business plan contests

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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Top 20 Student Business-Plan Competitions

Say you have an awesome idea for a startup, something with real potential. There is, however, a pretty big problem: launching a business isn’t cheap, and as a student or recent graduate, it’s difficult to finance a business on your own. But, your idea is good. So what happens next? We’ve compiled a list of the top competitions aimed at current college undergraduates, graduate students, recent alumni, and high school students from all over the world to not only help you test your business model against what your peers are doing (and gain meaningful experience in the process), but also transform your idea into a reality.

1. High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

Hosted by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah with sponsorship from Zions Bank, this competition is targeted at high schoolers with big ideas.

• What you need : A business idea that includes the following: a problem, a proposed solution, a targeted audience/customer and a prototype.
• Who can apply : Any Utah high-schooler aged 14-18. Teams are not required but can include up to 5 members.
• Where: This year’s events are expected to be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• What you could win : Prizes vary in amount and type based on award received.
• 2020-21 Deadline : Apply by Feb. 17, 2021.
• Website : https://lassonde.utah.edu/hsuec/

2.  Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneurial Leaders

A global, virtual pitch competition for high school students aimed to provide feedback, advance ideas, and launch students’ futures.

• What you need : A 3-5 minute pitch for a big idea.
• Who can apply : Any student currently in high school.
• Where: This is a virtual event conducted through video submissions.
• What you could win : The grand prize winner receives $1,000, with other awards receiving up to $750. There are also opportunities for high schools to receive grant money, too.
• 2020-21 Deadline : Apply by Feb. 19, 2021.
• Website : https://blueoceancompetition.org/

3.  Get Seeded

Designed to help get ideas off the ground, this two-part milestone grant funding program seeks out students with measurable goals and helps fund the entrepreneurial process. This program is managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah and sponsored by Chad and Kristen Anselmo and doxy.me.

• What you need : A startup with short-term measurable milestones (prototyping, marketing, etc.) that can be achieved within 30-90 days.
• Who can apply : Any college student in Utah.
• Where: The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, though location is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• What you could win : There are two grants opportunities: a microgrant of up to $500, and a Seed Grant for $501-1,500.
• 2020-21 Deadline : Regular grant intervals. See website for details.
• Website : https://lassonde.utah.edu/getseeded/

4. TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield

A competition for early-stage startups to receive equity-free prize money, as well as general investors and media attention.

• What you need : A mid-stage startup with clear ideas and product or service in the development stages.
• Who can apply : Anyone with a startup idea is invited to participate.
• Where: The first round of competition is regional, and is subject to change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• What you could win : Global competition winners receive $100,000 in prize money.
• 2020-21 Deadline : Application dates have not yet been updated, as they vary by region.
• Website : https://techcrunch.com/

 5.  Hatch Pitch

Hosted with SXSW in Austin, Texas, until 2016, this is a competition focused on startups with information technology angles.

• What you need : A company in which the founders retain some portion of ownership, as well as a product or service that launched sometime in the past 2 years (or within 6 months after the Hatch Pitch event.)
• Who can apply : Anyone who meets the above criteria. There is no specific age limit or education requirement.
• Where: Houston, Texas, though location is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• What you could win : Winners can receive any amount of funding based on investors’ interest. All contestants receive active coaching and mentoring, as well as publicity for their concepts.
• 2020-21 Deadline : Applications are received on a rolling basis.
• Website : https://www.hatchpitch.com/apply-full-form

6. Rice University Business Plan Competition

A virtual three-day competition that accounts for pitches, feedback, and judge interaction, designed to give entrepreneurs real-world experience.

• What you need : A business in the seed, startup, or early growth stages
• Who can apply : Any full-time or part-time U.S. graduate students. Teams must have at least one graduate student and a faculty advisor, but only students can present.
• Where: Rice University in Houston, Texas.
• What you could win : The grand prize winner receives $125,000 in equity capital from a Houston investment group as well as $20,000 in cash and about $80,000 in services. This includes a year’s worth of office space.
• 2020-21 Deadline : Apply by Feb. 2, 2021, for the April 5-9, 2021 competition.
• Website : https://rbpc.rice.edu/

7. New Venture Championship, University of Oregon

This virtual competition attracts students who want to “create something extraordinary,” and can bridge the gap between a market need and a real solution.

• What you need : A business majorly owned by students that has a faculty advisor, looking for seed capital.
• Who can apply : Teams of 2-5 students who created, manage, and own their ventures and who are allocated at least 50% of the startup’s equity. At least one member of the team is required to be enrolled in a graduate program from any field.
• Where : Portland, Oregon.
• What you could win : Up to $50,000 in prize money is up for grabs. If you don’t make it to the top round, you can still compete in a lightning round for prize money during the finals.
• 2020-21 Deadline : Applications are due by Feb. 14, 2021, to compete in the qualifying round (Feb. 15 – March 20).
• Website : https://business.uoregon.edu/nvc/details

8. ClimateTech & Energy Prize @ MIT

A competition aimed at any student who wants to change the way we handle energy.

• What you need : A business focused on one of four categories: Generating Energy, Delivering Energy, Improving Energy Usage or Energy for Developing Economies.
• Who can apply : University teams from across the United States.
• Where : Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• What you could win : The top two teams in each category go on to compete for a $100,000 Grand Prize and other monetary prizes.
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Applications due on Feb. 5, 2021.
• Website : https://cep.mit.edu/intro

9. Baylor Business New Venture Competition

Hosted by Baylor University, this two-track competition is nationwide.

• What you need : A business in one of two competition tracks: Internet and Consumer Technology and Non-Internet and Consumer Technology Companies. Internet and Consumer Technology companies must aim to impact one of the following industries: Internet Services, Internet Security, Info Tech, Software Cloud, Mobile Tech, Mobile Apps, Mobile Commerce, Web/e-Commerce, Social Commerce, Social Networking, Social Media, Social Gaming, Video Gaming.
• Who can apply : Current students or recent alumni (within the last 15 months) in teams with 2-4 members.
• Where : Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
• What you could win: All prizes are in cash and range from a grand prize of $60,000 to $1,500 for second and third-round winners.
• 2021-2022 Deadlines : Dates have not yet been updated for the following year. The 2021 competition can be streamed from Mar. 25-27, 2021.
• Website : https://www.baylor.edu/business/newventurecompetition/

10. Innovation World Cup Series

This is a global competition split into categories where participants connect and compete in a convention setting.

• What you need : A business that is involved in the internet of things or wearable technology in the fields of Home, City, Lifestyle, Industrial, Transportation, Healthcare, and Retail.
• Who can apply : If you are 18 or older and in no way affiliated with Navispace, the host, you can apply.
• Where : Munich, Germany.
• What you could win: Prize pool of $500,000, with networking and exposure included
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Applications are open now, and due by Sept. 22, 2021.
• Website : https://www.innovationworldcup.com/13th-iot-wt-innovation-world-cup/

11.  Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

A business-model competition for all college students in Utah. This competition is hosted by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah and sponsored by Zions Bank.

• What you need : A business model of any type.
• Who can apply : University students currently enrolled in Utah colleges.
• Where : The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, though location is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• What you could win : Grand prize is up to $40,000 in cash, with additional prizes, like Best Speed Pitch, ranging in dollar amounts
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Applications close on Feb. 8, 2021.
• Website : http://lassonde.utah.edu/uec/

12. Postcode Lottery Green Challenge

One of the largest sustainable entrepreneurship competitions, participants compete with international entrepreneurs for the best green business plan.

• What you need : A business must have the potential to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by a measurable amount, should be developed enough to execute should be realizable as a usable product or service within the next two years.
• Who can apply : Anyone 18 years or older whose business is located in Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, or Sweden.
• Where : The finals are hosted in Amsterdam, where you will present your idea to the jury (reasonable expenses covered for one person).
• What you could win : Grand prize winner receives €500,000. Second place receives €200,000, and other finalists receive €100,000.
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Dates have not yet been updated.
• Website : http://www.greenchallenge.info/entry-criteria

13. University Startup World Cup

This competition is hosted and organized by a Danish non-profit, Venture Cup. Their mission is to establish connections among student entrepreneurs internationally, as well as teach and advise young people about the world of business.

• What you need : Preferably, a business that fits into one of the following categories: Healthtech, Greentec, Fintech, Hightec & Robotics, or Information Communication technology. However, if your idea is cool enough, they’ll accept anything.
• Who can apply: Only student startups may enter. Therefore, all teams must have at least one person who is a student, faculty member, or recent graduate (within the year they’re applying). However, if you’re looking for team members, Venture Cup can help connect you to people with similar ideas.
• Where: The location is not certain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• What you could win : Grand prize is $15,000.
• Website : https://venturecup.dk/uswc/

14. Get in the Ring  

One-on-one, regional, and global face-off between startups that takes place in a literal ring.

• What you need : A “high potential” startup that is 8 years or younger with an innovative and scalable business idea or model.
• Who can apply : Anyone with a business fitting the above-described model.
• Where : The beginning stages of the competition are regional, and vary based on your location. Finals are hosted in a different location internationally every year. Travel cost to finals is covered.
• What you could win : GITR offers immense exposure for your business by placing you in a ring where you “battle” other entrepreneurs using your business pitch in front of investors and businesspeople. Grand prize winners receive a seat at the table with hand-picked advisors and investors, and title.
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Dates vary by region.
• Website : https://getinthering.co/gm2021/

15. U. Pitch

This national competition brings university students from all disciplines together to contend for the best 90-second pitch.

• What you need: A company or idea to start a for-profit company with headquarters in the U.S.
• Who can apply : Current university students or graduates within the last six months.
• Where : 100% virtual.
• What you could win : Up to $10,000 in prizes and cash.
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Applications open in the fall of 2021. You can sign up to get notified here .
• Website : https://futurefounders.com/startup/upitch/

16. Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards

This competition brings women from six regions of the world to showcase their ideas.

• What you need : A for-profit startup with at least one year of revenue.
• Who can apply : Only women may apply for this competition.
• Where : Finalists attend awards week in Singapore, where the final round commences.
• What you could win : Grand prize is $100,000. All runner ups receive $30,000.
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Application deadlines have not yet been updated.
• Website : https://application-form.cartierwomensinitiative.com/new-application

17. G-Startup Worldwide  

This is a global competition that supports young entrepreneurs in the early stages of a startup with funding and a network of investors.

• What you need : A product that is making a positive impact, showing traction in the market, and is involved in AI, Mobile, IoT, Wearables, FinTech, Cyber Security, Smart Cars, AR/VR, Space, Robotics/Drones, Education, Enterprise, Health, AggTech, or Social and eCommerce.
• Who can apply : Any startup meeting the previous requirement that is registered as a company.
• Where : First rounds are regional. Finalists compete in Silicon Valley.
• What you could win : Winners of regional competitions receive cash prizes, travel opportunities, and networking invites.
• Website : http://g-startup.net/

18. Axel Springer Plug and Play

While competitive, this 100-day program is more of an accelerator than an out-right competition. They require 5% equity in exchange for participation.

• What you need : A business model for digital entrepreneurship.
• Who can apply : Anyone with an early-stage company and a Pitch-Deck.
• Where : Location varies. Check the website below for more details.
• What you could win : €50,000, valuable time to pitch in front of investors, and experience.
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Deadlines vary based on location and stage of company.
• Website : http://www.axelspringerplugandplay.com/#home-section

19. Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition

Inspired and promoted by the United Nations, this competition takes place through three stages of online submission and selection.

• What you need : Innovative ideas and projects with a societal impact. Must involve one or more of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals .
• Who can apply : Anyone aged 13-29 (or 30+ in the Adult Citizen Entrepreneurship category).
• Where: Winners are invited to the Summit in Berlin in October of every year.
• What you could win : Recognition at the Summit and the UN’s acknowledgement.
• 2020-21 Deadlines : Applications open in Spring 2021.
• Website : https://www.entrepreneurship-campus.org/about-the-competition/

20. CodeLaunch

Annual seed accelerator for people and groups with ideas for “apps” who are seeking seed funding. Entries are submitted online.

• What you need : Any software ideas are taken, even just having an idea for an app is acceptable.
• Who can apply : Anyone that fits the previous criteria.
• Where : Finals are hosted in Texas, dates change every year and might be impacted by COVID-19.
• What you could win : Applicants chosen to attend CodeLaunch pitch day compete in front of judges poised to invest. Overall winner receives custom software design, development, and/or website development, hosting services, and a partnership with Code Authority. Winners may also judge the following year’s competition.
• Website : https://www.codelaunch.com/

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About the author: jacqueline mumford, 2 thoughts on “ top 20 student business-plan competitions ”.

Thanks Jacqueline for this comprehensive list. I wish I had this information 15 years ago. Had a great idea, pitched it to some venture firms and was turned down and saw the same idea skyrocket to the top two years later when someone else came with the same idea and presented it in a much more convincing way to the investors.

The Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs is another event that provides microfinancing for undergraduate women-led ventures. Total cash prize pool is $100,000. http://www.smith.edu/draper

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How to Win a Business Plan Competition

8 min. read

Updated May 10, 2024

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 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. 

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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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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2021 rice business plan competition.

April 6-9, 2021

The 2021 Rice Business Plan Competition—the world’s largest and richest student startup competition—was hosted over four days including elevator pitches, round 1, a semi-finals round and live final pitches. More than 440 student-led startups from around the world applied. 54 promising startups competed making this the largest event in competition history. 

Aspects of the competition were open to the public.The Elevator Pitch Competition was livestreamed on April 6th. If you missed it, you can rewatch it on YouTube . The  live Final Round and Awards Presentation  were also livestreamed to YouTube. 

$1.6 million in cash, investment and in-kind prizes were announced . 

BIG IDEAS. BRILLIANT STARTUPS: THE LARGEST RBPC YET!

Startups Participating 

Countries Represented 

In Investment, Cash and In-Kind Prizes

New Universities Participating 

Check out the 2021 Competition

See the startups shine. Learn more about the brilliant ideas student entrepreneurs are working on across the country and world. Startups competed in five sector categories: Energy, Cleantech & Sustainability, Life Science and Healthcare Solutions, Hard Tech, Digital Enterprise, or Consumer Products and Services. Startups competed for $1.6 million in prizes and will receive mentorship and guidance from investors and entrepreneurs.

• 2021 Startups
• Competition results
• Re-watch the awards presentation
• Re-watch the live final round
• Re-watch the elevator pitch competition

Re-Watch the 2021 Competition 

Re-watch the elevator pitch competition.

The Elevator Pitch Competition is a fast-paced event that kicks of #RBPC21. All 54 startups submitted their 60-second pitches and are competing for a $3,500 prize pool from Mercury Fund. Watch the competition below or on our YouTube .   

Re-Watch the Live Final Round and Awards Presentation

Seven startups advanced on to the live finals and competed for the $350,000 investment Grand Prize. Watch their pitches below or on our YouTube .   

Congrats to all 54 startups! View the results and see who took home $1.6 million in cash, investment and in-kind prizes. 

Competition Agenda and Format 

Watch the announcement of the #rbpc21 invited startup teams.

More than 440 student-led startups from around the world applied to compete in the 2021 Rice Business Plan Competition—the world’s richest and largest student startup competition. For the first time in competition history, we’re expanding and inviting 54 promising startups to #RBPC21.  

Join in at #RBPC21

Previous competitions.

For 21 years the Rice Business Plan Competition has provided student startups with mentorship, guidance and capital to help support them on their entrepreneurial journey! In 2020, the competition went virtual for the first time. Check out a few of our previous competitions' content, including elevator pitch videos, final pitches, photos and LivePlans.

• 2020 Competition - First Virtual Edition
• 2019 Competition - The Art of Entrepreneurship
• 2018 Competition - One Wild Ride

MassChallenge

Innovation Blog

18 best startup pitch competitions and events for 2023.

• Published on: January 27, 2023
• Author: masschallenge

According to The Wall Street Journal, we are in the “ golden era of venture capital ,” and the fear of missing out is quickly growing. Many investors are winning significant payouts from investing in inspired startups looking to change the world, and entrepreneurs with big ideas are gaining traction.

If you ask several entrepreneurs what the largest obstacle is to launching a seed-stage startup, they’ll likely give you the same answer: funding . Raising money to get your company off the ground is time-consuming and labor-intensive. In addition, frustrations are bountiful when asking people to invest, and rejection is common.

If you’re looking to launch your startup or need investors to support your startup’s expansion, we’ve compiled a shortlist of the best startup pitch competitions and how to pick the ones worth your time based on what your company is working towards.

How to Create a Successful Pitch

Preparation is key when crafting your pitch. Here are some tips to help you create a pitch that will resonate with your audience.

1. Do your research

Not all pitch competitions are the same, many have focused niches or are geared toward a certain stage of a startup’s growth. As you look to find the right pitch competitions for your startup, look inward to make sure your company’s mission or market aligns with the contest. Also consider researching previous companies that have won funding, and keep an eye out for commonalities. These shared traits could be crucial clues to help you craft your perfect pitch.

2. Create a pitch deck

Pitch decks are a story about this business and the founding team that fully explains why they are poised for the opportunity and the right team to win. Your pitch deck is not meant to encompass your entire presentation but to supplement your ideas and provide helpful illustrations to drive your pitch home. Keep in mind text-heavy slides can feel boring to an audience, and you want your pitch to leave a memorable impact. Supplement your text with creative visuals to demonstrate your points.

3. Practice your pitch

While you may have minutes to convince your audience, the first few seconds are the most critical for making an impact and hooking your judges. You want to capture their attention and pique their interest.

The human attention span is short. Keeping your communication concise will help your audience to better remember your pitch.

Preparation is essential, and practice works. Look for events where you can practice your pitch, like the NEF Pitch Pit competition . This competition offers a modest award, along with feedback from three experienced entrepreneur judges. Also be sure to practice good video pitch techniques for our often-virtual times.

4. Learn and revise 

Practice, gather feedback, and revise your pitch as necessary. Remember that rejection is part of the process. Pitches are not a fixed monologue, but similar to the agility most startups need to find their aligned market fit, pitches need to be frequently adapted and updated based on who might be in the room or on the latest notes you’ve received. But certainly, all founders are in agreement that the more you pitch, the better and more confident you become.   

Top 18 Startup Pitch Competitions for 2022

These 18 startup competitions could provide excellent opportunities for pitch practice, connections, and funding.

MassChallenge Early Stage Accelerator

Overview: Since 2010, MassChallenge has helped 2,928 startups raise $8.6 billion in funding, resulting in 186k jobs created and $3.6 billion in revenue. 

MassChallenge is committed to accelerating transformative technologies in tech, business, and science. We help connect top entrepreneurial talent with the resources and organizations they need to launch and accelerate their business.

Who it’s for : Startups in fintech , health technology , sustainable food , and blue technology .

Location/details : MassChallenge has startup accelerators around the world: in Boston , Austin, Houston, and Dallas; Mexico , Israel , and Switzerland .  

Apply : Find more information on our site and learn about the US early stage startup competitions.

FedEx Small Business Grant

Overview : The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest awards US-based small businesses with significant funding to grow their endeavors. This competition was created to get remarkable business ideas off the ground and support entrepreneurs who are making a difference. Past winners include environmental innovators, medical visionaries, and veterans’ advocates.

Who it’s for : You’re eligible as long as your company has fewer than 50 employees, under $5 million in yearly sales, and you have shipped in the last year or plan to ship goods in the next year for business purposes.

Location/details : The competition is remote and awards $5,000 in grants and up to $7,500 in FedEx Office services to each award recipient. Up to 200 grants are available.

Apply : The 2021 winners have already been announced; however, you may apply for the next year once details are posted.

MIT $100K Pitch

Overview : The MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition includes three separate contests held yearly from October to May. The competition gathers a network of resources — venture capitalists, mentors, prototyping funds, and more — to boost fledgling startups.

Applicants submit a 90-second video explaining their ideas and pitching their visions. Then, entrants are whittled down to a few top finalists who will have the opportunity to pitch to a live panel of judges for a chance at the grand prize.

Who it’s for : Teams or individuals can enter submissions. The competition targets students, and while not each team member needs to be a student, at least one needs to be currently registered part-time or full-time at MIT.

Location/details : Located in Cambridge, Mass., the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition has three distinct intensive competitions throughout the year: PITCH, ACCELERATE, and LAUNCH. The winner receives the $100,000 grand prize, and finalists receive considerable prize money. There is no entry fee. In addition, further resources are awarded as well, like mentorships and connections with reputable Boston entrepreneurs.

Apply : Visit the MIT $100K website to learn how to apply.

Overview : Participating in the SXSW Pitch provides more than an opportunity for prize money. Investors worldwide look to the SXSW Pitch competition searching for the best and newest ideas that can change industries. SXSW aims to connect ambitious and innovative talent with leading investors, allowing parties to help each other achieve their goals and more. As a result of SXSW, companies have been acquired by trail-blazing companies like Google, Huffington Post, Apple, and more.

Who it’s for : You’re eligible to apply as long as you’ve launched your product recently ( read more for details ) and are only entering one product to the SXSW Pitch. Furthermore, founders of the company have to hold onto some portion of their ownership.

Location/details : SXSW is held annually in Austin, Texas.

Apply: The application deadline for 2022 has passed, but you can find more details about applying for subsequent years here.

Image Source

Overview : U.Pitch is a national competition that helps students and recent graduates present their business dreams to renowned investors and entrepreneurs and get their endeavors the momentum they need. 

Joining the competition allows you to connect with a peer community and build supportive relations with young entrepreneurs across the country. In addition, the high-profile event provides the opportunity to receive valuable recognition and be a part of networking and other essential resources for startups.

Who it’s for : To be accepted to the competition, students or recent college graduates must have an idea to start a for-profit company headquartered in the US or have already started a company that’s generated less than $1 million in capital (not cannabis-related).

Location/details : U.Pitch is located in Chicago and occurs each November. 

Apply : Application is completely free. To apply, you’ll submit a brief description of your plan and a link to a 90-second video in which you explain your idea. See the U.Pitch site for more details. 

America’s Seed Fund

Overview : America’s Seed Fund helps startups navigate early stages of growth in tech. Each startup is eligible to receive up to $2 million to advance its research and development. 

America’s Seed Fund is interested in supporting businesses in nearly all tech areas, including artificial intelligence, biological technologies, advanced manufacturing, and environmental tech. Organizers are specifically looking for startups that can make a global difference and show substantial market pull evidence that a service or product has what it takes to fulfill unmet needs.

Who it’s for : This contest is for US small businesses engaged in deep technologies, with fewer than 500 employees, and at least 50% of the company owned by US citizens or permanent residents.

Location/details : Located in Alexandria, VA., ASF accepts project pitches anytime. According to their website, you can typically expect a reply from NSF staff within one month.

Apply : For more information and details about the competition, see the America’s Seed Fund site . 

Jacobs Startup Competition

Overview : If you have an idea that stands out from the crowd, Jacobs Startup Competition wants to hear it. Contest organizers aim to provide guidance on first-time business ideas to help contestants transform their visions into ventures. 

From the start, you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable advice from experienced entrepreneurs and professionals. The best teams will be matched with top-tier mentors to coach them on their pitches and guide them through the last application round before the final event.

Who it’s for : Jacobs Startup Competition is searching for truly unique ideas that stand out from the pack and welcomes entrepreneurs and teams from all over the world.

Location/details : Located in Germany, the student-run competition occurs annually in March and offers entrants a chance to connect with an extensive network. Applicants can win a spot in incubator programs, coaching sessions, and 3,000, 1,000, or 500 euros.

Apply : See the website for information on how to apply.

Collision ALPHA

Overview : Collision ALPHA aims to shine a spotlight on seed-stage startups. ALPHA aims to connect budding entrepreneurs with some of the world’s most influential executives, journalists, and investors to get their products and services off the ground.

Collision ALPHA provides a unique platform to share your story with the world. The remarkable network provided to attendees helps startups connect with partners, mentors, and even new hires. 

Who it’s for : Collision ALPHA looks to help startups and investors alike harness their potential, combine their expertise, and make meaningful connections to realize their ventures.

Location/details: June 2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Apply : See their website for more information on how to apply.

Startup World Cup

Overview : The Startup World Cup holds over 60 regional competitions across the globe, with the respective winners of each region competing at the final event in San Francisco. The focus is on healthcare, AI, robotics, and improving human life in a meaningful way.

The network associated with the Startup World Cup is full of top-tier investors, making it an ideal platform for startups to get exposure and develop connections. Every year, ambitious entrepreneurs and wealthy investors are brought together providing the opportunity for impactful partnerships. 

Who it’s for : Startups (legal, registered entities) at any stage in any vertical from anywhere in the world are encouraged to apply.

Location/details : Regional competitions are held worldwide in various locations. Applicants are encouraged to apply to whichever location is closest. The winner of the final event, held in San Francisco, receives a prize of $1 million.

Apply : Apply on Startup World Cup’s website.

LG Mission for the Future

Overview : The LG Mission for the Future has announced a new startup competition to bring together fresh ideas that focus on a greener, healthier, smarter, and more connected future. Headquartered at their Innovation Center in Silicon Valley, their strategic team, LG NOVA, aims to connect startups with the entrepreneur community to harness the world’s best innovative ideas and bring them to life.

This annual nine-month challenge program will pair entrants with the LG NOVA team where they’ll collaborate on business proposals leading up to the final selection process in March. Winners will get to work with the LG NOVA team to boost their growth and potentially launch a new business with LG.

Who it’s for: Ideal for tech innovators looking to positively impact global health, mobility, and lifestyle.

Location/details : Annually in Silicon Valley.

Apply : To learn more about how to apply, click here .

Rice Business Plan Competition

Overview : Rice University hosts an internationally recognized event devoted to supporting entrepreneurs. The multi-day event offers an educational program that prepares innovators to succeed. The competition helps students clarify their purpose and realize their potential with access to mentors and investment opportunities.

Students pitch their ideas to investors, collect feedback, and work on advancing their startups. In addition, students can win substantial cash prizes and connect with industry leaders, coaches, and experienced entrepreneurs.

Who it’s for : This competition is open to student teams (at least two student founders/leaders, with at least one student currently enrolled in a degree program), from anywhere in the world. Applicants for the 2023 program must not have earned more than $250,000 in equity capital prior to July, 2022, and must not have generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period prior to July, 2022.

Location/details : Hosted by the Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business in Houston, Texas. Prizes change annually; in 2021, more than $1.6 million was awarded in investments, cash, and in-kind prizes.

Apply : Deadline for application is Feb 28, 2023. See the website for details .

Schneider Go Green

Overview : Schneider Electric believes energy is a human right and is dedicated to benefiting humankind through technology. Partnering with AVEVA, a global leader in technology, Schneider is on the hunt for bold game changers looking to transform energy management. 

Sustainability and efficient energy use is a pillar of the Go Green competition, as Schneider is looking to make the most of the world’s resources and energy. They’re seeking individuals and teams who share the desire to re-shape the energy industry and infuse it with smarter, more sustainable solutions.

Who it’s for : The competition is open to Bachelor’s or Master’s students studying engineering, marketing, business, and/or innovation-related studies from all over the world. Applicants must be proficient in English.

Location/details : Applications opened in September, with regional finals occurring from March to April 2023, with global finals in June.

Apply : Visit their website  to learn more.

Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards

Overview : The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards was founded to provide a platform of support and encouragement for ambitious and inspirational female entrepreneurs worldwide. This women-focused competition selects 21 fellows, representing the top three businesses from seven different areas of the world, for its Regional Awards.

Each of these finalists receives cash prizes, 1:1 mentoring and training, access to peer support, and other non-monetary benefits.

Who it’s for : Women from around the world who are affiliated with for-profit, early-stage startups are encouraged to apply.

Location/details : The 2023 competition will be held in May/

Apply : The application process for 2023 has closed, but check the website for future dates.

SPIE Startup Challenge

Overview : The SPIE Startup Challenge aims to be a point of entry into high tech business development for startups in various stages, from pre-seed stage to a point of generating active market traction. Focusing on several niches within tech each year, SPIE Startup Challenge is accepting applications for startups targeting healthcare and deep tech involving engineering or scientific innovation.

Who it’s for : This competition is open to applicants who have an optics or photonics technology or application that they wish to publicly present as the basis for a viable new business.

Location/details : This annual competition is part of the Photonics West conference in San Francisco.

Apply : See the SPIE website to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

Overview : The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge is a worldwide science and deep tech startup competition that accepts early-stage businesses under two years old that have raised less than 250,000 euros. Various verticals are represented, with 75 startups competing for prizes.

Who it’s for : Startups that are in the early stage of development, based on new technology, have a team of at least two people and have the potential to make a strong impact.

Location/details : The competition is located in Paris every year in December.

Apply : You can apply to be considered for the competition on their website .

Y Combinator Biannual

Overview : Y Combinator is a tech startup accelerator located in northern California that has been hailed for launching heavy hitters like Airbnb, Dropbox, Reddit, and DoorDash. Twice a year, Y Combinator chooses a round for startups from a variety of different stages that get $125k investment from the accelerator and get to participate in a three-month program that helps participants strengthen their business ideas.

Who it’s for : Any startup from merely having an idea to seed funding to 50-person sized. 

Location/details : In Silicon Valley, twice a year deadlines are in the late summer and spring.

Apply : Learn more about how to apply on the Y Combinator website .

SevenVentures Pitch Day

Overview : SevenVentures is a European-based competition from parent company ProSiebenSat.1, the media and broadcasting giant with an extensive reach and reputation. The winner of this competition is known to enjoy much-needed exposure and brand promotion.

Who it’s for : SevenVentures Pitch Day is open to existing startups in the pre-seed and seed stage who show ambition and promise.

Location/details : Details about 2023’s schedule have yet to be posted but can be found on their website once announced.

Apply : You can apply on SevenVenture’s website once applications are open.

Shopify’s Sustainability Fund

Overview : If you’re working on a project to fight climate change, Shopify’s Sustainability Fund wants to know about it. Whether it’s just an idea on paper or a fully operational company, Shopify deems any projects or solutions that reduce emissions into our atmosphere worthy of consideration. 

The Sustainability Fund is interested in projects that offer a net carbon negative lifecycle, scalability at an affordable price, and can support social equity.

Who it’s for : Shopify’s Sustainability Fund will consider any endeavor that stores carbon dioxide in a way that will be better for the Earth and reduce negative impact on the atmosphere.

Location/details : Applicants submit proposals online. Top applicants are invited to submit additional details. 

Apply : Visit the website to learn more.

Deciding Which Competition Is the Right Fit

Finding the right startup competition can help you turn your vision into a reality, as well as connect you with business leaders and mentors that can help you perfect your plan. 

At MassChallenge, we offer an excellent alternative to navigating the hurdles of pitch competitions, as we accept applications and offer mentorships throughout the year . In addition, we provide different programs in various verticals where you get expert guidance and tailored partnerships for your early-stage startup. With the tools you need to disrupt the status quo, you can better position your enterprise to create a lasting impact.

Learn more about MassChallenge zero-equity accelerator programs here .  

New to MassChallenge?

Visit the join section of our site to learn more about the organization and how you may benefit by getting involved., upcoming events, boston brews: open community networking.

• December 5, 2024
• MassChallenge HQ: 10 Fan Pier Blvd. 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02210
• October 17, 2024
• August 15, 2024

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

2024 Awards and Honors

Learn more about the 2024 event and the winning teams

BioLegacy won the $25,000 Herbert B. Jones Foundation Grand Prize

BioLegacy aims to extend donor organ viability from 24 hours to years by utilizing patent-pending organ cryopreservation and electromagnetic rewarming technologies, while working with clinical partners to save more lives.

Read more about 2024 winners

MoodRoom won the $15,000 BECU Second Place Prize

MoodRoom is a virtual, mental health and dialectical behavior therapy toolkit for managing mood and mental disorders, negative thought patterns, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and substance abuse.

Joy Bucket won the $10,000 WRF Capital Third Place Prize

Joy Bucket created an affordable, clinical grade wearable health technology for safe and healthy pregnancies with the goal of empowering pregnant mothers against rising maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States.

CivicImpact.ai

CivicImpact.ai won the $7.5k Friends of the Dempsey Startup Fourth Place Prize

CivicImpact.ai’s RFPGo, a GenAI-powered tool, aims to transform the documents cities use in the public procurement process to create a virtuous flywheel that creates more business opportunities, increases market competition, and improves the quality of goods and services delivered to all citizens.

SecondSite won the $5k Glympse Internet of Things (IoT) Big Picture Prize

SecondSite offers total job-site reality capture and AI analysis for construction risk management so mistakes can be caught as they happen.

The Integrity Project

The Integrity Project won the $5k MìLà Social Impact Big Picture Prize

The Integrity Project is a nonprofit platform leveraging AI and big data to enhance governance through political integrity analysis and political systems mapping, while empowering voters with actionable insights into candidate trustworthiness and integrity.

LiveUp won the $2.5k eBay Best Marketplace Idea Prize

LiveUp provides students with a simple and easy to follow process for subleasing and renting in an all-in-one platform with the goal of providing greater access to affordable housing.

BioSyft won the $2.5k Perkins Coie Best Innovation/Technology Idea Prize

BioSyft is combining deep learning technology with the tracking of animal movements to develop models for neuropsychiatric and behavioral diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Happy Pop won the $2.5k Thatcher & Shannon Davis Best Consumer Product Idea Prize

Happy Pop offers guilt-free snacking with delicious Indian-inspired snacks, all handmade from wholesome and non-GMO ingredients.

CivicImpact.ai won the $2.5k Saara Romu Community Impact Prize

AffordAid won the $2.5k David & Patty Helberg Smukowski Best Sustainable Business Idea Prize

AffordAid is a non-profit initiative aimed at mitigating the financial strain of acquiring medical aids by offering refurbished, high-quality medical equipment at reduced prices.

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

Orbi is an AI software engineer that helps teams go from development tasks to solutions in minutes, while curbing technical debt, streamlining development, and boosting productivity.

Greener Pastures

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

Greener Pastures has developed a regenerative agricultural solution that aims to revolutionize the way seeds are planted for optimal growth, while allowing farmers to increase crop yields and decrease inputs.

BioLegacy won the $2.5k Karr Tuttle Campbell Best Health & Wellness Impact Prize

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 eBay Fenwick & West Fran’s Chocolates Karr Tuttle Campbell Keiretsu Forum Madrona MìLà Perkins Coie SEBA Voyager Capital

Friends and Family

Cairncross & Hempelmann Cercano Management LLC David Smukowski Family Evolution Capital Advisors Fuse Keeler Investments 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.

MìLà > 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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Business Plan Contest: 15 Years of Building Better Entrepreneurs

An online shipping platform that uses social networks and smartphones.

Low-cost medical care and monitoring that helps seniors to live at home.

The "Skype" of broadband, offering free Internet service.

On an April morning known as "Super Saturday," 63 student teams present these and other ideas in the Aldrich classrooms on the Harvard Business School campus where other people's ventures are the usual topic of discussion. Judges—a mix of angel investors, VCs, serial entrepreneurs, and industry executives—score the plans on criteria including financials, people, risk management, opportunity, and context. By afternoon, 28 teams in the business and social venture tracks will be named semifinalists. A later round of judging will narrow the field to nine finalists, with the winners to be announced just over two weeks later.

First up in Aldrich 210 is Jess Bloomgarden (HBS '12), with classmates Alex Stratoudakis and Emma Taylor. In 15 minutes they present their plan for AfterSteps, a Web-based end-of-life planning service that offers advice and secure storage for legal, financial, personal, and funeral documents. For the next 15 minutes the judges pepper them with questions about everything from the particulars of their target market, to their revenue model, to the name of the venture, before offering a five-minute summing-up. It's a good morning for the team, despite the thorough going-over.

"You've got something really wonderful here," one judge concludes, marking the end of the team's time slot. They go off to digest the feedback, making way for a team in the hallway that's vibrating with nervous energy.

Much like the businesses that had their start in a similar scene—recent successes include CloudFlare , Rent the Runway , Good Start Genetics, EGG-energy , Urban Water Partners, RelayRides , and Birchbox , among others—the Business Plan Contest has grown and evolved from its first iteration in 1997. Back then, 37 teams submitted plans. Last year, a record-breaking 110 teams vied for a total of $170,000 in cash and in-kind services. In 2001, the School established a separate track for social enterprise ventures, and in 2009 the contest opened to first-year students with the understanding that it shouldn't detract from coursework preparations.

“If you look at the quality of ideas that have converted into real businesses over the past fifteen years of the contest, it's extraordinary”

"As long as students really dig hard and ask questions about themselves and the opportunity at hand, the contest is a terrific part of the MBA experience that has only gained strength over the years," says HBS professor Bill Sahlman, a contest organizer with faculty members Michael Chu, Joe Lassiter, and Mike Roberts. Initially, Sahlman recalls, there was some resistance to the idea, which was first proposed by Alison Berkley Wagonfeld and Bill Nussey (both MBA '96) as a project for Professor Josh Lerner's Venture Capital and Private Equity elective. The next year, three members of the Class of 1997 (Jennifer Scott Fonstad, David Rosenblatt, and John Iannuccillo) continued the campaign, and the contest was off and running.

"We had some reluctance in the beginning, partly because we were concerned that it might become more about writing the best plan and making the best presentation—not who can find the real opportunity," says Sahlman, who holds the Dimitri V. d'Arbeloff-MBA Class of 1955 chair. "In reality, there's often an inverse correlation between those two things. Having said that, if you look at the quality of ideas that have converted into real businesses over the past fifteen years of the contest, it's extraordinary."

The Art Of The Pivot

A few common experiences filter to the surface in conversations with past contest participants, whether their venture sells crème brûlée or online video advertising. Foremost is the fact that the business is often quite different from what was first proposed. And therein lies a tale, as any entrepreneur can tell you.

Paul Conforti (MBA '97) was a 1997 quarterfinalist with classmates Kim Moore and Kristen Krzyzewski for Finale, an upscale restaurant with a focus on desserts. "I envisioned the path to be a little different," Conforti confesses. "The plan all along was to turn Finale into a national dessert chain. We ran into the buzz saw of the recession just as we opened a fourth restaurant in a high-end mall. That's now a couple of years in the rearview mirror, but you can't deny that the recession had an impact on our trajectory." Last year, with three remaining locations in the Boston area, Finale's original lead investors acquired a majority ownership in the business, folding it into a Rhode Island-based holding company where Conforti now serves as managing partner of the restaurant group.

"When I started Finale, I envisioned two scenarios: One was a huge success. The other was a blazing, glorious failure. I figured we would either turn it into a national chain or drive it into the ground trying," he reflects. "In reality, the most likely scenario is the one that played out.

"The original business plan vision of Finale hasn't happened yet, which doesn't mean it never will," Conforti adds. "The journey itself has been very rewarding. I've had the opportunity to stretch myself and the organization in ways I didn't expect."

The ability to pivot is obligatory in high-tech ventures like EyeView, winner of the 2008 contest.

"The plan that we won with is different from what we're doing today, or even eighteen months ago," says Tal Riesenfeld (MBA '08), vice president of business development. Between his first and second years at HBS, Riesenfeld worked for Google in California, where he met a number of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and came away with "a gut feeling that I could build my own company." So he did, collaborating via Skype with friends located in Israel, Sydney, and Boston and investing $5,000 in what would become EyeView. "It didn't feel like I was taking as much of a risk because I was still a student," he says.

Initially, EyeView's model was devoted to helping businesses create and post online video content. About a year later, the company shifted its focus to creating customized videos that target customers at different points in the sales cycle. Things were going quite well, Riesenfeld recalls: "At the peak we had thirty-five employees. We made over $1 million in our first year, raised a couple million more in funding, and had over one hundred customers." By mid-2010, however, it became clear that although the business was on a profitable path, it would never be a big company.

“We pivoted, took a leap aside, and had to lay off many of the staff, which was difficult ”

"We pivoted, took a leap aside, and had to lay off many of the staff, which was difficult," he says. In its new incarnation, EyeView provides advertisers, agencies, and video networks a platform to create personalized online, broadcast-quality video ads tailored to the viewer by location, time of day, real-time offers, and weather. Today the company is hiring again and recently closed deals with Bed Bath & Beyond, Frontier Airlines, and Johnson & Johnson.

"You're always asking, is this the right business model? But there are no answers. The market and technology are constantly changing," Riesenfeld remarks.

Important Sounding Board

The biotech industry presents similar challenges in a space littered with failed companies. When Potentia Pharmaceuticals won the contest in 2001 with Alec Machiels (MBA '01) at the helm, its plan hinged on a mechanism created by a team of Harvard and MIT scientists that used atomic force microscopy in drug research. "A number of the scientists decided that being part of a start-up wasn't for them, but one key person stayed," Machiels recalls. "The Internet bubble had just burst, but we were still able to secure a funding commitment. Unfortunately at the same time I started to realize that the technology was always going to be fundamentally unreliable and therefore not suitable for industrial applications." He turned down the money, bought out his partner, and relaunched the company with new people, eventually moving over to an advisory role as chairman of the board.

Potentia initially accepted small amounts of funding to pursue several ideas before zooming in on a treatment for age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. In October 2009 the company entered into licensing and purchase option agreements with Alcon, which is now taking Potentia's drug candidate through Clinical 2 trials with a to-market goal of 2014.

"The Business Plan Contest taught me how to ground a good idea in the reality of industry by talking to as many people as possible. That was a very good discipline that I still apply," says Machiels, a partner at private equity firm Pegasus Capital Advisors. "I also learned to work with scientists. They're brilliant, so they'll always have new ideas, but if you can't focus them on what you need to achieve as a company, you're toast."

Daniel Gulati and Vivian Weng (both MBA '11) were semifinalists in the 2010 contest with FashionStake , a "community-curated marketplace for independent fashion" that circumvents the traditional department store model by giving consumers a voting voice to determine which pieces by new, independent designers will be offered for sale on the site. Those who vote for the winning item of the day receive credits and rewards. The business launched last September as the pair began their second year at HBS; graduation has brought an end to juggling classes and visits to New York (where FashionStake is based).

"The contest worked as a forcing mechanism for us," Gulati says. "Without the discipline of deadlines and deliverables we might have flamed out at the first hurdle."

"For us, the main goal wasn't to make it to the finals or win, it was to get good feedback that would help us understand how VCs would be looking at our business model," adds Weng. (Battery Ventures and a few private investors bought into FashionStake's vision early on.)

FashionStake and other consumer Internet companies have benefited from a decrease in the cost of buying and maintaining technology hardware. "You've seen the cost of launching a new company go from $10 to $15 million down to $500,000 to $1 million," comments MBA Class of 1954 Professor of Management Practice Joe Lassiter. "Since I came to the School in 1996 I've also seen more and more students who have already worked at consulting companies and I-banks arrive with the attitude of been there, done that, let's try something new."

Creating Social Value

For participants in the social venture track, the "something new" focuses on creating social value through a nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid model business plan. In 2000, when Benjamin Fenton (MBA '00) and Monique Burns (MBA '93) entered the contest with New Leaders for New Schools (NLNS), a separate track had not yet been created. (The team also included Ed School students Allison Gaines, Michael Johnston, and Jon Schnur.) A national nonprofit that recruits and prepares promising candidates to become school principals, NLNS helps place its trainees in urban public schools and provides them with ongoing support once they become principals.

“ I've seen more and more students who have already worked at consulting companies and I-banks arrive with the attitude of been there, done that, let's try something new”

"In the semifinal round we finished with the highest score from a couple of judges and a dead zero from those who pointed out that they were asked to rate plans on financial return," says Fenton.

"I didn't think I'd be working on NLNS for more than three months after the contest," he adds, noting that he'd already accepted an offer from McKinsey. Yet the team received overwhelmingly positive verbal feedback from some judges and offers of funding. "We need to do this work now," is how Fenton sums up the collective realization at the time that they shouldn't pass the idea along to a new team of executives. It wasn't an easy decision to make, given the financial implications, but as Fenton recalls, "It still felt like the right timing. It was the height of the dot-com boom, so lots of people in my class were taking risks."

Click to watch.

Eleven years later, that bet is more than paying off. As chief strategy and knowledge officer, Fenton is part of an executive team that has seen NLNS expand from training 13 aspiring principals in two cities to training more than 700 candidates across 12 urban centers last year. Early research shows that students in schools led by NLNS principals are outperforming their peers, but Fenton remains driven by his vision of a system-wide, scalable model for education reform that recognizes the achievement potential of all students, regardless of background or circumstance.

Passion for another kind of far-reaching change was the driving force behind Diagnostics For All (DFA), a nonprofit offering a low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic tool that won top honors in the 2008 social venture track in addition to snagging the top prize in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition. DFA's six-person team came together in the interdisciplinary MBA course Inventing Breakthroughs and Commercializing Science and included members with medical, science, public health, and business backgrounds from HBS, MIT, and across Harvard University.

The realization that DFA's product had the power to impact the health of millions rallied the team, recalls Jon Puz (MBA '08), a director of account management at the health-care consultancy Carol Corp. (Puz continues to serve DFA in an advisory role; DFA's original team also included doctors Gilbert Tang, MBA '08, and Krishna Yeshwant, MD/MBA '09.)

"Negotiating the people challenges involved in launching a company was a great learning experience for me as a future general manager," Puz says. "Working on the business plan for DFA was an incredibly intense experience. I had more 6 a.m. nights during that time than anything I did during all my consulting days before business school."

DFA's breakthrough is a postage stamp-sized square that wicks biological fluids, such as blood or saliva, through treated paper to provide instant diagnostic results in parts of the developing world where lab facilities are nonexistent. In its first application, the paper chip, which costs only pennies to produce, monitors liver function and the adverse side effects of the powerful drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS and TB. In February, DFA's reach broadened when the Gates Foundation continued its support by awarding the group a $2.99 million grant to develop agricultural diagnostics for rural farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to detect milk spoilage, corn mold, and a cow's breeding status.

"The entrepreneurial bug has definitely bitten me," says Puz. "Taking an idea and turning it into reality is a difficult, ambiguous process. But it's one of the most exciting, gratifying things I've ever done."

And The Winner Is…

The tension mounts in Burden as the finalists of this year's contest make their pitches. Each plan presents a solid solution to an unmet need, so much so that it seems virtually impossible to pick just one.

In fact, the strong field forces a new coda to the contest's history when Baby.com.br ("Brazil's one-stop shop for baby products online") and BOSS Medical (a minimally invasive device for the extraction of bone graft during spinal fusion procedures) are both awarded top honors in the business venture track. In the social venture track, Sana Care wins with its low-cost mobile technology solution to performing cardiac diagnostic services in emerging markets.

With trophies hoisted and handshakes all around, another contest comes to a close. A winning participant bounds up the stairs of Burden before the crowd has even dispersed —for him, and others, the next chapter begins now.

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very business needs a business plan,” says Jon Bittner, executive director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UAA. “Do you need a sixty-page, high-gloss plan? Probably not; not at first, anyway. But it’s a really crucial first step for any business.”

That first step is more than a blueprint for the final form of a business, according to Ashley Snookes, program director at Spruce Root. “Business plans can be seen as a final destination, [but] when we look at a plan that way, it breaks. It doesn’t last for the many things that happen to a business,” she says.

Spruce Root is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) serving Southeast. In addition to its lending, networking, and philanthropic functions, Spruce Root’s Path to Prosperity program includes one-on-one business coaching, online training, and multi-day workshops.

The flagship feature, though, is its business plan competition. Twice each year, the nine-week “Business and Balance” course leads a cohort through compiling a plan. At the end, judges award the best three up to $20,000 apiece.

Bittner notes that many Alaska brands owe their success to a solid plan—and to the financial boost from a competition prize. “That’s where they got their start, most of the ones that seem to have the best marketing presence. And I don’t think that’s a coincidence, honestly,” he says. “I think that there is definitely a direct tie to entrepreneurs that understand the opportunity that these competitions represent and their ability to leverage that later on.” “Participants are learning core elements of running a business… The ‘lightbulb’ moments had by our participants—from startups to seasoned entrepreneurs—tells us that these trainings make a difference in how they run their businesses.” Ashley Snookes, Program Director, Spruce Root Company Description Most businesses never submit plans for competition. Bittner says SBDC works with up to 2,000 clients per year, but competitions might be limited to a dozen entrants at a time. Organized contests certainly aren’t a requirement.

But they can help. Most lenders require a well-vetted business plan, Bittner says, so participating in a contest looks good on a loan application.

Cash prizes are another common incentive. “Some of them have money involved,” Bittner says. “Sometimes you get access to free resources, marketing, things like that. Some of them, it’s the exposure: you get a lot of promotion, not even if you win but if you’re in the top three. You also get access to the network of judges, sponsors, and other participants.”

More than once, Bittner has seen competitors become collaborators by cross-pollinating their ideas. They also sharpen each other, motivating greater effort. “Sometimes people need that competitive edge to do the homework,” Bittner says. “This gives you a structure, a timeline, and maybe some upside on the back end.”

Snookes sees competitions the same way. “They’re a structured methodology for fleshing out your ideas or bringing them into action,” she says. “A lot of folks really like entering into something that gives them a hard deadline and a goal that they’re going to accomplish—and that extra carrot at the end, sometimes, of an award or something that they’re reaching for.”

Furthermore, contests bring new talent into contact with experts. “Participants are learning core elements of running a business,” Snookes says. “The ‘lightbulb’ moments had by our participants—from startups to seasoned entrepreneurs—tells us that these trainings make a difference in how they run their businesses.” The 2022 Path to Prosperity cohort takes a field trip to Barnacle Foods in Juneau.

Be the next Grand Prize Winner!

The contest is now open!

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 annual wisconsin governor’s business plan contest.

The mission of the Governor’s Business Plan Contest is to encourage entrepreneurs in the startup stage of tech-enabled businesses in Wisconsin. The contest links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert judges, mentors and possible sources of capital.

Produced by the  Wisconsin Technology Council and a growing list of partners, led by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. ,  the Governor’s Business Plan Contest engages contestants in a five-month process that includes the opportunity to work with mentors and receive feedback from judges. It also leads to valuable public and media exposure for the top business plans and helps spur economic growth in Wisconsin.

Since 2004:

Leading business plan contest.

Wisconsin communities

Finalists have combined for:

Valuable rewards.

In cash and in-kind prizes

Investor Interest

In investor/grant funding

Here to Stay

Finalists still in business

Thank You to Our 2024 Contest Sponsors

Applied Management Aberdean Consulting Forward Biolabs Madison Gas & Electric Murphy Desmond

Phil Oulette, EOS Implementer Quarles & Brady Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren SCORE Spencer X Smith

Starting Block UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement WARF WEDC Wisconsin Technology Council

Visit our sponsorship page to view our associate and additional sponsors and to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

From past contestants:

"The Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest was a very valuable experience for SixLine Semiconductor and I highly recommend other entrepreneurs take part in this program! Participating in the Business Plan Contest and receiving constructive feedback from the judges helped us improve and further develop our business plan, better positioning SixLine for success in the future. Furthermore, the connections received through participating in this program have been incredibly useful and it's also just inspiring to be part of such a program and get to meet other driven entrepreneurs from around the state!"

Katy Jinkins, SixLine Semiconductor, 2023 1st Place Overall; Advanced Manufacturing Category Winner

"Rapid Radicals' experience participating in the BPC was both rewarding and challenging because the feedback received through the many rounds really helped us critically evaluate some aspects of our business model that formed the foundation of how we make money. Winning the BPC in our second year of competing was a clear turning point in our company's development due to the exposure and credibility we gained. We're grateful to the Tech Council for supporting this unique and important competition!"

Paige Peters, Rapid Radicals, 2022 1st Place Overall; Advanced Manufacturing Category Winner

"The Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest helped us develop the infrastructure for our continued success. It allowed Atrility to improve its business plan, to connect with Wisconsin startups and investors and provided prizes including in-kind support. "

Dr. Nick Von Bergen, Atrility Health Care, 2021 1stFirst Place Overall; Life Sciences Category Winner.

"The Governor’s Business Plan Contest was one of the best programs in which we have participated. eCourt Reporters Inc., continues to benefit greatly with our improved business plan and the guidance from many connections through the process. We highly recommend that entrepreneurs in the state of Wisconsin take part for significant growth in a new business!”"

Karen Renee, eCourt Reporter, 2021 Information Technology Category Winner

"We have participated in the BPC contest over the last several years. The competition is incredibly well organized, the staff immeasurably helpful, and the fairness and transparency of judging compelling. The competition epitomizes the commitment of Wisconsin to developing the small business community. In addition, the prizes offered to competitors are exceedingly useful in terms of both cash and in-kind services. A great competition to enter and participate in during the three stages of evaluation."

Stephen Naylor, ReNeurogen, 2021 Life Sciences Category Second Place Winner

"Participating in the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest was a pivotal point of growth for our company. It challenged us to think outside the box, honing our ideas into compelling value propositions. The Governor's BPC is an absolute must for every entrepreneur truly serious about growing their business."

Christian Timm, SmartWell, 2021 Advanced Manufacturing Category Winner

"As a woman over 50, I was always curious about how far I could go in the competition. I became a finalist, in the top 3, in the services category. Whatever stage or age you're at, I encourage you to show up and do the work. The rewards are there for those who dare!"

Laura Gallagher, Mathetria, 2021 Business Services Category 3rd Place Winner

"The Wisconsin Business Plan Contest is an excellent way for a founder to get top-notch feedback from highly experienced investors, entrepreneurs, and startup company managers. The process forces you to answer key questions about your business with a timeline to keep your business moving forward. The BPC was invaluable for Pivotal Health to help us identify holes in our plan as we were launching our business and to also get exposure to potential investors. I highly recommend the BPC for any entrepreneur."

Sal Braico, Pivotal Health, 2021 2nd Place Information Technology Category Winner

"MyGenomeRx had a fantastic experience with the BPC with benefits that still impact us today. The initial application process helped us organize our corporate branding materials and develop our business plan and pitch deck. Then we got tremendous exposure to investors and strategic partners during the live pitch competition, propelling us forward not just locally but nationwide. Finally, through write-ups the Tech Council team has helped highlight MyGenomeRx as an emerging player in the field of pharmacogenomics. "

Annette Gilchrist, My GenomeRx, 2020 Information Technology Category Winner

"I enjoyed sharing our story with the Wisconsin entrepreneurial and investment community. The response was quite enthusiastic. It was also great to see the awesome work of other entrepreneurs and to catch up with people that I had not seen in a few years."

Chad Mason, Advanced Ionics, 2020 Advanced Manufacturing Category Winner

"The Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest is something every startup business in Wisconsin, no matter the phase they are in, should be encouraged to enter. The Wisconsin Technology Council creates an incredible environment that allows entrepreneurs, of all levels, to learn about various aspects of growing and making their organizations and products appealing to investors. The participants and peers attending Tech Council and BPC events are approachable and willing to share personal experiences. The open dialogue provides a conduit to networking, valuable information, and diverse perspectives. As a 2020 Diligent Dozen finalist and winner of the first BPC People’s Choice Award, AGent Plus Solutions gained a better understanding of who we are as an organization and as individuals."

Jeffrey Lord, AGent Plus Solutions, 2020 Advanced Manufacturing Category 2nd Place Winner

"The Governor’s Business Plan Contest really helped us hone our message. The Tech Council staff worked with us to focus on what was important to investors. We came away with much sharper communication that has proven to be successful in the marketplace."

Mark Schweiger, Simply Solutions, 2019 Advanced Manufacturing Category Winner

"The Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Competition (BPC) is an impressive and well-organized event that brings the best that Wisconsin has to offer in a single forum. It provides a state-wide platform for emerging startups to refine and showcase their company. The contest has helped DataChat think about the next big steps that we must take. It has also provide valuable feedback and support during the most formative stage of our company (the first year), which I think will be crucial to the company."

Jignesh Patel, DataChat, 2018 Information Technology Category Winner

"The Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Competition is one of the greatest resources available for growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem and fostering economic growth in this state! The feedback, resources, networking, and prizes made available to entrepreneurs throughout the competition are unrivaled and helped shape the company we are today. A company we plan to grow right here in Wisconsin, adding fuel to local job growth and economic development!"

Lorne Forsythe, Shockray™ Self-Defense, 2018 Advanced Manufacturing Category Winner

“Participating in The Governor’s Business Plan Contest meant that we had the certification theme from the Governor endorsing the competition and our winning, which gave us the credibility that was needed to go forward to these prominent organizations, the cities, the counties and be a trusted tool that they can use.”

Nick Mastronardi, Polco, 2016 Information Technology Category Winner

"I think the Governor’s Business Plan Contest really launched us. The win in that competition was a result of assistance and mentorship from people across Wisconsin… the accumulation of a lot of help. Since then, we have gotten incredible attention. That win sent us on a course to succeed."

Katie Brenner, bluDiagnostics, 2015 Grand Prize and Life Sciences Winner

“Moving through all four rounds of the 2012 Governor’s Business Plan Contest, we built a winning business plan and started a new company in Madison – Rowheels, Inc. The well-orchestrated BPC process facilitated by Wisconsin Technology Council kept us on track to conduct research, uncover obstacles and gain confidence moving forward through our engineering prototype design and financial modeling phases. By Nov. 2012, Rowheels is creating jobs, is certified as a Qualified New Business Venture under Wisconsin’s Act 255 Early Stage Business Investment Program and is raising working capital for manufacturing.”

Rimas Buinevicius and Jan Moen, co-founders, 2012 Grand Prize and Advanced Manufacturing Winner

“As an absolute newcomer to business it gave me an opportunity to meet a few people who are now working with me. I might even get some startup funds from them and got great PR from the event.”

The late Hans W. Sollinger, Insulete, 2011 Life Sciences Category Winner

“The Governor’s Business Plan Competition award has given WiRover a great boost in terms of both visibility and performance. Since winning this competition, WiRover has significantly increased its revenue, is forming alliances with new partners, and has also received a SBIR grant… The exercise of going through the competition alone was quite instrumental in streamlining WiRover’s emerging business strategy and planning.”

Suman Banerjee, WiRover, 2011 Grand Prize and Information Technology Category Winner

“The business plan contest process provided us the opportunity to really focus our vision and strategy and concisely articulate the message. The examples provided and direct assistance from mentors was a huge benefit to making a successful presentation.”

Don Noskowiak, LIVEyearbook, 2010 Grand Prize and Information Technology Category Winner

“I can strongly endorse the Governor’s Business Plan Contest. Not only was it a great exercise, it was fun and insightful as well. In addition, the publicity that we received from the contest resulted in us adding several new key customers.”

Jim Martin, Green 3, 2009 Business Services Category Winner

“Participating in the BPC and conference was fun and very educational for our team. We all feel strongly that it has helped move our company many steps forward and hope to encourage every entrepreneur in Wisconsin to do so as part of their strategy.”

Ophir Ben-Yitschak, Scopia, 2009 Information Technology Category Winner

“The Governor’s Business Plan Contest is an outstanding opportunity for early stage organizations to showcase their innovative ideas in a highly competitive environment. Becoming a finalist is an attention-grabber enterprise for the new organizations in the eyes of potential investors, potentially resulting in a lucrative and positive partnership.”

Bonnie Reinke, Eso-Technologies Inc., 2009 Grand Prize Winner and Life Sciences Category Winner

“The GPC was an exceptional opportunity to gain invaluable visibility. We were contacted by groups outside of the state because of the press associated with the contest.”

Jeff Williams, Platypus Technologies, 2008 Life Sciences Category Winner

"The [GBPC] took us through a process of increasingly detailed planning, and the comments we received helped us focus even more. Our presentations sparked interest from venture capital, further refining the business plan. ….Participation in the GBPC will help a young company raise capital in challenging times, and the advice, though free of charge, was priceless.”

Daniel van der Weide, Optametra, 2008 Information Technology Category Winner

“The best part of the Business Plan Contest experience was also the most difficult part and that was writing the business plan. It was a rigorous process. It forced me to think about the most important component parts of Extract Systems’ business plan and weed out all the other stuff.”

David Rasmussen, Extract Systems – 2007 Information Technology Category Winner

“I entered the Governor’s Business Plan Contest for the networking opportunities and exposure to expert advice on starting a business. ….. a number of investors have approached Vector Surgical and demonstrated an interest in investing in the company.”

Janet Phillips, Vector Surgical – 2007 Grand Prize and Life Sciences Category Winner

San Angelo Business Plan Competition

The Annual San Angelo Business Plan Competition is a two-phase business plan competition open to those who want to develop a new business or expand an existing business in San Angelo with grant prizes totaling $100,000.

The San Angelo Business Plan Competition is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop viable business plans to expand their business in San Angelo by competing for cash and in-kind prizes.

Competition officials may award up to a total of $100,000 in Grant Award!

1st Place - $50,000

2nd Place - $30,000

3rd Place - $20,000

In-Kind: In-kind services donated by local businesses will also be awarded and are worth thousands of dollars in total.

How to Apply

The competition is made up of two phases. Phase I is the first entry point and requires you to provide a business overview and entry form which is due August 1, 2024, by 5 p.m.

• Review Competition Guidelines Review the guidelines to learn about the two-phase Business Plan Competition, the requirements at each phase, competition submission deadlines, and resources available to assist you throughout the competition.
• Complete the Entry Form & Business Overview Online The Entry Form and business overview are required as your initial entry into the business plan competition. Please view the form for additional details and instructions. Please complete the online form by August 1, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Business Plan Competition FAQ’s

Please read below for full details on the Competition Overview, Guidelines, and eligibility requirements. 

Need Assistance? 

Feel free to reach out to one of our Certified Business Advisors to get no-cost, confidential assistance to help you understand the competition process, eligibility, and support in drafting the business plan overview.

MEET WITH AN ADVISOR

2023 San Angelo Business Plan Competition 

1st Place: Ascend Contractor Solutions, LLC 2nd Place: Wilde Engineering and Surveying, LLC 3rd Place: Bubba D’s Barbecue

All Past Winners

Competition Coordinators and Judges

The Competition Coordinators are The City of San Angelo Development Corporation (COSADC), ASU Norris-Vincent College of Business (NVCOB), and the ASU Small Business Development Center (SBDC). A Judging Panel will be assembled from a pool of successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, financial professionals, and other economic development supporters. The Competition Coordinators and the Judging Panel are considered the “Competition Officials.” The competition is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop viable business plans that will create new ventures or expand existing businesses in San Angelo.

Comments, questions, inquiries about the Annual San Angelo Business Plan Competition? Please fill out our form to be notified about future competition updates and entry deadlines.

All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

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Top 8 Presentations – 2023 National Business Plan Competition

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The National Business Plan Competition showcases some of the best and brightest student leaders and budding entrepreneurs in the country. In 2022-23, 44 VE companies from around the country made it to the 2023 National Business Plan Competition after demonstrating strong written business plans and oral presentations to panels of industry professionals and educators. See below to view the written plans and presentations for the top 8 teams from the 2023 National Business Plan Competition.

View Top 8 Written Plans

View top 8 presentations, top 8 written business plans, 1st place — gogather, centennial high school, ca.

View the GoGather’s Written Business Plan

View the GoGather’s Executive Summary

2nd Place — Food4Thought, Bakersfield High, CA

View the Food4Thought’s Written Business Plan

View the Food4Thought’s Executive Summary

3rd Place — The Eco Depot, Ridgeview High, CA

View the Eco Depot’s Written Business Plan

View the Eco Depot’s Executive Summary

4th Place — Social Shield, Bloomington High School, CA

View the Social Shield’s Written Business Plan

View the Social Shield’s Executive Summary

5th Place — Neo, San Juan Hills High School, CA

View the Neo’s Written Business Plan

View the Neo’s Executive Summary

6th Place — Umami, Fort Hamilton High School, NY

View the Umami’s Written Business Plan

View the Umami’s Executive Summary

7th Place — EcoEats, Westhampton Beach High School, NY

View the EcoEats’ Written Business Plan

View the EcoEats’ Executive Summary

8th Place — Rekindle, Academy of Finance and Enterprise, NY

View the Rekindle’s Written Business Plan

View the Rekindle’s Executive Summary

Top 8 Business Plan Presentations

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Registrations are Open for the 2024 Competition!

First Prize: $3,000 | Second Prize: $2,000 | Third Prize: $1,000

Students are invited to submit a simplified business plan that identifies an opportunity and presents a viable proposal to address it. Winning plans can be new or novel innovations or can also address better implementation of or finding new markets for an existing technology.

Eligibility

• Any current UNO, UNMC or PKI undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, or post-doctoral student enrolled in a degree granting program may participate.
• Faculty and alumni are encouraged to participate by partnering with interested students.
• Teams may not compete if their concept is part of another venture or has raised angel or VC funding.

Important Dates

• Submission Deadline: April 17 th
• Coaching Sessions: April 22 nd
• Final Competition: April 25 th at MH 162 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Business Plan Coaching Sessions

Support is offered concerning creating value propositions, identifying customers, and putting the plan together. For more information, contact [email protected] .

How to Submit

• Register here.
• Write a simplified business plan for a profit or not-for-profit venture before the deadline. Submit plan as an email attachment to [email protected] .

More Information

2023 top 3 winners.

This year's Maverick Business Plan was a huge success. Six companies founded by students were given the opportunity to create a business plan and pitch their business to a panel of judges on Tuesday, April 18th.

Adventure Awaits | $3,000 Prize

Logan Heger , founder of Adventure Awaits won the competition with his business focusing on creating races/ scavenger hunts for universities and businesses

Global Pak Wear | $2,000 Prize

In second place, Yasmin and his business, Globlal Pak Wear, focusing on c onnecting the Pakistani/South Asian diaspora around the world

The Scholars Arena | $1,000 Prize

Lastly, Nathan Stone , the founder of The Scholars Arena, came in third with his idea to create a head-to-head trivia game for trivia lovers

Congrats to all three winners and our participants for making this a successful event. Additionally, a huge thank you to our sponsors and judges!

Civic Alert Systems wins Binghamton Business Plan Competition

BINGHAMTON (WBNG) -- Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced the winners of this year’s Binghamton Business Plan Competition on Wednesday morning.

The competition awards funding to individuals and teams planning to develop businesses in the City of Binghamton.

This year’s winners were Vestal residents Ryan Crist and Jason Duda of Civic Alert Systems. They were awarded $5,000 along with other prizes.

“Modern web application that allows counties, municipalities, local governments of any kind to directly text their residents,” Crist said. “This was born out of things like the COVID crisis we had a few years ago or the Buffalo snowstorms or really any public disaster situation you can think of.”

Second place went to Umahari in Binghamton and third place was 2nd Heaven of Vestal.

Copyright 2024 WBNG. All rights reserved.

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Fill up the Truck donation event at the Broome County Dog shelter

Latest news, the 10th annual ‘kenzee jean wheeler memorial scholarship awards $9,200 to 10 students, lyme cares hosts ‘strike out lyme’ bowling fundraiser, more than 600 participate in the 6th annual noah farrelly run and southside field day.

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Calling all pharmacists: Graders needed for annual business plan competition!

NCPA May 31, 2024

NCPA is calling on you to volunteer as a grader by Friday, June 7, for the annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. Lend us your expertise and time by reviewing and grading two business plans, June 12-27, and help us celebrate 20+ years of this important competition. We’re using the digital platform Award Force, so it’ll be easy to access all materials and work from any screen. Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.

TRUST LLC Update

Icymi: oig report paints picture of the harms of spread pricing, ncpa staff presents on key pharmacy law and policy updates, ncpa asks cms for remedies after esi found to violate medicare part d/dir final rule.

Watch CBS News

How Trump's conviction could change the dynamics of the 2024 race

By Olivia Rinaldi , Jacob Rosen , Katrina Kaufman

Updated on: May 31, 2024 / 11:57 AM EDT / CBS News

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his Manhattan criminal trial, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already unprecedented campaign.

As a c onvicted felon , Trump is not prevented from continuing to campaign for president , since the Constitution does not prohibit candidates from running for president even if they are convicted of a crime. In fact, there is precedent for a candidate running from behind bars: In 1920, Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs ran for president from a federal penitentiary in Atlanta.

Trump is the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of felonies, and the first major party candidate to run for office after being found guilty of a crime. Here's how his conviction could change the 2024 campaign:

How Trump can campaign after his conviction

Now that he's convicted, Trump is all but certain to appeal the decision handed down by the jury, and he is likely to be able to return to the campaign trail as the process plays out. 

The next development in the case will come at sentencing, currently scheduled for July 11. Justice Juan Merchan has wide discretion over when sentencing occurs and what the punishment looks like. Trump faces a maximum of up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each of the 34 felony charges of falsification of business records. The sentencing options available to Merchan include prison, probation, conditional discharge, fines or house arrest.

The judge could put limitations on his travel, such as restricting Trump from leaving the state and taking his passport, but Merchan has said he doesn't want to interfere with his ability to campaign.

"I would think that the judge wouldn't dare interfere with his right to speak to the American public because it's the right of the voters to be informed as well," said John Coffee, a professor at Columbia Law School and an expert on corporate governance and white collar crime.

In a recent survey of dozens of cases brought by Manhattan District Attorney's Office in which falsifying business records was the most serious charge at arraignment, attorney and author Norm Eisen found that roughly one in 10 of those cases resulted in a sentence of incarceration.

"I think that is fascinating," said Caroline Polisi, a criminal defense attorney and professor at Columbia Law School. "A lot of commentators say the reason he won't be incarcerated is because the logistics of it with respect to the Secret Service would be too much. On the other hand, if you're saying he should be treated like any other defendant, we have a lot of data saying that 90% of other defendants would not get jail time in this situation."

The impact of the conviction on Trump's ability to campaign could largely hinge on what sentence Merchan ultimately hands down, and when Trump would serve it.

"In the context in which he is found guilty and then sentenced to no jail time, I don't think it's going to cause a bit of difference," added Polisi. "There might be some minor issues. He might not be able to vote for himself. But other than that, I don't think it's going to cause any problems."

When determining Trump's sentence, the judge could take into account his numerous gag order violations — which led Merchan to threaten him with jail time if the violations continued — and his lack of demonstrated remorse or respect for the legal system. Throughout the trial, Trump referred to Merchan as "conflicted" and "corrupt" and to the case itself as a "sham." 

"In New York, a 78-year-old defendant, who's a first time offender, committed a non-violent offense, and has an otherwise, well, distinguished record — in some regards being an ex-president is distinguished. In that kind of world, there'd be no chance of an incarceration sentence," said Coffee. Trump turns 78 on June 14. "They can use probation, they can use fines. But there may be a view of many judges that you have to show that no one's above the law, and even the future president should have a taste of prison."

Even if Merchan does order Trump to serve time behind bars, the sentence could be deferred until his appeal has run its course.

"In other cases, when you don't have someone running for the White House, it would be more or acceptable to put him immediately into incarceration," said Coffee. "You certainly could put special conditions on what he could do or put him under house arrest, but I think until we get to the actual election, we're going to have to let Donald Trump run around and campaign."

The conviction's possible impact on Trump's poll numbers and support

Trump has predicted that a conviction in this trial could boost his poll numbers. 

"Even if convicted, I think that it has absolutely no impact. It may drive the numbers up, but we don't want that. We want to have a fair verdict," Trump told CBS Pittsburgh in an interview earlier this month.

Trump's support among his Republican base has been remarkably resilient in the face of his various criminal cases. In the months following his four indictments last year, Trump maintained his commanding lead in the Republican primary, capturing the nomination despite the dozens of criminal charges he faced.

Many Trump supporters who CBS News has interviewed since the trial began have said a guilty conviction will not change how they vote in November, adopting the former president's grievances as their own.

"Stormy Daniels has already been reviewed and stuff. It's kind of coincidental," Michigan resident Lori Beyer said at a recent rally in Freeland, Michigan, adding she would vote for Trump regardless of the conviction. "I don't think it's going to impact it, as far as I'm concerned."

Whether a conviction changes the minds of voters who are not committed to the former president remains to be seen. A recent CBS News poll found that the majority of Americans believed Trump is "definitely or probably" guilty of the charges he faced in New York. The overwhelming majority of Democrats — 93% — believed Trump was guilty, while 78% Republicans said he was not. Independents were split, with 53% believing he was guilty and 47% saying he wasn't. 

Opinions about whether Trump was guilty or not were already highly partisan, according to Kabir Khanna, deputy director of elections and data analytics for CBS News. Most people who believed Trump was guilty also thought the jury would convict him, and vice versa. 

Additionally, Khanna said people who followed the trial closely were the most polarized in their views.

"Together, these factors could blunt the impact of the verdict on the views of an already divided public," Khanna said. "Some voters may be swayed by the news, but I wouldn't expect a sea change." 

Other polling supports that notion. A NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey released Thursday found that 67% of registered voters nationwide said a Trump conviction would not make a difference in how they vote. Among independents, just 11% said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump.

The conviction also gives the Biden campaign a potentially potent new weapon in their arsenal: the ability to label Trump a convicted felon. Mr. Biden remained largely silent about the Trump trial while it was ongoing, but NBC News reported last week that he planned to become more aggressive about Trump's legal woes after the trial concluded, while acknowledging that Trump would be on the ballot regardless of how his legal cases played out.

Trump has used the trial to help boost his fundraising, and will likely look to capitalize on the conviction. The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee saw an influx of donations after jury selection began, with the two entities raising $76 million in April. His campaign had about $50 million cash on hand at the beginning of May as he prepared to get back out on the campaign trail after the trial.

The former president repeatedly used the developments in the trial to raise money, including when he was held in contempt for violating the gag order against him.

"I'd get arrested ONE MILLION TIMES before I'd let those filthy dogs get their hands on you," one typical fundraising appeal read. 

Trump's other criminal cases

The New York case might be the only one of Trump's four criminal prosecutions to reach a conclusion before voters cast their ballots in the fall, giving the guilty verdict added weight.

The two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith remain in limbo. 

In Washington, D.C., Trump faces charges related to his actions to remain in power after the 2016 election. Trump has argued that he is immune from prosecution, and the Supreme Court is currently weighing his claim.

The high court heard arguments in the immunity dispute on April 26 and is expected to issue a decision on the matter before the end of the court's term, likely in June. If the case is allowed to move forward, there is a slim possibility that the district court could schedule the trial before November. If the justices side with Trump and find him immune from prosecution, the charges would be dropped.

In Florida, Trump faces federal charges stemming from his retention of classified documents after he left the White House. Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, has indefinitely postponed the trial. She ruled in early May that picking a trial date would be "imprudent and inconsistent with the court's duty to fully and fairly consider" numerous unresolved pre-trial motions. Those motions include Trump's efforts to dismiss the case altogether, as well as issues related to what classified information can be revealed at trial.

In the third case that remains outstanding, Trump faces state charges related to the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. The trial in that matter is also on hold as Trump seeks to have District Attorney Fani Willis removed from the case. Georgia's Court of Appeals recently granted Trump's appeal of a decision that had allowed her to remain, bringing the trial to a temporary halt.

Trump's two federal cases could largely be in voters' hands if they are not resolved by November, a fact that raises his personal stake in the outcome. If he wins and returns to the White House in January 2025, Trump could order the Justice Department to seek to drop the charges altogether.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of the criminal cases against him.

• Donald Trump

More from CBS News

What's next after Trump's conviction? How he might appeal the verdict

Trump lawyer eager to move forward with appeal of New York conviction

Trump may face travel restrictions in some countries after conviction

Trump campaign says it raised $52.8 million after guilty verdict

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Comcast (CMCSA) Business Mobile Unveils New Unlimited Plans

Comcast ’s ( CMCSA Quick Quote CMCSA - Free Report ) Business announced new, more affordable mobile plans for Comcast Business Mobile, aiming to deliver greater value and performance to small business customers. These new plans offer the potential for significant savings on wireless bills. Recognizing the evolving connectivity needs of businesses, Comcast Business Mobile offers adaptable data options to cater to the unique requirements of each business. Customers can mix and match data plans for each line, ensuring flexibility. Unlimited plans also include calls, texts, and roaming within the United States and between Canada and Mexico at no extra cost. Additionally, Comcast Business Mobile customers benefit from the recently introduced WiFi Boost. This feature leverages the nation’s largest and most powerful WiFi network, allowing Xfinity Mobile and Comcast Business Mobile users to experience increased speeds while on the go. WiFi Boost is supported by Comcast’s extensive fiber-based network, which delivers exceptional Internet service to more than 60 million homes and businesses and more than 23 million WiFi hotspots. This network represents the culmination of years of research, technological advancements, and more than $20 billion in investments since 2018 in infrastructure and development. This is expected to aid the company’s top-line growth in the upcoming quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMCSA’s 2024 revenues is pegged at $123.16 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 1.31%. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $4.21 per share, indicating year-over-year growth of 5.78%.

Comcast Corporation Price and Consensus

Comcast Corporation price-consensus-chart | Comcast Corporation Quote

Comcast Business Mobile Faces Competition in the Telecom Market

Comcast Business Mobile faces tough competition in the telecommunications market in the United States, which is valued at around $443.12 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $530.61 billion by 2029, according to a Mordor Intelligence report . This growth is mainly due to investments in research and development by major companies like AT&T ( T Quick Quote T - Free Report ) , Verizon Communications ( VZ Quick Quote VZ - Free Report ) , TMobile US ( TMUS Quick Quote TMUS - Free Report ) and Comcast, which drive innovation in the industry. Despite the nascent stage of 5G technology, telecom companies are already laying the groundwork for 6G through various partnerships and alliances. The high level of digitization in the United States compared with other countries has spurred demand for streaming media, messaging, and online shopping, which, in turn, propels growth of the telecom sector. The telecommunications sector is essential for the efficient operation of businesses, public safety organizations, and government agencies in the United States. Its expansion significantly contributes to the national economy, with future advancements like 6G playing a pivotal role in shaping the industry's future direction. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 11.6% compared with the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s decline of 1.5% year to date due to tough competition. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here . AT&T is set to launch Internet Air for Business, a new fixed wireless service aimed at small, medium, and large businesses. Leveraging America's most reliable 5G network, this service offers a straightforward and dependable way for businesses to stay connected. Whether expanding locations, ensuring network diversity, or supporting critical applications, AT&T’s Internet Air simplifies the process of connecting with customers, suppliers, and employees. Verizon Business has introduced a range of new technologies, including a specialized room equipped with 5G and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as various collaboration and communication tools. These offerings include Fixed Wireless Access, managed tablets, and Verizon Business Assistant, all designed to enhance customer experiences and provide innovative solutions. Dialpad, Inc., a leading AI-powered customer intelligence platform, has partnered with T-Mobile to launch AI Recaps and extend their collaboration for another three years. Dialpad emphasizes that while communication tools are essential for businesses, traditional systems often come with high costs and complexity. In the digital era, with the advancements in AI and 5G technology, communication tools should be user-friendly and advantageous for businesses. Comcast Business recently boosted Internet speeds for customers across the nation at no extra cost. Additionally, Comcast’s Business announced the introduction of next-generation multi-gigabit symmetrical business Internet speeds, powered by Full Duplex technology, in select markets. These constant innovations help them stay ahead of the competition.

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