Founders Business Plan Competition

Next Founders is a competition geared towards innovative startups with a social impact, looking to transform society by addressing key global human needs. The competition inspires and identifies energetic, optimistic entrepreneurs who are committed to achieving their vision.

Next Founders is for Canadian business owners of scalable, high-growth ventures.

Next Founders is held at the University of Toronto.

You could win up to $25,000 CAD in cash funding for your new business.

Hatch Pitch Competition

The Hatch Pitch competition is one of the most prestigious business competitions in the US. The winners of the Hatch Pitch Competition are given access to mentorship courses, discounted office space with all amenities included, incubators for startups, tailored education programs, financial counseling & more.

The competition is for companies with a business idea.

• The company’s product/service must have launched within the past 2 years, or be launched within 6 months after the Hatch Pitch event.
• Founders must retain some portion of ownership in the company.
• Received less than $5 million in funding from 3rd party investors.
• The presenter must actively participate in Hatch Pitch coaching.

The Hatch Pitch Competition is located at the Entrepreneur Space in Dallas.

The grand prize for this business plan competition is access to resources like incubators and mentorships that could prove invaluable in bringing your startup company to the next level.

TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield

The Startup Battlefield is a business plan competition that is sponsored by TechCrunch.  It awards the winner $50,000. There are two different rounds to this competition:

• First Round – 15 companies from all of the applicants that submitted their business plans for this round.
• Second Round – Two finalist companies compete against each other at TechCrunch Disrupt NY’s main stage.

At the time of the application process, companies must have a functional prototype to demo to the selection committee. In selecting final contestants, we will give preference to companies that launch some part of their product or business for the first time to the public and press through our competition. Companies that are in closed beta, private beta, limited release or generally have been flying under the radar are eligible. Hardware companies can have completed crowdfunding but those funds should have been directed to an earlier product prototype. Existing companies launching new feature sets do not qualify.

TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield is held at different locations.

The Startup Battlefield rewards the winner with $50,000. In addition, the two runner-ups get a prize of $5,000 each.

New Venture Challenge

New Venture Challenge is a competition hosted by the University of Chicago. There are 3 main categories that will be judged:

• Innovative Concept – Arguably the most important category, this focuses on uniqueness, originality, and suitability.
• Market Fit/Business Model – Are you solving an actual problem for your target market? Does your project have the potential for profit?
• Presentation – Did you make a compelling, impactful presentation? Did you clearly communicate your goals and vision to potential investors?

You can find  eligibility information on their website.

The New Venture Challenge competition is held in Chicago, IL.

Finalists are awarded:

• First Place: $50,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.
• Second place: $25,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.
• Third place: $15,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.

New Venture Championship

The New Venture Championship is hosted by the University of Oregon and has been since 1987. The championship brings new ventures and innovative business ideas to life and the competition offers plan writing as a service to those who need it.

The University of Oregon New Venture Championship is open to university student teams with 2-5 members that have at least one graduate student involved with their venture. Students should be enrolled in a degree program or have finished their studies in the current academic year.

The New Venture Championship hosted by the University of Oregon is held in Eugene, Oregon.

Every business plan has a chance of winning a cash prize from $3,000 to $25,000 and additional benefits like plan coaching and office space rental.

Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT

The Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT is a competition that focuses on companies that are involved in the area of energy, environment, and climate change.

• Participants must be a team of two or more people.
• At least 50% of formal team members identified in the competition submission documentation must be enrolled as half-time or full-time college or university students.

The Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT is held in Cambridge, MA.

The grand prize winner receives $100,000 and other winners may receive other monetary prizes.

Baylor Business New Venture Competition

This competition has been offered by Baylor for the last 20 years. It is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs refine business ideas, and also gain valuable insights from judges and other entrepreneurs.

Must be a current undergraduate student at Baylor University or McLennan Community College.

The Baylor Business New Venture competition will be held at the Baylor University, Waco, TX.

The grand prize winner will receive $6,000. There are also other prizes given out to the other finalists in each category which are worth $1,500 – $2,000.

13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup

The 13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup was organized by the 13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup Association. It was organized to provide a platform for innovators from all over the world to showcase their innovative ideas and projects. The competition aimed at drawing the attention of investors, venture capitalists, and potential business partners to meet with representatives from different companies and organizations in order to foster innovation.

The revolutionary Internet of Things and Wearable Technologies solutions from developers, innovative startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and researchers across the world are invited to participate. Eight different categories are available: Industrial, City, Home, Agriculture, Sports, Lifestyle, and Transport.

Only those submissions that have a functional prototype/proof of concept will advance in the competition, mere ideas will not be considered. 

The competition is held in Cleveland, Ohio also an important center for innovation and cutting-edge technology.

Win prizes worth over $500,000, connect with leading tech companies, speed up your development with advice from tech experts, join international conferences as a speaker or exhibitor, and become part of the worldwide IoT/WT Innovation World Cup® network. 

The U.Pitch is a competition that gives you a chance to share your idea and for the community of budding entrepreneurs, startup founders, CEOs, and venture capitalists to invest in your enterprise. It also provides mentoring by experts in the field.

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program
• Applicants may compete with either an idea OR business currently in operation
• Applicants must be 30 years of age or under

The U.Pitch is held in San Francisco, California.

Enter to win a part of the $10,000 prize pool.

At the core of CodeLaunch is an annual seed accelerator competition between individuals and groups who have software technology startup ideas.

If your startup has raised money, your product is stable, you have customers, and revenue, you are probably not a fit for CodeLaunch.

CodeLaunch is based in St. Louis, Missouri. 

The “winner” may be eligible for more seed capital and business services from some additional vendors.

New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition

The New York StartUP! is a competition sponsored by the New York Public Library to help entrepreneurs from around the world to develop their business ideas.

• You must live in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island
• Your business must be in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island
• All companies must have a big idea or business model in the startup phase and have earned less than $10,000

The New York StartUP! competition is held in New York, NY.

Two winners are chosen: 

•  Grand Prize – $15,000  
•  Runner-up – $7,500  

First, determine if the competition is worth your time and money to participate.

• What is the prize money?
• Who will be on the judging panel?
• Will there be any costs associated with entering and/or presenting at the competition (e.g., travel and lodging expenses)?

Once you’ve determined the worth of the competition, then shift to focusing on the details of the competition itself.

• What are the rules of the competition?
• Are there any disqualifying factors?
• How will you be judged during the different parts of the competition?

After conducting this research, it’s best to formulate an idea or product that appeals to the judges and is something they can really get behind. Make sure you thoroughly understand the rules and what is expected from your final product. Once you know what is expected from you, you’ll be able to refine and practice your pitch to help you move through the stages of the competition.

These competitions are a fantastic method to get new business owners thinking about business possibilities, writing business plans, and dominating the competition. These contests may assist you in gaining important feedback on your business concept or plan as well as potential monetary prizes to help your business get off the ground.  

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The Best 20 Business Plan Competitions to Get Funding in (2024)

Free Business Plan Template

Radhika Agarwal

• October 18, 2023

11 Min Read

Brilliant business ideas deserve 2 things for sure – Feedback and Funding.

And if you think you have a good business idea and have some bit of groundwork figured out, you may want to look into business plan competitions.

Now, what is a business plan competition? Why should you participate in one? How to find one that’s just right for your business?

We’ll discuss all of the above and more through this article.

What is a Business Plan Competition?

A business plan competition is an event that allows small businesses and startups to compete with each other, get feedback and advice on their business, and also can help you get your business funded.

Businesses are judged on several factors including execution, feasibility, innovation, etc.

How to Find a Business Plan Competition?

There are several business plan competitions listed on Google that you can look through. Different competitions have different eligibility criteria and guidelines. Go through all of that to know if it fits your business or not.

At the same time, it is important to check the credibility and check for any scams or illegitimate sites.

To make finding business plan competitions a little easier we have compiled a list of 20 popular and credible competitions that you can apply for.

Business Plan Competitions

• Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
• tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition
• HATCH Pitch
• Rice Business Plan Competition
• New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition
• MIT 100k Business Plan and Expo
• FAU Business Plan Competition
• NIBS Business Plan Competition
• Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge
• College of New Jersey’s Mayo Business Plan Competition
• Next Founders Business Plan Competition
• TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield
• New Venture Challenge
• New Venture Championship
• Climatech & Energy Prize @MIT
• Baylor Business New Venture Competition
• 13th IOT/WT World Cup

1. Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

To encourage students across the globe to become entrepreneurs GSEA organizes this competition for students from all disciplines and countries. The main aim of the awards is to draw people towards entrepreneurship, shape their ideas, and become a catalyst for their business’s growth.

Eligibility

The student must enroll in a part-time or full-time undergraduate or graduate course.

The student should own or work as a founder or co-founder of the startup.

Only one person from the startup can represent it.

The person should either be 30 or under 30 years of age.

The startup should be running for at least 6 months from the date of application.

The startup should either generate $500 or get $1000 as investments at the time of application.

The startup shouldn’t have reached the final round of the competition in previous years.

For more details check out their website.

The competition is held at several locations across the world over months during a school year. The finals among the Top 4 teams are held at Goldman Sachs New York.

• First Prize: $25,000
• Second Prize: $10,000
• Third Prize: $5,000

Lodging and travel expenses are covered and additional prizes are handed out at the event.

2. tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition

The tecBRIDGE competition is divided into two parts, with one for college students across 14 colleges and universities and a non-collegiate one for early-stage entrepreneurs.

( For Collegiate )

At least one member as a college student

The product must identify commercial solutions through technical processes.

( For Non-Collegiate )

The startup must gross less than $250k in revenue from its start date up to the last tax filing date.

It is held in Northeastern Pennsylvania every year. The businesses that win have to establish their headquarters there as well.

Prizes worth $100,000 are shared amongst the winning teams.

3. HATCH Pitch

Through the Hatch Pitch program, you get access to mentorship courses, discounted spaces, funds, education programs, financial consulting, and so on.

The product/ Service was launched within 2 years.

Founders should retain some part of the ownership.

Must actively participate actively in Hatch Pitch coaching.

Must receive less than $5 million in funds from third-party investors.

The competition is held at Entrepreneur space in Dallas.

Access to high-level incubators and mentorship.

4. Rice Business Plan Competition

The Rice University business plan competition is specially designed for college students to present their ideas to investors , get mentorship and help shape their ideas and business journey better.

Students managed or created businesses.

Consists of at least 2 college students, and one student pursuing a graduate degree.

Have raised less than $250k in equity capital.

Have generated less than $100k in any 12-month period.

Houston at Rice University, graduate school of business, hosts this event.

In 2021, the winners were awarded investments worth $1.6 Million , cash prizes, etc.

5. New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition

New York Public library sponsors this competition to help entrepreneurs from around the world. They give wings to their ideas.

Must live in Manhattan, Staten Island, or The Bronx.

Your business should be in any of the above places as well.

The idea or business model is in the startup phase and shouldn’t have earned more than $10,000.

The competition is held in New York.

A grand prize worth $15000 and a Runner Up prize worth $7500 .

6. MIT 100k Business Plan and Expo

MIT organizes this competition to promote innovation in the university as well as the world. It consists of 3 competitions throughout the year namely Pitch, Accelerate, and Launch.

Each team should enter one idea.

Participants must have original work ideas

Should disclose the received funding.

Hosted in Cambridge MA MIT campus from October to May through the academic year.

• Pitch: $5000 jury award and $2000 audience choice award.
• Accelerate: 20 finalists get industry-specific mentorship programs with a budget of $1000 each. The top 10 finalists compete for the Audience Choice award worth $10,000. The top 3 finalists immediately get into the finals of the launch.
• Launch: The winner gets a whopping amount of $100,000 while the runner gets $25000 .

Official Website MIT 100k

7. FAU Business Plan Competition

The Florida Atlantic University Business Plan Competition is for graduate and undergraduate students spanning all continents.

Undergraduate or graduate participants.

The competition is held at Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, Florida.

First Prize: $5000 and Second Prize: $500

8. NIBS Business Plan Competition

The NIBS competition helps you discuss and give a boost to your ideas. It also helps you get industry experts guidance.

Entrants of legal age to have contracts as per the rules of their country of residence.

Should not hold any employment apart from their own company.

The plan must stand for a startup business and not an acquisition.

It is held in the USA.

There’s a cash prize for the first three places as well as an opportunity to get an incubator program for the winners.

9. Get Seeded

Get Seed is a two-part funding program for students in launching their businesses.

At least one student from a higher education institution in Utah is a must.

Should be enrolled for nine credit hours during that semester.

Utilization of funds to take the idea further.

Salt Lake City in Utah hosts the business plan competition.

A micro-grant worth $500 and a seeded grant from $501 to $1500

10. Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge

This competition was designed for startups focusing on digital and health technology.

Legally formed entities

The company must have less than 50 people.

Annual sales under $5 million.

The product should have been launched within 3 years.

Your country should not have USA’s trade restrictions imposed.

You can submit your ideas from anywhere.

Five finalists win $5000 and 2 winners receive $20,000 .

Official Website

11. College of New Jersey’s Mayo Business Plan Competition

This competition is held for students to appreciate new challenges.

The teams must consist of two and bot more than four students from the College of New Jersey.

The College of New Jersey hosts this event.

The winners get mentorship and guidance programs.

Check Official Website

12. Next Founders Business Plan Competition

This competition focuses on startups with an innovative approach to solving social problems and global needs.

It is for Canadian entrepreneurs with scalable, high-potential ventures.

The University of Toronto.

Up to 25,000 CAD$ in cash for funding your startup.

13. TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield

TechCrunch sponsors this competition which comprises two levels.

The companies must have a functional prototype of their product or service to present to the committee.

Different locations.

The winner gets $50,000 and two runner-ups get $5000 each.

Check Competition Website

14. New Venture Challenge

This competition is held at the University of Chicago. Three evaluation points for participants are – Innovation, Product Market Fit , and presentation.

The eligibility information is available on their website.

Chicago, IL.

1st Place: $50,000 ; 2nd Place: $25,000 ; 3rd Place: $15,000 . In addition to that, the winners get access to mentorship and resources.

15. New Venture Championship

This competition is for those with a good business idea. Even if you don’t have a business plan, you can participate as the competition provides optional plan writing services.

The team should have 2-5 members.

Should have at least one graduate student.

The students should be pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Eugene, Oregon.

Teams have a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $3000 to $25,000 with additional benefits like mentorship and rented office spaces.

16. Climatech & Energy Prize @MIT

This competition is ideal for companies with a core focus on energy, climate change, and the environment.

The team must have more than 2 members.

At least 50% of part-time or full-time university students.

Cambridge, MA hosts this competition

The winner gets a sizable sum of $1,00,000 .

17. U.Pitch

This competition gives entrants a chance to present their ideas to people from different levels and spectrums in the business space and get an opportunity for investments and mentorship programs.

Undergraduate or graduate program students.

Functioning Business

Age up to or below 30

San Francisco, California hosts this competition.

Prizes worth $10,000 are given.

18. CodeLaunch

It is a seed accelerator competition for entrepreneurs who have technology startups.

The detailed eligibility criteria can be found on their website.

St. Louis, Missouri hosts these competitions, usually.

The winner gets seed fund capital and access to other additional resources.

19. Baylor Business New Venture Competition

Baylor launched this competition to help entrepreneurs discuss their ideas and get advice from judges.

An undergraduate student at Baylor University and McLennan Community College.

Baylor University, Waco, Texas hosts this competition.

The first prize winner receives $6000 . The other finalists win prizes ranging from $1500-$2000 .

20. 13th IOT/WT World Cup

The innovation world cup was started to give startups a chance to display their ideas and business. The competition aims to attract venture capitalists, investors, and potential business partners .

The startup should have a concept of innovative technologies.

You should have a functional prototype of the product.

Cleveland, Ohio hosts this event.

You get a chance at winning prizes worth $500,000 and connect with leading tech companies in your field.

Even if you don’t receive funds, there’s a lot of chance to network, get exposure, and get your ideas validated. Especially, if you are someone who’s new in the business space business plan competitions are a great way to learn the ropes of the trade.

So, go ahead, write your business plan , look up the details, and register for a competition that fits your business the best!

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About the Author

Radhika is an economics graduate and likes to read about every subject and idea she comes across. Apart from that she can discuss her favorite books to lengths( to the point you\'ll start feeling a little annoyed) and spends most of her free time on Google word coach.

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How to Win a Business Plan Competition

8 min. read

Updated October 27, 2023

Have you considered business plan competitions as part of your startup strategy? I’ve personally seen startups get more than a million dollars in investment at the annual Rice University Business Plan Competition, held every April. I’ve also seen startups raise tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars of grant money at competitions hosted by the University of Oregon and the University of Texas. And I’ve read about startups getting good money from outside universities, in competitions held by business development organizations and businesses. And this is now worldwide, not just in the U.S. 

As I write this, I just did a web search for business plan competitions, and came up with dozens of them coming up in 2022. I judged a University of Oregon business plan competition just last month. 

I’ve never entered a business plan competition, but I’ve been judging them since 1997. I’ve done multiple stints at several of the majors. And I’ve developed some pointers and tips to help you win your next business plan competition. 

• 1. Know the judging guidelines

As business plan competitions have grown and developed, most of them have fine-tuned the details of judging procedures and criteria. For example, many ask judges to choose which entrant is the best investment for outsiders. That’s different from which is the best business or which they would rather own or share in. The key point there is that criterion essentially dismisses good startups that don’t need outside investment to grow. 

I’ve seen startups successfully tailor their plans and pitches to aim at outside investment rather than self funding. That, in my opinion, is the right way to adjust to the specific criteria. 

You should also be aware of judging guidelines governing questions, comments, interruptions of pitches, plan and pitch length, and so forth. Some business plan competitions ask the judges to listen quietly to a pitch, without interrupting. Others encourage judges to interrupt at will, as they would in a real investment pitch. Startups have to know and plan accordingly. 

• 2. Research who you are pitching to

In most of the business plan competitions I’ve seen, judges are a collection of venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs, and local business leaders. That’s predictable. The organizers of these competitions ask local people to participate, as volunteers, as judges. So they look for people who know the general territory of startups, business plans, pitches, and investment. 

Different judges have different sets of expertise. I’ve seen attorneys, accountants, and medical doctors as judges, along with investors in general. Read their biographies before you finalize your pitch. Know what experience and background they have. This can help a lot as you deliver a pitch and field questions.

• 3. Refine your pitch deck and get feedback

Start with a good deck of slides . Understand what your slide deck is supposed to do: ideally, it’s a collection of useful and/or beautiful images that focus attention on what you are saying, add depth to what you are saying, and sets the structure to what you say. For example, as you discuss the problem your startup solves, you project a beautiful image that illustrates the problem you solve. You want your investors to focus on you and your words, not read words from your slides. Avoid the so-called “death by PowerPoint” meaning the boredom of a speaker reading slide bullet points to a captive audience.   

We have a lot of information for you, on this site, about doing your slide presentation for a business pitch. All of that applies to the pitch component of a business plan competition. That includes a collection of 50 pitch templates , How to Create a Pitch Deck , 15 Tips for a Successful Pitch , T he 11 Slides Your Need for a Pitch Deck , and others. 

Practice makes perfect . Trite but true. In my experience, the best pitches are practiced a lot but not memorized. The slide images stand as placeholders to set the flow of topics. They provide visual emphasis. But the speakers use their own words and let it flow differently each time they do it. The best have been over the pitch a lot, with others listening and poking holes where they can. So they have a good guess on what questions might come up, and how they will respond to those questions when they do. You might look at this article on how to get feedback on your pitch . 

• 4. Develop a memorable hook

You have just a few seconds to make that important first impression. Call that a hook. You want judges’ attention from the very beginning. Maybe you tell a story of a real person suffering the problem you want to solve. Ideally, in that case, your first slide is a picture of that problem. Maybe you share the vision of how this will help the world. That can start with an image too. 

Hooks are hard to generalize, but it’s all about getting the judges to care. It’s most often about the problem a startup solves, the size of the need, the importance of the solution. But it might also be the ambitious goals, if you can make the judges care about that. Be creative. Put yourself in the place of an investor, sense business plan competition judges are usually thinking as investors. What makes this exciting to the investor? What’s the best thing to make them care from the beginning. 

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• 5. Share any traction

Being able to show actual achieved traction is a huge advantage in a business plan competition. Most competitions invite startups at very early stages, often long before launch or even serious steps towards execution. The startup that already has traction is way ahead of the competition. 

What makes traction depends on your type of business. Maybe it’s proven research, subscribers, customers, distributors, letters of intent, users, and so forth. Generally, there’s nothing stronger than actual paying customers. 

• 6. Show realistic market potential and growth

Don’t ever think that in a business plan competition the biggest market wins. It’s so very much not that simple. Credibility and realism are critical. I’ve seen judges not choose a startup that was going to cure cancer, with a projected market of billions, because they just didn’t believe it. I’ve seen judges routinely reject unbelievable big numbers. 

Yes, of course, bigger is better, but only within that framework of credibility. The method and assumptions and transparency of a projection is very important. The best market projections build from the bottom up, with believable assumptions about drivers: stores, channels, web views, traffic, sales funnels. Numbers should start at the base drivers and build up to the bigger numbers. 

• 7. Prepare relatable stories

Stories are vital to business success and that includes in business plan competition. Your hook is a story. Your problem and solution are a story. How people find and buy that solution is another story. Business planning is in many ways telling stories first and then planning how to make them come true. The stories are vital to your success in a business plan competition. You hint at them in an elevator pitch, tell them in the business pitch, and show them and how they can come true in your business plan. 

• 8. Keep things short and straightforward

Business plan competition judges are busy people. They have a lot of distractions. Boredom is your enemy. Time is the scarcest resource. Keep your pitches moving. Once you lose their attention, it is very hard to get that back. Stay on point. Move it forward fast. 

In a pinch, use your slide deck to help. Click on the next slide. That should move you to the next topic. 

• 9. Prove you are uniquely qualified

Most business plan contest judges are investors and most investors agree that choosing a startup is often more about the jockey than the horse. I’ve often seen judges reject a good plan with a good product and market but an unconvincing team. Show why your team background and qualifications make you uniquely qualified. Usually that means track records, industry experience, related credentials, accomplishments, market knowledge, product knowledge, and commitment. Simply put: why you?  

• 10. Have your business plan prepared to share

Start with the obvious: Make sure you are aware of each business plan competition’s specific requirements for the plan itself. Most of them set down standards for how many pages. Some set just page count while others will distinguish between text pages and pages containing illustrations and/or financial projections. Many business plan contests also specify pagination and details for the executive summary. 

Pay special attention to the summaries. Many judges will read just the summaries well and skim the rest, and then screen and grade plans based mainly on the summary information. Make sure you show the highlights first, and well. What highlights? That depends on your unique plan. For some, technology is most important. For others, it’s the market, or the team experience. You have to know what best sets you apart, and put that where judges will see it. 

In a business plan competition, the quality of presentation in the plan — writing and formatting as well as content — is especially important. Be careful with text, diction, spelling, grammar, and formatting. Don’t let important information get lost in details. You are going to be graded on the quality of the document. 

• Get funding for your business

Finally, maybe as a conclusion, let’s remember that winning a business plan competition is one way to get funding for your business. Winnings can be very helpful. I’ve seen startups come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars and in a couple specific cases (at the Rice Business Plan Competition in Houston) more than a million dollars in angel investment by winning a business plan competition. And I’ve seen startups come up with tens of thousands of dollars as simple grants, no strings attached, as prizes for winning a business plan contest. 

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software , a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning.

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Understanding the Value of Business Plan Competitions

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Introduction

Business plan competitions provide tremendous value for entrepreneurs, investors, and individuals alike. Being part of a business plan competition not only helps entrepreneurs become successful but provides well-rounded individuals with greater insight into how a business can be successful. At its core, a business plan competition is a contest where multiple individuals or teams submit a business plan for a proposed venture. The entries are judged on a variety of criteria, and typically the winners receive monetary rewards, or in-kind prizes.

A business plan competition can bring many potential benefits to participants, from gaining greater insights into the business planning process, to networking opportunities and external recognition, to obtaining mentorship opportunities. Let’s take a closer look at the potential benefits of participating in a business plan competition.

Research Opportunities

Business plan competitions offer excellent research opportunities that you can take advantage of to gain a better understanding of the industry you are entering into. This research is invaluable as it can help you to identify potential problems, as well as provides you with a wealth of information on how to improve your business proposal.

Gaining a More In-Depth Understanding of any Given Industry

By entering into a business plan competition, you have the opportunity to gain a more in-depth understanding of the industry, as experts from the field are on hand to provide you with valuable feedback on your business plan. These professionals can provide you with insight into the industry and help you to identify potential problems you may run into, as well as provide advice on how to fix any problems that may arise.

Acquiring Valuable Data and Feedback From Professionals

Business plan competitions also provide you with valuable data and feedback from professionals. These experts can provide you with valuable feedback on your business plan and can help you to identify potential areas of improvement. This data can be used to identify potential problems and come up with solutions that can be used to improve your business proposal.

In addition to providing you with invaluable feedback from professionals, you also have the opportunity to observe other business plans and learn from their successes and mistakes. This can be invaluable in helping you to avoid pitfalls and ensure that your business plan is competitive and successful.

Networking Opportunities

Business plan competitions provide a higher level of networking opportunities compared to other events. Participants have the chance to meet and interact with mentors, potential collaborators and partners, who can provide valuable insights into their venture and offer the help they need to grow and succeed.

Connecting with mentors who can provide advice and guidance

Business plan competitions are a great platform to meet and interact with experienced entrepreneurs, professors and venture capitalists in the same field. These mentors can provide valuable advice and guidance to young entrepreneurs on their venture, giving them the opportunity to learn from their experience.

Connecting with potential collaborators or partners

Participants in business plan competitions also have the opportunity to meet potential collaborators or partners. This can include business owners, research organizations, government agencies, angel investors or venture capitalists, who can provide new insights into the venture and help it grow and succeed.

Presenting Opportunities

Business Plan Competitions can create significant opportunities for participants to hone their professional skills. Through the course of research, creating, and presenting a business plan, participants begin to develop various valuable communication, presentation and critical thinking skills. These skills promote not only professional growth, but also personal confidence.

Developing Important Communication, Presentation and Critical Thinking Skills

Learning how to communicate, present, and critically think are essential traits every entrepreneur, business professional, and team member should possess. Business Plan Competitions give contestants an opportunity to master these skill sets through practice and experience. Communication is a key factor in the success of any venture, whether large or small. It pertains not only to the people already within a business or team, but also the client and customer outreach. Therefore, learning the ability to effectively communicate will be essential for success.

Presenting and critical thinking skills can equally advantageous. Presenting ideas, plans, and strategies gives participants the chance to effectively communicate their vision and goals. These skills can be used both in and out of a business setting. Developing strong presentation skills can make a significant difference when it comes to fostering team connections, asking for funds, or pitching a product. Moreover, critical thinking is a must for understanding complex business situations and finding the best solutions. Business Plan Competitions give participants experience in discerning the best course of action.

Learning How to Effectively Present a Business Idea

When it comes to presenting a business plan, especially in the context of a competition, the stakes are high. As such, it is important to understand the nuances of presenting a business idea. Business Plan Competitions provide the perfect opportunity to learn how to effectively present a business concept. Participants learn to display the most important aspects of their business plan clearly, concisely, and persuasively. After participating in such a competition, it will become easier to present one’s business idea in any setting.

Overall, Business Plan Competitions offer many opportunities for personal and professional growth. Not only can the contestants gain invaluable insight into their plans and strategies, but they can also develop important communication, presentation and critical thinking skills. Such skills are essential in any business environment and will help participants in leading innovative and successful ventures.

Expanding Horizons

Participating in business plan competitions can be an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs to increase their knowledge base. While focusing on the industry that the entrepreneur is initially targeting, competing can also be a chance to explore other options that could lead to new opportunities.

Exploring other industries or sectors that could lead to new opportunities

Not only is developing a deeper understanding in one’s chosen field important, but entrepreneurs should also consider looking into other industries. During the research and writing process of the business plan, one should consider what companies are doing well, investments that have been made, hot products, and international development. A competitor should search for trends in other sectors that offer insight into the market, and the location of their own target industries. Research of other companies and industries can help an entrepreneur develop a diving new angle or idea for their own product or service.

Increasing overall knowledge and understanding of the business world

In addition to researching other sectors, participating in a business plan competition can help an entrepreneur grow their overall understanding of the business world. Through completing market research, organizing the company’s budget and operations strategies, and understanding the entrepreneurial process, entrepreneurs can learn the key concepts of operating a successful business. It is important to gain the knowledge necessary to build a strong business plan, as well as the insights that can be gained throughout the competition process.

In conclusion, business plan competitions can be incredibly helpful for entrepreneurs interested in expanding their knowledge and exploring new opportunities. When participating, one should explore other industries and learn the key concepts of the business world to gain a better understanding of the entrepreneurial process. By doing so, entrepreneurs have a greater chance of succeeding in their competition and expanding the possibilities for their business.

Mentorship can be seen as one of the most valuable advantages of participating in business plan competitions. Mentorship allows participants to receive guidance on their project from experienced professionals and learn and grow from an experienced perspective. Experienced mentors can provide critiques on strategies and approaches, offer advice, provide valuable contacts and networking opportunities, and hold people accountable to their objectives and goals. Advising entrepreneurs to help them develop realistic plans and objectives is a great way to foster their success.

Receiving mentorship from experienced professionals is beneficial on several different fronts. By receiving mentorship, competitors are able to gain insights on how to best approach various challenges and identify the most effective way to achieve success. Through mentorship, competitors have the opportunity to ask questions, explore ideas, and receive valuable feedback and advice. Mentors are typically knowledgeable about the industry field, providing participants with an invaluable opportunity to learn from a professional with expertise.

Additionally, mentorship can help to foster relationships with industry veterans and professionals. Having a mentor can be instrumental in bringing ideas to life, offering advice and resources for growth, and providing feedback for improvement. Mentorship can also provide guidance and support for navigating the industry, and help participants envision the successful development and execution of their project and business plan.

Receiving Guidance on a Project from Experienced Professionals

Receiving guidance on a project from experienced professionals can help competitors to better understand the industry and how to effectively maneuver and reach the desired outcome. Mentors can provide competitors with strategic insights and advice on how to best develop their project and business plan. Through mentorship, competitors are able to receive guidance and support, learn techniques, and receive help in creating an effective strategy and approach.

Learning and Growing from an Experienced Perspective

Finally, mentorship can help competitors gain insights into the industry from an experienced perspective. Mentors are knowledgeable about trends, resources and other related topics, offering participants a valuable opportunity to learn from an industry veteran. Mentorship provides competitors with the opportunity to observe, ask questions, and receive help in areas where further knowledge is needed.

By utilizing mentorship in the business plan competition, competitors can have the opportunity to gain invaluable insights about the industry, explore ideas, receive guidance and support, and ultimately, have the possibility to earn invaluable rewards. Mentorship is an invaluable resource and has been referred to as one of the most important aspects of success. Those who participate in business plan competitions should take advantage of this unique opportunity to further their project, vision, and understand what it requires to achieve success in their field.

Business plan competitions are a great way for entrepreneurs to gain exposure and hone their skills and idea. As more and more entrepreneurs enter these competitions, a greater understanding of the value behind these competitions can be seen. By understanding the value of business plan competitions, entrepreneurs have the chance to benefit from the various networking opportunities that these competitions provide, as well as the possibility of winning funding and acclaim for their idea.

Summary of Benefits of Participating in a Business Plan Competition

Participating in a business plan competition can provide entrepreneurs many benefits, including the following: valuable feedback on their business plans, constructive criticism to help strengthen their plans, connection with potential investors, and better understanding of the startup process in a competitive atmosphere. Participants may also take advantage of the wide network of mentors and likeminded entrepreneurs, and build skills in public speaking and communication. Additionally, a business plan competition can provide invaluable support to further develop their plans and advance the idea.

Outlining of Key Areas to Focus on When Researching and Preparing for a Business Plan Competition

When researching and preparing for a business plan competition, entrepreneurs should focus on the following key areas:

• Research: Make sure to research the competition thoroughly and follow the instructions given by the organizers.
• Planning: Give yourself enough time before the deadline, so that you can plan the project ahead of time and refine your idea.
• Networking: Take advantage of the great networking opportunities provided by the competition.
• Feedback: Get feedback from mentors and other like-minded entrepreneurs, as this will help you to improve your plan.
• Pitch: Practice your pitch, so that you can deliver it with clarity and confidence during the competition.

Business plan competitions can be a great way for entrepreneurs to gain exposure and hone skills, so it is important to understand the value of these competitions in order to make the most of them.

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• Business Planning

How To Win A Business Plan Contest

A well-developed business plan creates the foundation on which a successful startup will be able to establish itself, and is especially necessary when considering participation in a business plan contest or pitch event. When every factor is considered – market and industry, finance, marketing, operations, and etc. – success becomes a long-term plan as opposed to a hope for a stroke of startup luck. Along with a solid pitch and pitch deck, a business plan is a critical element in your journey to landing a successful seed funding round. Writing an  investor-ready business plan  can be difficult, but securing funding without a solid plan in place is pretty much impossible.

Once you finally get the perfect business plan written, what’s next? For those who are far enough along in their business, submitting the plan directly to investors might be a wise step. For those who aren’t quite ready to approach VCs yet, but could use a financial boost to get things going, participating in business plan contests can be a tremendous help. Not only do these competitions often provide significant rewards for the winners, but they also often draw the attention of angels, VCs, and even corporations looking to invest in or partner with the next billion-dollar startup.

Unfortunately, where there is honey there are bees – business plan contests often attract some of the brightest minds, and the higher the reward, the more competition you can expect. In this post, we’ll explore everything you need to know to find a great business plan contest, enter it with confidence, and win against other participating startups!

The Benefits of Winning A Business Plan Contest

Business plan competitions are beneficial platforms that allow entrepreneurs to showcase their idea, product, or startup to a group of judges. Often, these competitions involve pitching the idea or startup to judges over one or more rounds. Once each competing startup has presented, judges vote on which business (or businesses) will receive the offered reward.

While business plan competitions highly benefit winning startups, they offer immense benefits to investors who attend them also – access to early-stage businesses that they can invest in before others have the opportunity. Furthermore, these competitions work to even out the playing field for entrepreneurs who otherwise may not have access to investors – winning a business plan contest could be the difference between funding your business’ launch or failing before you even get the chance to begin.

The most obvious benefit of winning a business plan contest is winning the offered reward. The reward value of these contests can vary from small amounts to extremely large amounts.  For example, the Panasci Business Plan Competition by Syracuse University offers around $35,000 in total rewards, while the Rice Business Plan Competition offers over $1.2 million in seed funding to its winners and runner-ups. Winning the right competition can impact your business greatly; providing you with the  app funding  required to progress your business from the app idea phase to launch and beyond. There is something that should be considered though – some business plan competitions may come with specific conditions that must be met to receive the funding; such as headquartering the business in a certain location, offering up an equity percentage, or being involved in a startup incubator for some length of time.

High-profile angels and VCs often attend larger business plan competitions, and even participants that don’t win the contest may attract the attention of an investor. In some cases, teams that don’t win may end up with larger investments than those that the judges selected for first place. Investors aren’t always looking for the same things in a startup; your idea might not be of much interest to the judges, but may be exactly what an attending investor was looking for! These investors aren’t only good for the funds they bring – some of them may provide a critical mentorship component to your startup; helping to advise your team for greater success down the line.

Lastly, one of the least recognized but most effective benefits of participating in a business plan competition is having your business plan and startup critically reviewed by experienced judges, entrepreneurs, and investors. Even if you don’t win, the insight provided by the panel of judges will offer different perspectives regarding your startup. Ultimately, by applying this insight, you can further position your startup for success when participating in future events.

Finding The Right Business Plan Contest

The unique beauty of business plan contests is that they are relatively ubiquitous – and today, more competitions are popping up than ever before. A variety of organizations, educational institutions, and even individuals organize business plan competitions to seek out investable and fundable business ideas. In general, most business plan contests can be grouped into two categories:

• University Competitions: Many major universities organize some type of business plan contest through their business school. Eligibility may vary from contest to contest, but these contests are typically only available to those connected to the business program – students, alumni, and in some cases, even on-staff professionals. Due to these eligibility requirements, competition is generally limited – which means that participants have a much larger chance of winning when compared to contests with less regulation. Furthermore, universities know that any successful startups launched through these contests will give their business program a major boost in visibility and credibility. As a result, universities often go a step above to support winners of these programs – providing additional on-campus resources or even access to alumni professionals that can help them advance their businesses.
• Sponsored Contests: Sponsored business plans are those that are planned and hosted by an organization, corporation, individual or other entity. Specifically, these organizers ‘sponsor’ the competition – organizing the event, involving investors and judges, and securing rewards to incentivize winners and participants. Sometimes, these competitions may be sponsored by companies within a specific sector such as biotech, healthcare, urban transit, architecture, and etc.; while other times they may be part of a larger  startup incubator  or accelerator program.  

Business plan and  pitch deck  competitions take place several times each year in most major cities – and even in many less popular upcoming startup regions. If you are a student or alumni, check with your university to see if they have a business plan competition in place – if not, maybe you can help them organize one! For those who are not eligible to join a university-sponsored competition, a simple Google search will provide you with several options. Search for “industry name + business plan contest” or “city + business plan contest” to see what upcoming business plan contest events you may be eligible to participate in.

Winning Big At Your First Business Plan Contest

Participating in a business plan contest can be extremely valuable, but the real goal is to win – and to win big! The key to winning a business plan competition of any type is to know what the judges are looking for and to position your startup, business plan, and pitch to exceed their expectations.

Judging The Judges

In general, whether you win a business plan contest or not will hinge upon how your business idea is perceived by the panel of judges, and how they perceive you as an entrepreneur and presenter. It is worth noting that judges often come from various backgrounds with varied experiences; what may be a top consideration for one judge may make little difference to another. However, most judges compare businesses on at least the following three factors:

• Originality: Successful business ideas need to be original in nature and able to improve upon an existing solution, solve a wide-scale problem, or effectively meet the current market demand. Businesses that simply spin-off from other successful ideas are not looked upon favorably by judges or investors – since they usually have little advantage to compete against already established players. To win a business plan contest, it is essential that your idea is fresh, scalable, sustainable and eventually, profitable.
• Ability To Generate Profit: Even the most creative ideas need to be able to turn a profit at some point. Understandably, most investors aren’t interested in funding businesses that won’t provide them with a return in the long-run. In order to gain interest in your business during a contest, your business plan should show exactly how your business will provide a return for investors in the long-term. While some investors may be interested in other aspects of a business, such as their social consciousness or involvement, the majority of investors are looking for opportunities to grow their portfolio by investing in businesses that are capable of generating strong profits.
• Effective Presentation : It’s not always the best idea that wins a business plan competition. A perfect business plan and an exciting idea means very little if an entrepreneur can not properly convey their message during their presentation. In most contests, participants are given a set time limit (such as 10 minutes) to present – and expressing all the necessary information within this time period can be rather difficult. Judges look for confident entrepreneurs who can articulate their business enough to convey the efficacy and scalability of their idea properly. The knowledge an entrepreneur needs to possess doesn’t end with just the text presented in their business plan or  pitch deck . Most often, there is a Q&A portion during these events in which the entrepreneur will be required to answer specific questions by judges and investors. The inability to answer these questions properly and confidently can quickly dissuade an investor from investing, or can cause a judge to give a lower score than they would have otherwise.

Preparing For Business Plan Contest Success

Success at these events is often linked to how well an entrepreneur has prepared themselves beforehand. One thing is certain – your competitors will be prepared; and if you aren’t, it will be embarrassingly noticeable. Unfortunately, in a business plan contest, there is no way to mask unpreparedness, especially among an audience of experienced entrepreneurs and investors. To best prepare for an upcoming business plan competition, consider the following tips:

• Sell A Strong Team:  There is one thing that’s more important than having a great business plan – having a strong and experienced team that can actually execute it. Management teams are what bind all the elements of a business plan together; combining the skills necessary to put the plan into action successfully. It is vital that your team encompasses a broad range of skills and that each team member has a specific job that will lead to the startup’s success.
• Present The Problem First : Startups that win (in contests and in general) are those that truly solve an existing problem – whether the problem is shared by a mass group of people, or by a niche audience. There’s a lot of “cool tech” out there, but even simple ideas can solve major problems. Taxis have existed for decades, but a simple idea like ride-sharing changed the way the world views personal transportation. Prepare a pitch that is challenge/solution heavy by focusing on what the problem is, why individuals experience the issue, why current solutions don’t solve the challenges effectively, and why your product/service is the right solution for the problem.
• Know Your Funding Requirements : Investors don’t want their funds to just sit in an account; they want to know that there is a plan in place to use these funds and effectively scale a startup from its current position. Have a funding plan in place – know how much funding is required, what actions need to be completed to successfully progress the business, and how each dollar will be spent to meet your launch or growth objectives.
• Be The Expert : If there is any gap in your business plan, it will be uncovered during the Q&A stage. Investors and judges are highly experienced in asking the right questions to get a full picture of your startup and to gauge whether you are well-informed about your business, market and the issue that you are attempting to solve. It’s not a good sign when an investor or judge knows more about your business than you do. Ensure that your business plan is all-encompassing with vital information, and that you can answer any necessary questions without needing to reference your business plan. During the Q&A session, you should be able to answer questions proficiently, confidently, and with enough expertise to prove that you know exactly what you are talking about.
• Listen, Learn and Apply : You can’t win every business plan or pitch contest, but you can definitely take the insights given during one competition and use it to propel your potential for success in future contests. It’s not everyday that you’re able to receive critical feedback from a group of investors, and when you can, you should take advantage of it as much as possible. Even if you don’t win anything in a business plan competition, the insights gained can be used to catapult your business to the next level.

Writing A Business Plan That Wins

Even if everything else is perfect – if you want to win, you must begin with a well-thought-out, perfectly articulated, and investor-ready business plan that tells your startup’s story in an effective manner. There are many factors to consider when writing a business plan from proper market analysis to financial projections – and any weak point in your plan will decrease your chances of winning. If you need more advice on writing a business plan, contact one of our experts today for a free business plan consultation!

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Dempsey Startup Competition

The Dempsey Startup Competition (Dempsey Startup), organized by the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, provides a real-world experience for student entrepreneurs, promoting student ideas and new venture creation to the entrepreneurial community. Participating in the Dempsey Startup gives students practice in the dynamics of venture creation by developing an idea, putting together a founding team, writing a business plan, and presenting to investors. In fact, many ideas that started as a class project turned into a start-up company through the competition process! The Dempsey Startup Competition is open to undergrads and grad students at accredited colleges and universities across the Cascadia Corridor – Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia, as well as Alaska.

• 26  years of the Business Plan Competition/Dempsey Startup
• $1.79 million in prize money awarded to 218 student companies
• 6,100+ student participants
• 1,935 teams have entered since 1998
• 350+ entrepreneurs and investors who took part in the 2022 competition as judges, advisers, and mentors

2023 Awards and Honors

Learn more about the 2023 event and the winning teams

Cledge won the $25k Herbert B. Jones Foundation Grand Prize

Cledge is democratizing college advising through AI by providing students the information needed to find the perfect college-student fit without them having to resort to hiring private advisors.

Read more about 2023 winners

AMOR won the $15k BECU Second Place Prize

AMOR provides a liver support system any dialysis operator can use with minimal training that helps bridge liver failure patients to transplantation or recovery with greater survivability.

Simpl-E-Vac

Simpl-E-Vac won the $10k WRF Capital Third Place Prize

Simpl-E-Vac is designing a way to address the improvised nature of existing endoscopic vacuum therapy devices so that gastroenterologists can treat leaks more reliably and effectively.

Waltz won the $7.5K Friends of the Dempsey Startup Fourth Place Prize

Waltz is developing an AI-based service for media companies and content creators to easily translate and dub content into 100+ languages while preserving emotions, intonation, and voice of the speaker.

FLARE won the $5k Glympse Internet of Things (IoT) Prize

FLARE is developing a wearable device for wildland firefighters that increases the safety and efficiency of those on the frontlines.

BioNova won the $5k MOD Pizza Social Impact Prize

BioNova is developing a biogas production process that can be used as an alternative to wood and charcoal for cooking fuel in communities like Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Peru.

Joosi won the $2.5k eBay Best Marketplace Idea Prize

Joosi is developing a scalable adult product retail platform that uses recommendation engines, educational videos, and community building to create a brick-and-mortar alternative.

Waltz won the $2.5k DLA Piper Best Idea with Global Reach Prize

Octagram won the $2.5k New Impact Tri-Sector Innovation Prize

Octagram is developing an augmented AI product to accelerate the creation of greener and sustainable buildings by giving engineers advanced tools for certification.

Naturacur Wound Healing

Naturacur Wound Healing won the $2.5k Perkins Coie Best Innovation/Technology Idea Prize

Naturacur Wound Healing won the $2.5k Perkins Coie Best Innovation/Technology Idea Prize.

Luna+Coco won the $2.5k Thatcher & Shannon Davis Best Consumer Product Idea Prize

Luna+Coco is developing an innovative all-in-one dog jacket that addresses paint points for dog owners including managing essential items, transportation, and protecting them from elements.

NaturallyContained

NaturallyContained won the $2.5k David & Patty Helberg Smukowski Best Sustainable Business Prize.

NaturallyContained is bringing to market a hyper-renewable and zero-waste soil packaging solution that reduces plastic waste in the gardening industry.

Oryzi won the $2.5k Voyager Capital Best Business to Business Idea Prize

Oryzi is developing a process of creating sustainable paper and packaging products made from fungi that are more environmentally friendly than traditional papers.

Endozene won the $2.5k Karr Tuttle Campbell Best Health/Wellness Impact Prize

Endozene is developing a non-invasive, low cost, accessible diagnostic kit that accurately predicts whether a user has endometriosis through the detection of microRNAs in menstrual blood.

Tizana Mexicana

Tizana Mexicana won the $2.5k Saara Romu Community Impact Prize

Tizana Mexicana developed a platform to honor + elevate local artisans by connecting their talent w/ customers who share a passion for Mexican culture and traditions.

See the full list of winners here .

Competition Details

The application site will open for submissions on Thursday, February 22 , 2024 and will be due by 11:59pm on Monday, April 1. The competition begins with the initial online Screening Round between April 4-9, 2024.

There are four competitive elimination rounds (and one non-competitive round) between April 1 – May 23, 2024. The Buerk Center will schedule information sessions, workshops, and office hours with mentors to help participating student teams prepare for each round!

Dempsey Startup Competition Event Schedule 2024

Competition Rounds + Deliverables for Teams Advancing Past Screening Round

Teams in the Dempsey Startup Competition must comply with the following criteria to be eligible for the competition.

• The business plan must be developed during the student’s tenure at the university. Students working with outside entrepreneurs must create an original business plan.
• All submissions to the Dempsey Startup Competition must live up to the higher ideals of the University of Washington. Your idea must be appropriate for a university-sponsored event. The Buerk Center reserves the right to disqualify any entry that in its judgment violates the letter or the spirit of the competition or exceeds the bounds of social convention.
• Companies that have received more than $500k in seed or grant funding are not eligible to apply. If the company is revenue positive, the company’s total revenue cannot exceed $500k. Please note this is different than the company’s projected revenue. This rule does not apply to projected revenue.
• Eligible students can form a team with non-student business community members or alumni, but there are restrictions to this involvement (see below).
• In the Investment Round, no more than four team members, including both students and non-students, can present the new business concept to the judges. In the Sweet Sixteen and Final Rounds of the competition, only student team members will be allowed to make presentations to the judges.
• Students must have an ownership stake in the business or the potential for equity or employment.
• Only student members of a team may use the Startup Tree and Office Hours resources. Non-student members may not reach out to mentors nor should they attend any Office Hours appointments, even if accompanied by a student. These resources are for students only.
• Only student team members based in WA, OR, ID, AK and British Columbia are eligible to earn prize money. No payments will be made to non-students or student team members located outside of the region.
• Teams that have participated in the Jones + Foster Accelerator may not apply to the Dempsey Startup Competition.
• Students graduating within this academic year (Summer 2023 and forward) are eligible as student members for the current competition.

Note: The Director of the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship reserves the right to make the final determination of the eligibility of submitted business ventures .

Confidentiality

The Dempsey Startup Competition considers all submitted business plans as confidential and treats all team matters accordingly. However, we cannot guarantee complete confidentiality for proprietary matters.

Therefore, we strongly encourage any team with concerns regarding intellectual property, copyright, or patent confidentiality to either contact their University’s intellectual property office (for University-developed discoveries) or competent legal counsel (for non-University related discoveries). The University of Washington, the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, the Foster School of Business, and the organizers of the competition are not responsible for any proprietary information and/or intellectual property included in a submitted business plan.

Ultimately, protection of sensitive materials is the sole responsibility of the individual or team participating in the competition.

Judging criteria

The Dempsey Startup Competition is comprised of four competitive rounds (Screening Round, Investment Round, Sweet 16, and Final Round) and one non-competitive Coaching Round, designed to prepare teams for the Sweet 16 and Final Round.

Screening Round

The Screening Round takes place online, and is the first major hurdle for students participating in the Dempsey Startup Competition. Student teams submit their business plan executive summaries online. Over the course of a weekend, each business plan executive summary is read and scored by eight to ten judges who are encouraged to provide written feedback for students. After the Screening Round, an announcement of teams advancing to the Investment Round is sent via email. Please also review the submission checklist .

NOTE: Scoring based on 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), with 3 being of the caliber to advance to the next round

Overall Impression of the Executive Summary

Does the summary adequately describe the idea — does the idea make sense? Has the team adequately described the pain in the marketplace? Do you believe the team has presented a feasible solution? Is the summary well written and succinct? Does the summary create excitement?

Management team

Does this management team have the skills required to execute the plan? Does this team have the experience to lead a new venture?

Market opportunity

Have they adequately described the market and economic opportunity? Have they clearly stated their value proposition? Is it a viable model?

Competitive strategy

Has the team completely analyzed its competitive space? Does the summary clearly identify the company’s initial competitive advantage or differentiator? Does the team have an adequate strategy for defending their market position?

Go to market strategy

Is it clear how the company will reach its initial customer? Does the summary clearly identify a sales strategy? Is the distribution plan clearly defined and reasonable?

Has the team made progress toward any milestones (licenses, patents, etc…) Has the company signed customers and/or channel partners? Has the company booked any revenue?

Are the financials consistent with the overall plan? Are the assumptions realistic? Are contingencies and exit strategies addressed? Does the plan describe the funding/resources required to execute on the plan?

Social Impact

Does the entry have the potential to make a significant positive impact on society? Will it improve the quality of life for people and our planet and help contribute to a better, safer and more prosperous world? Does the team discuss measurable efforts to minimize consumption, use, and byproduct waste, while bolstering profitability/cost containment?

Investment Round

The Investment Round, arguably the most exciting event of the competition, follows a trades show format in which teams set up intricate displays and interact with judges to pitch the team’s idea. The judges, all prominent members of the local entrepreneurial community, are given one thousand “Buerk Center dollars” to invest in a portfolio of teams that they consider the “most viable” – that is, with the best chance for success in the real world. At the end of the event, investment dollars are collected and tallied. The sixteen teams receiving the highest “funding” are announced at a reception immediately following and advance to the next round, the Sweet Sixteen.

We ask the judges to invest their $1,000 “Buerk Center dollars” in a minimum of 5 companies (student teams) and a well-rounded portfolio of companies. We also tell them: when you’re deciding which teams to invest in, ask yourself:

• Does this business seem well thought out?
• Has the team demonstrated knowledge of the industry and potential customers?
• Is there a real opportunity here?
• Has the team answered your questions?

Coaching Round

The Coaching Round is a noncompetitive round in which no teams are eliminated. This round gives teams the opportunity to practice their presentations in front of a panel of coaches from the local entrepreneurial community. This round is designed to provide teams with in-depth and constructive feedback that they can use to hone their business plans and pitches prior to the Sweet 16 and Final Rounds.

Sweet 16 Round and Final Round

After honing their presentations in the Coaching Round, each of the sixteen remaining teams is assigned to present to one of four panels of judges. Judges select the advancing teams based on the following criteria:

• The Team: What are the team dynamics? What is the quality of the team? Does the team demonstrate the ability to execute on its plan? (Student-driven teams are a plus.)
• The Market: Does the company’s product or service address the target market’s needs? (Opportunity size is a plus, but not the primary concern)
• Viability: Is the business model viable, well-articulated, and reasonable? (The team’s IP position should be clear.)
• Presentation: Did the team make a quality presentation? What was the quality of the team’s materials and data? How was the team’s ability to answer tough questions?

Each panel of judges will see four teams’ presentations. After all presentations are finished, judges will discuss the merits of each of their four teams and by process of consensus select one or two teams to go on to the Final Round in the afternoon.

The Final Round is open to viewing by all competition participants, faculty, students, and the public. Each team has 30 minutes to present to and answer questions from a panel of judges (these judges have not seen any teams’ presentations prior to the Final Round.) The judges reach their decisions about team ranking by consensus using the same criteria as the Sweet 16 judges.

Partners & Prizes

BECU Herbert B. Jones Foundation Neal Dempsey

Thatcher + Shannon Davis Glympse WRF Capital Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

DLA Piper Fenwick & West Fran’s Chocolates Karr Tuttle Campbell Keiretsu Forum Perkins Coie SEBA Voyager Capital

Friends and Family

Cairncross & Hempelmann Cercano Management LLC David Smukowski Family Evolution Capital Advisors Fuse Madrona Miller Nash Moss Adams Pack VC Saara Romu Silicon Valley Bank

Friends of the Dempsey Startup

Davis Wright Tremaine (Science & Technology Showcase) Farah Ali (Science & Technology Showcase) WRF Capital (Science & Technology Showcase)

Learn about Dempsey Startup Competition partnership opportunities here.

2024 Prizes

$25,000 Grand Prize sponsored by the Herbert B. Jones Foundation $15,000 Second Place Prize sponsored by BECU $10,000 Third Place Prize sponsored by WRF Capital $7,500 Fourth Place Prize sponsored by Friends of the Dempsey Startup

Big Picture Prizes ($5,000)

The Big Picture and Best Idea prizes were created to reward student teams in the Dempsey Startup Competition for their exceptional work in several distinct categories. The teams are selected by a special group of judges during the Investment Round, and the winners are announced at the dinner and awards ceremony in May. Please note that no team can take more than one Big Picture and/or Best Idea prize.

Glympse > Internet of Things (IoT) Prize Recognizes a business venture that has incorporated new products or services that contribute to the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem—devices, vehicles, infrastructure and/or other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity—that enables these objects to collect and exchange data to create new consumer experiences.

Social Impact Prize Recognizes a venture that “not only demonstrates the capacity to deliver financial performance, but also shows how it makes a positive contribution to society.” This contribution can be a strategy that incorporates values into their company to develop and implement solutions to social issues or a product/service that helps develop and implement solutions to these same issues.

Best Idea Prizes for $2,500

eBay >  Best Marketplace Idea Targeted for teams that creates a commerce or payments platform for communities of buyers, sellers or businesses.

Thatcher + Shannon Davis > Best Consumer Product Idea For a venture that offers a compelling new consumer product, focusing on a well-defined market.

Perkins Coie > Best Innovation/Technology Idea Targeted for a venture that has a new application for a current technology, a disruptive technology, or an idea that represents a substantial improvement in a product or process.

DLA Piper > Best Idea with Global Reach A venture that has aspirations for acquiring customers around the world.

Smukowski Family > Best Sustainable Business Prize Recognizes a venture that has incorporated best practices toward resource reduction while bolstering profitability/cost containment.

Saara Romu > Community Impact Prize Recognizes a venture that has a direct impact on the lives of women or other underserved communities, with a preference to a team with female-forward leadership.

Voyager Capital > Best Business to Business Idea Recognizes a venture that offers an innovative B2B product or platform.

Karr Tuttle Campbell > Best Health & Wellness Impact Idea prize Recognizes a venture with significant potential to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases or disorders that impact human health.

Follow-on funding: Jones + Foster Accelerator

Up to $25,000 in follow-on funding is available to student-led start-ups coming out of the Dempsey Startup Competition, the Health Innovation or Environmental Innovation Challenges, or entrepreneurship coursework.

In the Jones + Foster Accelerator, student teams transition to becoming early-stage start-ups. Teams admitted to the program will devote six months to completing a list of milestones with coaching from a committee of mentors. Learn more about the Jones + Foster Accelerator.

Submission Resources

Information sessions + office hours.

Student teams planning to apply to the Dempsey Startup Competition are strongly encouraged to attend an upcoming informational session or office hours .

Submission Checklist

In order to prepare your own executive summary, download the  Submission Checklist , which includes the judging criteria judges will be using in the Screening Round to evaluate all entries.

Pay particular attention to the Administrative Checklist at the end of the document.

Learn By Example

Take a look at 5-7 page executives summaries submitted in previous years. These summaries should be considered a guide for what to include in your own plan, regardless of industry area.

• Aurora Plasmonics
• FlashVolunteer
• GSD Devices
• Urban Harvest
• Xylamed (PatientStream)
• Afterlife Listings

Startup Resources

The Buerk Center’s  start-up resources  feature our favorite tips, blogs and resources for writing solid business plans, making a great pitch, securing funding, marketing, and more.

Generative AI Policy

The Buerk Center recognizes that there are a variety of AI programs available to assist with written work and visual models or presentations. While these programs are useful tools, they are not a replacement for human creativity, originality, and critical thinking. However, within limited circumstances and with proper attribution, AI programs may be used as a tool by Teams to prepare for our competitions. Please see below for our expectations around AI usage:

Check Its References

Make sure to double check any market, scientific, or other data you receive from a generative AI model. You want to avoid repeating “made up” facts or reciting information from an out-of-date training set. AI models have built-in biases as they are trained on limited underlying sources; they reproduce, rather than challenge, errors in the sources.

Responsible Data Use, AI, and IP:

Beware of putting any proprietary data into open-source models. Your data, ideas, models, etc. may no longer be considered protected data that is confidential. AI generated work is also in most cases not patentable or copyrightable and may even be considered automated plagiarism because it is derived from previously created texts, models, etc. without cited sources.

Stay True to You

Generative AI is great at analysis and feedback, but as mentioned above, it cannot replace your unique creativity or thought process. Judges do not want to hear what ChatGPT thinks about your idea – they want to hear the excitement and enthusiasm directly from you. You and your team must craft and verify your work. Cutting and pasting without understanding will not advance or validate your ideas. Remember that AI tools lack the critical thinking and abductive reasoning to evaluate and reflect, as well as make judgements.

Cite Your Sources

Acknowledge work done by a generative AI model like you would another team member. For example, indicate in a footnote or other citation where rough drafts or graphics were generated by AI and through which platforms. You are ultimately responsible for the impact of any content produced and presented by your team, including AI-generated material.

Business Plan Practicum

Business plan practicum: entre 440/540.

ENTRE 440/540 Business Plan Practicum is offered throughout winter quarter by the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, bring in experts from the local entrepreneurial community to teach various aspects of creating a startup venture, from idea generation to legal issues to raising capital. Attending Resource Nights (ENTRE 440/540) is a great way to prepare for the Dempsey Startup Competition (Dempsey Startup), the Environmental Innovation Challenge (EIC), and the Health Innovation Challenge (HIC).

Class recordings from the 2020 course can be found on the Buerk Center’s Startup Resources page (under RESOURCE NIGHTS tab).

Consumer Product Workshop

2024 DAVIS CONSUMER PRODUCT WORKSHOP SERIES Students can register now for three upcoming 90-minute sessions featuring special guests. You’ll walk away knowing how to unlock the pivotal steps in starting and growing a consumer product business, whether it’s something you created with your hands or in the digital space.

Students may register for the entire series or individual sessions below. Each workshop takes place between Noon and 1:30 pm on a Friday in PACCAR Room 393 or Founders Hall Room 490.

REGISTER for “Finding Your Customers” – Fri., Feb 2 REGISTER for “Scaling Social Impact” – Fri., Feb 9 REGISTER for “Product Pitch Clinic” – Fri., Feb. 23

Success Stories & Winners

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Frequently asked questions

If I don’t find any team members that really seem like “the right fit”, is it OK to have a “team” of just one person? It is OK to have just one person on a team. However, if you advance to the Investment Round, you’ll want to add a few people to your team to help you pitch to judges

Can we submit a business plan into the competition for a business that is or may become a nonprofit / social business in the future? The competition is open to all types of businesses. Every year there are nonprofit or social-venture businesses in the competition.

Is there a Dempsey Startup archive that has a synopsis of the Dempsey Startup plans submitted so far? Yes, but you must come to the Buerk Center to look at it. Be sure to call or email the Buerk Center office to set-up a time.

Can a student submit plans for more than one team? You are allowed to participate in the Dempsey Startup Competition with more than one team. It can be a logistical challenge to do that at the Investment Round and Sweet 16, but it is possible.

Am I allowed to have a faculty member as a mentor for the Dempsey Startup? You can have a faculty member as a mentor.

I am part of a company looking to recruit students to assist in taking my idea through the Dempsey Startup Competition. How should I go about doing this? The Dempsey Startup is a process and competition for student-driven companies, and we have a strict policy guiding outside companies recruiting students to join their team in order to compete:

• Only student team members are eligible to earn prize money. No payments will be made to non-students.

Can I compete two years in a row? Students are welcome and encouraged to participate as many times as they want–as long as they are a student (enrolled in a degree seeking program in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia or Alaska) or have a student on their team.

Can I change the name of the business at some point during the competition? You are allowed to change your company name during the competition. We recommend that you reference the name change in your documents (one-page executive summary or business plan).

Can I have more than four members on my team? Most teams are three to five people, but you can do whatever makes the most sense for you. However, only four teammates can pitch at a time during the Investment Round. If you have more than four team members, you can tradeoff.

Is the list of judges for the Dempsey Startup Competition available to the participants? We don’t release our judge lists for any of the rounds.

Do judges or coaches usually sign NDAs (non-disclosure agreements)? Judges and coaches do not sign NDAs. This is common practice in the entrepreneurial world, especially when you are pitching your idea to investors. You should figure out a way to talk about your business, but not give away the confidential information that could be patented, trademarked, or that is simply your secret sauce.

How many judges are there at each round of the competition? This depends on the round. Here’s the approximate breakdown

Contact Yuko Oaku at [email protected]  or at 206-616-3742

The Dempsey Startup Competition is sponsored by Neal Dempsey.

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Student Entrepreneurship Competitions

Helping Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams a Reality!

Spring 2024

• Registration Open: Wednesday, November 1, 2023– 12:01 a.m.
• Registration Close: April 1, 2024 – 11:59 p.m. – ALL DATA ENTERED
• Competition Day: Thursday, May 2, 2024

Student Entrepreneurship Competitions Flyer

REGISTER NOW

• Business Plan Submission PH 132 Monday, 2/6/23 10:00 a.m.
• Business Plan Submission PH 132 Wednesday, 2/15/23 10:00 a.m.
• Round 1 Pitch and Poster PH 132 Thursday, 2/23/23 1:00 p.m.
• Round 1 Pitch and Poster PH 132 Monday, 2/27/23 10:00 a.m.
• Gull Cage Pitch and Final Round Presentation PH 132 Wednesday, 3/8/23 10:00 a.m.
• Gull Cage Pitch and Final Round Presentation PH 132 Thursday, 3/16/23 1:00 p.m.
• Pitch Practice and Orientation PH 132 Monday, 4/10/23 10:00 a.m.

Learn How Your Business Idea Could Win Between $1,000 - $20,000!

• Open to all SU Students and Student Teams!
• Teammates do not need to be SU students
• Annual Prize Pool Goal is $100K

This can happen in 3 easy steps…

A Poster, A Pitch, and A Plan - Ticket to Entry is a Business Plan

Participation in all Rounds Required Winners from each event move on…

The Perdue School of Business Entrepreneurship Competition includes 3 great competitions in one day each spring. SU students have a chance to win prize money and business start-up awards to fund a business venture they dream of launching. Whether it’s a product or a service the options are endless.

Eligibility

Student Eligibility

• Any student who is currently enrolled, or has been enrolled, at SU during the current academic year is eligible to compete – regardless of major or whether the student is pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. All SU schools are encouraged to apply. We provide the training and support

Group Eligibility

• Groups are allowed to enter. An outside member can be involved in the creation of the plan but the primary participant in the competition must be the SU registered student. We encourage SU student partner teams with students from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Wor-Wic Community College and other institutions. Teams must have an SU student register the team to be eligible. Any prizes will go directly to the SU student.

Hosted by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is the “Invest in my Idea” Poster Competition in which students will have the opportunity to present their business ideas in a poster-style format. Select members of the Salisbury Community will have the opportunity to invest in your idea. Awards and prizes will be given to approximately 15 businesses whose ideas receive the greatest investments. Up to 15 businesses will move on from this event to the “Gull Cage.

Participants in the” Invest in My Idea” Poster Competition need to create a poster that is self-explanatory. The participating team member will have one to two minutes to explain their idea to the “Invest in My Idea” judging team.

Due: Electronic copy should be uploaded to the registration site by the registration deadline. It is ok if your poster design changes some prior to competition day.

• The poster board size at the bookstore is 36"H x 48" W Center Panel 24" with 2 sides of 12"
• The name of your company
• The product or service (What problem does it solve for consumers)
• Target customer needs
• The market and industry
• How will you promote the product or service
• How the product or service will make money (Break-even-sales)
• Your leadership team
• Your competition and competitive advantage
• A sample template Business Poster Template
• For more information on Poster Printing

Make it visually appealing and easy to understand. More pictures, less words.

You will be judged on your plan concept, clarity, comprehensiveness, feasibility, and potential value of opportunity.

• Student Entrepreneurship Consultants  

If you have questions or need further information regarding this event please contact:

Heather Brooks 410-546-4325 [email protected]

Business Sector Prize List

Business sector awards and prizes will be given out for the top idea in select business sectors. These prizes are selected by the sponsors representing judges/sponsors. These prizes will be awarded after round 1.

Rommel Center for Entrepreneurship $2500 Cash Awards

• The cash prizes will be awarded to students who accel in one of the following categories: Best Prototype, Social Impact, Local Impact, Most Disruptive Design and Moonshot Ideas.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield $5,000 Cash Award

• Medical, Wellness or Health Business

City of Salisbury Mayor’s Award $5,000 Cash & Services Award *

• $3,000 Cash & $2,000 Services
• $3,000 grant to cover initial start-up costs. This grant is contingent upon the winner “headquartering” their business in the City of Salisbury over that period.
• Additionally, the City of Salisbury will be providing the winner with a number of in-kind services for their exclusive use.

SU Veterans Service Award $1,300 Cash Award

• $550 Cash & 750 Services
• Owned by a current or former Active Duty, Veteran, Reservists/National Guard member
• Current member of Salisbury University’s ROTC
• Military friendly business whose target market is military based. The military market is a huge industry, there were approximately 30 million service members, veterans, and spouses with $1 trillion in buying power, with over 90% saying that have greater trust and consumer loyalty towards brands that directly target their community.

Director’s Choice Award- $1,000 Cash Award

• Cross Campus Collaboration – This award is given to a team with members from more than one SU school (Fulton, Henson, Perdue, Seidel and Health and Human Sciences) or outside of SU such as UMES, Wor-Wic or other institution.

Diversity Award - $1,000 Cash Award

• Also, could be a business whose product or service’s target customers are one or more of the above-mentioned groups.
• This Award is sponsored by a grant from the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at SU

SWED $1,000 Services Award

• Development and/or refinement of the business plan
• Guidance in the search for a suitable location for the enterprise
• Assembly of a mentor group or advisory committee as needed
• Analysis and identification of potential funding sources

*Indicates additional qualification criteria required for cash award

Awards are open to all Salisbury University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Wor-Wic Community College teams.

• Student Entrepreneurship Consultants

The “Gull Cage”, is a Shark Tank Competition, where students pitch their ideas to judges for an opportunity to win a cash prize and advance to the 3rd round. This competition offers a cash award to the top winner. The top four competitors will move on to the final competition!

In the “Gull Cage” Round, finalists from Round 1 will have 5 minutes to pitch their ideas to judges. No props just you and our pitch! Make sure you upload as much data as you can at registration to help the “Gull Cage” judges understand your business.

These judges usually are different judges than Round 1. Don’t assume that they saw your poster and pitch in Round 1. Be ready!

The top 4 businesses will move on to the final competition!

The "pitch" should be no more than 1 minute and include (at a minimum).

• The Product or Service
• How the Product or Service will make money
• Your Leadership Team
• Your Competition and Competitive Advantage

The remaining 4 minutes will be a Q & A with you and the Gull Cage Judges. You will be judged on your plan concept, clarity, comprehensiveness, feasibility, and potential value of opportunity.

4 Winners move onto Round 3 The Plan: The Bernstein Round.

• Judging Form

The Richard Bernstein Achievement Award for Excellence "Business Plan Competition" The winners from the Gull Cage will have to make a 10 minute Power Point presentation of their business plan, with a 10 minute question and answer with the judges. The creator of the winning business plan receives up to $20,000 . This will be determined by the judging committee based on their assessment of the quality of the business plans.

Create an original proposal for a business start-up or for the transformation of an existing business. These judges usually are different judges than Round 1 and 2. Don’t assume that they saw your poster or pitch in Round 1 and 2. Be ready!

The Bernstein Story

The Bernstein Award was established by Richard Bernstein, a local entrepreneur, to recognize students who put together well researched and potentially successful business proposals. It is designed to encourage young entrepreneurs to move forward with their visions and to provide the resources to assist them. Several award winners have gone on to operate successful businesses after receiving this award.

The winners from the “Gull Cage” will have to make a 10 minute presentation of their business plan, with a 10 minute question and answer with the judges. The creator of the winning business plan receives up to $20,000 . This will be determined by the judging committee based on their assessment of the quality of the business plans.

• Entrepreneurship Coaches & Mentors

You Take Care of Patients. We Take Care of You.

The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) was formed September 2, 1879 in Columbus, Ohio under the name Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association (OSPA).

The purpose of the Association was to elevate the character of the pharmaceutical profession, by uniting the reputable druggists of the state in order to foster the education of those learning the art and thereby stimulate the talent of those engaged in pharmacy. In cooperation with its members and leaders, the present-day OPA continues to function by this purpose and act to positively impact the profession as these past extraordinary individuals did.

The mission of the Ohio Pharmacists Association is to invest in and empower Ohio pharmacists in every setting as the medication expert.

Ohio Pharmacists Foundation

The mission of the Ohio Pharmacists Foundation (OPF) is to provide educational programs for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and consumers of health care that enhance the practice of pharmacy and patient outcomes, and to conduct research to support these efforts.

OPA Executive Fellowship in Leadership and Association Management

The Ohio Pharmacists Association Executive Fellowship in Leadership and Association Management is a postgraduate training program conducted at the Ohio Pharmacists Association headquarters under the direction of the staff of OPA. The fellowship is an excellent experience for those interested in learning all areas that are critical to any successful nonprofit organization and in developing leadership skills.

2674 Federated Blvd Columbus, Ohio 43235 (614) 389-3236 phone (614) 389-4582 fax

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Impact the future of your profession through OPA advocacy and receive monthly legislative updates. Continue your professional growth with cutting-edge continuing pharmacy education (CPE) which is discounted for members. Keep up-to-date on industry developments via Ohio Pharmacy Newsline, OPA’s bi-weekly e-news brief, and the Ohio Pharmacist bi-monthly journal. Stay connected with Ohio’s pharmacy community through networking opportunities such as OPA’s committees and special interest groups as well as OPA social media. Gain exclusive access to Members Only content including salary surveys, collaborative practice agreements, and more!

Members Only

Donate to opa.

OPA, in conjunction with the ACPE-accredited provider Ohio Pharmacists Foundation, provides the quality Continuing Education Programs you need to ensure your professional and business development. We make it simple to obtain your credits toward relicensure and, as an OPA member, you receive substantial discounts on all CPE offerings including:

• Live seminars with cutting edge topics and top-notch speakers
• In-depth certificate programs on topics such as Immunization and Smoking Cessation
• Jurisprudence Education, qualifying for Ohio's CE requirement and much more
• Online Education

Continuing Education Programs

Entrepreneurship center.

The Entrepreneurship Center provides pharmacists and student pharmacists with the business skills needed to be successful in today’s economy. A valuable resource for Ohio’s new and existing entrepreneurs, it serves to foster the skills necessary to develop viable, sustainable business models and to create novel practices within pharmacy practice by providing resources and education to Ohio’s pharmacists.

Legislative Advocacy

Pharmacy is facing more legislative battles than ever before, and we know these fights will continue into the future. Obtaining provider status, opening restrictive networks, regulating PBMs, and increasing vaccination authority, expanding consult agreements with physicians. OPA and Ohio pharmacists are actively involved in these issues, and we must keep making progress.

Legislative Updates

OPA lobbyists are hard at work to impact the pharmacy profession in Ohio. Find out the latest initiatives and bills that are being pushed through the Ohio General Assembly.

Political Action Committee

The Pharmacy Political Action Committee is a voluntary, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of pharmacists who are interested in promoting good government and public health. Pharmacy PAC money contributed by pharmacists goes to help candidates who support pharmacy in Ohio.

Legislative Defense Funds

The OPA LDF was created in 2014 at the request of an independent pharmacy owner seeking to help OPA boost its advocacy efforts for pharmacists. Unlike a Political Action Committee (PAC) fund, where personal funds are given directly to political campaigns, both personal and corporate funds are accepted by the LDF to enhance our government affairs endeavors, and there are no limits on the amount you can give. Contributions from corporate funds may be tax deductible as a business expense.

Student Membership

Impact the future of your profession through OPA advocacy and receive monthly legislative updates. Keep up-to-date on industry developments via Ohio Pharmacy Newsline, OPA’s bi-weekly e-news brief. Stay connected with Ohio’s pharmacy community through networking opportunities such as OPA’s committees and special interest groups. Gain exclusive access to Members Only content including salary surveys, collaborative practice agreements, and more. Student membership pays for itself by attending 2 OPA events!

Student Resources

Isig membership.

OPA has created the Independent Special Interest Group (SIG) to help ensure not only independent pharmacy's survival in Ohio, but success. The Independent SIG is providing its members with important benefits, and is a key resource and activist in independent pharmacy matters. Members receive valuable assistance in pharmacy management, help with third-party issues (including audits), an information source on specific issues affecting independents, and an advocate/representative on pertinent committees.

ISIG Resources

Clinical services updates.

Clinical services allow pharmacists to practice at the top of their license. And, as the most accessible healthcare professionals, pharmacists are well-positioned to take on expanded patient care roles. Whether the focus is to improve patient outcomes or reduce overall health costs, pharmacists are an important part of the healthcare.

Clinical Service Resources

Publications, clinical services, other resources.

Join us for the OPA 2024 Annual Conference & Trade Show, April 5-7, held for the first time ever at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, situated in the heart of Easton Town Center near shopping, dining and entertainment. Pharmacists can earn continuing pharmacy education credits. Exhibitors will be available to discuss their products and services designed to meet your practice needs.

    OPA 2024 Annual Conference & Trade Show             ONE VOICE. ONE VISION. ONE TEAM.

OPA's 146 th Annual Conference & Trade Show will be held in Columbus on April 5-7, 2024. The 2024 OPA Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio offered pharmacists the opportunity to earn up to 12 hours of live continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit and additional hours of home-study CPE credit for full-conference registrants from on-demand CPE activities.  Pharmacists must interact with other healthcare professionals on One Team , with One Voice and One Vision to improve patient outcomes. The 2024 OPA Annual Conference is a great opportunity for pharmacists and student pharmacists to update their knowledge and resources to help them achieve professional satisfaction. Continuing education sessions will be held live April 5-7 with on-demand access available April 16 through June 30, 2024 for full-conference registrants. The full package of on-demand CPE will also be available for purchase by those who cannot attend in person.

Click HERE to Register for ON-DEMAND

Special Events

Options for Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Breakfast Theatre Friday  8:20 am; Presenter: Taylor Laffey, PharmD Enjoy a hot, plated breakfast and presentation hosted by Indivior.  (No CPE credit will be provided for participation in the Theatre.)

Awards and PAC Luncheon Friday 11:45 a.m. OPA will recognize excellence in the profession, in the community, and in the Association at the Annual Awards Luncheon. A key legislative leader will present current issues impacting the profession of pharmacy. Contribute to the Pharmacy PAC to support pharmacy’s influence in the Ohio General Assembly. Click here for the list of previous OPA Award Recipients.

Trade Show and Networking Friday, 3:45 – 5:30 p.m. Meet exhibitors to learn about products and services. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, refreshments, and a cash bar while you reconnect with friends and colleagues.

Poster Session Friday, 3:45 – 5:30 p.m. Our annual Poster Session will feature the research and innovative practices of faculty and students from Ohio’s colleges of pharmacy, as well as practitioners from around the state.

Residency and Fellowship Expo Friday, 3:45- 5:30 p.m. The Expo is your chance to meet residents, fellows, and program directors from across the state.

Epidemiologic Trends in Adult Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Unmet Needs Breakfast Theatre Saturday 8:05 am Enjoy a hot, plated breakfast and presentation hosted by Merck.  (No CPE credit will be provided for participation in the Theatre.)

Trade Show, Lunch, Prizes and Headshot Opportunity Saturday, 11:40 a.m. – 1:50 p.m. Network and visit exhibits for a chance to win a BIG prize! Lunch is served on Saturday in the exhibit hall. Sponsored by NPX Committee, free professional head & shoulders photos will be offered on Saturday on a first-come, first-served basis during exhibit hall hours.

OPA Entrepreneurship Experience Saturday, 11:40 a.m.- 1:50 p.m. Introducing the opportunity to meet Ohio pharmacists who are entrepreneurs. Learn about their products, services, and their journey.

House of Delegates Saturday, 4:05 p.m. The House of Delegates serves as the policy-making body of the Association. Be a part of decisions made for the practice of pharmacy in Ohio through the resolutions and bylaws processes. 

Pharmacy Reception, President’s Banquet, and Dessert Reception Saturday 6:30 pm Come to the Installation of OPA President Jennifer Rodis and the 2024-2025 Board of Trustees. This event requires an additional fee on the registration form. 

CONFERENCE APP AND VIRTUAL PLATFORM

The OPA Annual Conference 2024 app/platform content is only available for registered attendees. Conference content is available whether on the app on your mobile device during the live event. The On-Demand content is available to full-conference registrants April 16-June 30, 2024 via your desktop computer or mobile device - you can attend from anywhere!

MOBILE DEVICE: The Ohio Pharmacists Association has a free App available for download, which includes the meeting schedule; in-depth descriptions of programming and downloadable handouts; speaker evaluations, sponsor information; exhibitors; and more. In the App store/Google Play, search for "Ohio Pharmacists Association." From the homepage of the OPA app, select the Events App Access tile. When you click on the Annual Conference & Trade Show from the list of events, a check mark appears and there will be a slight pause as the content loads. Once downloaded, you will be on the event landing page. 

DESKTOP:  Information coming soon.

NOTE: On-Demand CPE content will  be available April 16, 2024 through June 30, 2024. All special events will be held at the Hilton Columbus at Easton.

Join us for another weekend filled with friends, fun, and pharmacy excellence from April 5-7 2024! The 146th OPA Annual Conference has plenty of opportunities to expand your pharmacy knowledge. This three-day meeting is full of student-focused programming, numerous continuing pharmacy education programs to complement your classroom education, and invaluable networking opportunities for everyone. Enhance your professional platform while discovering what OPA can do for you now and for your future!

Student Brochure

Student Events

2024 OTC and Self-Care Challenge Friday, 10:10- 11:40 a.m. Learn up-to-date information about nonprescription products, along with the rationale for product choices, at OPA’s 16th “OTC and Self-Care Challenge – Battle of the Colleges!” Join us for a highly interactive, fun-filled session that will enhance your OTC expertise and update your knowledge of common self-care conditions. 

Ohio Innovative Practice Forum 2024 Friday, 10:10-11:40 a.m. Innovative pharmacy practices and services in Ohio will be showcased to help pharmacists initiate or expand novel services and approaches in their own practices. Practitioners from a variety of practice sites will present examples and share successful implementation strategies and methods for overcoming barriers to offer patient-centered services. 

Ohio Research Forum 2024 Friday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Ohio pharmacists, college faculty, pharmacy residents, and students will be showcased in the annual Ohio Research Forum. Research areas may include those from pharmacy practice, scientific research, economic/social/administrative sciences, and pharmacy education.  

Expert Panel Focus Group Friday, 1:30-2:30p.m                                                                                                                      Hear from a panel of experts in diverse roles to discuss a patient case and how to navigate factors such as cost, social needs, health and digital literacy, and more. Ask questions and share your thoughts on how to help patients navigate the healthcare system

Trade Show and Networking Head Shot Opportunity (Saturday only) Friday, 3:45p.m. and Saturday, 11:40 am Meet exhibitors to learn about products and services. Sponsored by NPX, free professional head & shoulders photos will be offered on Saturday on a first-come, first-served basis during exhibit hall hours.

Residency and Fellowship Expo Friday, 3:45 p.m. The Expo is your chance to meet residents, fellows, and program directors from across the state.

It’s a Small World After All – The Importance of Building Connections and Utilizing Professional Organizations Saturday, 9:00 a.m.  This panel discussion will allow students to learn about the benefits of networking and professional organization membership.

Innovative Pharmacy Business Plan Competition 2024 Saturday, 10:10 a.m. In this annual competition, students have been invited to submit business plans detailing the loan request, mission statement, detailed description of the business, marketing plan and financial reports for buying a pharmacy or developing innovative pharmacy services. Three finalist teams will present their plans to a panel of judges. Hear what the students envision for the future of pharmacy and get ideas for your own practice.

Pharmacy Law Update 2024 Saturday, 3:00 p.m. Katie Stabi, PharmD, BCPS, R.Ph., from the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy will present information regarding changes to Ohio laws/rules in the last year including those which apply to the outpatient and inpatient setting. The presentation will also highlight drug diversion, detection, and prevention in the healthcare setting. This session is a must for all pharmacists who want to stay up-to-date on legislative and regulatory changes impacting the practice of pharmacy.

NPX Social & Student Trivia Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Form a team for your school and compete for the prestigious Pharmacy Trivia Trophy while getting to know students from all over the state! Followed by a student social to expand your network!

Faculty Disclosure Disclosure of faculty and commercial support relationships will be made known at each activity.

Continuing Education Credit  

This Conference is targeted to all pharmacists and student pharmacists. The Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) portion is coordinated by the Ohio Pharmacists Foundation. To receive CPE credit for live CPE sessions, pharmacists must attend the entire session, actively participate, complete the CPE form indicating sessions attended, and return the signed form to OPA within 30 days of the Conference. To receive CPE credit for on-demand sessions, pharmacists must view the entire video, complete the post-activity quiz and speaker evaluation, and claim credit in the virtual platform for each session completed. CPE Statements of Credit can be printed from the CPE Monitor. Learning objectives for each of the continuing pharmacy education programs can be found on the OPA website at  www.ohiopharmacists.org . All CPE sessions are knowledge-based activities unless otherwise indicated.

The Ohio Pharmacists Foundation, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Disclosure: The OPF trustees and other individuals responsible for planning OPF continuing pharmacy education activities have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Special thanks to our Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Conference Sponsors

Annual Conference

Continuing education, exhibitors & sponsors.

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Competition on “Poster Presentation of Business Plan”

Organized by : Department of MBA

Name : Competition on “Poster Presentation of Business Plan”

Venue : MBA Classroom – A302

Date : 19-04-2022

Competition on Poster Presentation of Business Plan will be organized by Department of MBA in association with JCE’s Institutions Innovation Council.

Objective of the Event: To encourage the students to develop Innovative and Creative business plan, to understand the aspects which are involved in the planning process, Understanding the correctness of their Plan and reward the best Plan.

Resource Person: NA

Coordinator : Prof. Rashmi Y Harti, Department of MBA.

Department feels proud to organize such events and would like to convey thanks to our Principal and Management for their support and cooperation extended to us.

Outcome of the Event

• 9 teams participated, each team had 6 members.
• Teams presented unique Business Plan ideas
• Teams covered all the aspect of Business including Break Even Point, Promotion, Staffing etc.
• Each team presented their ideas on poster and it was followed with Q & A from Judges.
• Students had a great experience and thanked the organizers for giving a platform where they could utilize their creative skills, innovative skills and communication skills as well the knowledge in coming up with the unique business plans.
• At the end of Program the Winning team and Runner up team were felicitated.
• Students got knowledge regarding the various businesses and their functioning.
• They studied and understood the requirements and need of the target customers.

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Report VI International Competition of Bayan and Accordion Players XXVII International Moscow Festival “Bayan and Bayanists”

December 13th to 20th, 2015, moscow, russia, download 62 page pdf program (29mb) in english and russian.