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Business Plan Competition

Business Plan Competition

UD Business Plan Competition

It is never too late to start a business.  Over 50% of business graduates think of starting a business.  Are you one of them?  Do you have a great business idea? Do you want to take your idea to the next level? Do you want to get great feedback and mentoring on your business idea and win some prize along the way?  If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you are the right candidate to participate in the UD business plan competition. 

The University of Dallas Business plan competition encourages students and alums to start an entrepreneurial venture.   By participating in the business plan competition participants will learn how to 

  • Identify untapped markets to serve
  • Perform market research using both primary and secondary analysis
  • Conduct feasibility analysis
  • Develop a plan that is funding ready

Selected finalists will not only have an opportunity to win cash awards but more importantly get tremendous mentoring from current entrepreneurs.

Contact  udbusinessplan @udallas.edu

The top 3 winners will receive cash prizes of:

1st place = 4,500

2nd place = 2,500

3rd place = 1,500

In addition, all finalists will receive $500.

Eligibility

Keep exploring.

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The 20 Best Business Plan Competitions to Get Funding

business plan competition

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.

On This Page:

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  

tips for success

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)

Business Plan Template

Free Business Plan Template

Radhika Agarwal

  • October 18, 2023

11 Min Read

Top Business Plan Competitions

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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How to Win a Business Plan Competition

Author: Tim Berry

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. 

Create a business plan that maximizes your chances of securing funding

Content Author: Tim Berry

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.

Start your business plan with the #1 plan writing software. Create your plan with Liveplan today.

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8:48 a.m., Oct. 22, 2009----After a long, crowded, expensive train ride home to New York State, University of Delaware student Francois Chaubard thought of an easier way. That's when he came up with the idea for BusBookie.com, an online demand-driven bus chartering business.

Chaubard, who graduated from UD in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, and partner Brandon Maas, who graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in computer science, took the idea to the University of Delaware Business Plan Competition, where they fine-tuned the concept, developed a detailed business plan, and won a first prize at last year's competition.

The 2010 University of Delaware Business Plan Competition is actively seeking submissions by student entrepreneurs with business ideas who want to turn them into reality. The competition is open to students across all disciplines and colleges at the University of Delaware, graduate or undergraduate. Faculty, staff, and alumni ideas also are eligible, provided that at least one student is on the team and participating.

The first competition deadline is Friday, Oct. 30, with entrants submitting a three-page business overview. Submission of a full business plan is due by Feb. 15, 2010, and all finalists will present their business to the 2010 Business Plan Competition on April 22 in conjunction with the President's Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship on April 23. The competition is co- sponsored by the Venture Development Center and UD's Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships.

Individual competitors and teams are encouraged to seek the assistance and participation of UD faculty, alumni, researchers, and staff.

Students and teams can still begin the process after Oct. 30, but early submission of a business overview is encouraged so that students can be partnered with business mentors and fully take advantage of available resources, explains Scott Jones, UD professor of accounting and director of the Business Plan Competition. "Developing a business plan is a challenging process, and the more sounding boards and feedback a participant can have, the better the outcome," stresses Jones.

Chaubard agrees, saying, "Creating a business plan allows you to solidify your thoughts and analyze every aspect of your business, and talking to a business Ph.D. about your business issues is an irreplaceable asset. A number of Pandora's boxes were opened during the development of our business plan. Had those issues stayed undiscovered, we would not have been successful."

Cash prizes and other business services are provided to the winning companies. Competition judges include venture capitalists, investment bankers and other financial investment professionals.

Mentoring opportunities are available to members of the business community who are familiar with the challenges of starting and running a business. Mentors review the student's submission, offer advice and insight helpful in refining the idea, and encourage the student to persevere through the difficult process of writing a business plan.

Interested members of the business community may contact Scott Jones for details at (302) 831-8278 or [ [email protected] ].

As for BusBookie, Chaubard says it's blossoming. "So far the demand for BusBookie.com's low prices has been substantial here at Delaware. This semester we have had six trips already, and many more in the works. We have run Phillies tailgate bus trips, Six Flags trips, Baltimore Inner Loop trips, and New York City trips. We plan to run Atlantic City trips and more District of Columbia trips. "

The Business Plan Competition was created in 2004 to find new venture ideas and build successful businesses, as well as to provide education and networking opportunities for students.

More information about this year's Business Plan Competition , including deadlines, eligibility requirements, and submission guidelines, is available at the Web site.

Information about the President's Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship is available at the Web site.

Article by Nora Riehl Zelluk Photo by Duane Perry

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Hudson Valley Students Make it to the Final Round of the New York State Business Plan Competition

May 8, 2024

A team of Hudson Valley students made it all the way to the second round of the New York Business Plan statewide finals on April 25.

Out of 140 teams competing in regional events throughout the state this spring, only 60 teams moved on to the statewide finals, and Hudson Valley’s team was the only one in the state competition’s final round from a SUNY community college.

Ameera Aftab, Lukas Donaghue, Ryan Connors and Adam Conklin

The team - Ameera Aftab, Lukas Donaghue, Ryan Connors and Adam Conklin - presented the idea “Semester at Yours,” an online platform to help facilitate short-term furniture leasing for college students living off-campus. According to the team’s pitch, the Semester at Yours marketplace would foster a sustainable and affordable alternative to students just dumping their used furniture on the curb when their lease is up.

“Being the only community college, out of 60 teams, to make it to the state finals really showed me what was possible if the right support and help is given to students,” said Donaghue. “It also showed me how much space there is for community colleges to take in this competition. Out of 120 teams statewide who made it to the video stage of the state final, only three were community college teams.”

Aftab said the experience they were able to take away from the competition was invaluable.

“Being the only community college team in the state to make it to finals, we got to connect with college students from all over the state and Ivy League schools, too,” she said. “We also met with many mentors who have successful businesses all over the state and they shared their experiences with us.”

The team members are all part of Hudson Valley’s Entrepreneurs Club, which meets weekly with the goal of fostering pride and fellowship within the School of Business and throughout the college community, encouraging interest and activity in the fields of business and related areas.

Entrepreneurs Club advisors, Associate Professor Johanna Mather and Professor Danielle Blesi, said events such as the New York State Business Plan competition provide a great lesson in collaboration and gaining real world business experience.

“We live in a community that is a hub for education and innovation,” said Mather. “Students from all colleges have tremendous resources in the Capital Region, and it was a wonderful opportunity to bring all of these together for them. It was very important for students to see the resources and connections available to them in the Capital Region.”

“As educators, we are very fortunate to provide such an invaluable experience to our students and to all of those across the region,” said Blesi. “We are lucky to be supported by a community that encourages these aspiring entrepreneurs to set high standards and work toward their goals. We are also very grateful to all of the judges and members of our college community that supported the students and provided them with mentorship and a solid foundation for the future.”

For students interested in extracurricular experiences and opportunities such as the Business Plan Competition, Connors encourages them to take advantage of it.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” said Connors. “Even if you don't feel like you know what you're doing, your idea and passion is enough. There are plenty of mentors out there to guide and assist you along the way and it gives real world experience and is an amazing networking opportunity.”

One other Hudson Valley team advanced out of the regional NYBP competition, which was held in Hudson Valley’s Bulmer Telecommunications Center, April 5. That team included students Austin Shulkin, Brooks Marcus and Ray Guiles.

“The Hudson Valley community is extremely proud of all of our students who created such unique and compelling business ideas for this competition” said President Roger Ramsammy. “Educational experiences and opportunities as such are truly difference makers in students’ educational journey.”

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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.

The 2022 Path to Prosperity cohort takes a field trip to Barnacle Foods in Juneau.

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Barney Business Plan Competition

The bi-annual business plan competition, run by the Barney School of Business in collaboration with other departments on campus, concluded with a Hartford Art School student earning the number one spot.

25 students between Barney, ENHP, HAS, and CETA presented their business plans on Friday, April 19. The following Friday, April 26, the award ceremony was held and three students left with a cash prize. Justin Stochel , a Visual Communication Design major in HAS, won first place by a landslide, with 53.5 out of 55 total possible points for his hot chocolate company, Hot Spell. Principles of Entrepreneurship (ENT 314), the class from which students participate in the competition, was Stochel’s first ever business class.

The second and third place winners were both Barney students. Ben Avital , a Business Analytics & Managerial Economics major, has already started his business, AirExterm (pest control), in real-life! Avital has graciously donated his winnings to the UHart’s Innovators Group club. Lastly, Hazel Hill , President of the Innovators Group, finished in third place for her business Satin Locks, a car accessory.

Judges for the competition included Barney Board of Visitors members, industry experts, campus partners, and faculty. Thank you to those who participated and congratulations to the winners!

Student Entrepreneurs Go Head-to-Head in Business Plan Competition

Target market identified? Check. Competition researched? Check. Financials planned, location selected, advisory board recruited? Check, check, and check.

There is a lot more to being an entrepreneur than coming up with a great business idea. No one knows this better than the students who participated in the Cornell Hospitality Business Plan Competition, presented by the Leland C. and Mary M. Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the School of Hotel Administration. The competition began in November with 30 student teams submitting executive summaries; five finalist teams competed in the final round of the competition on April 6 during the 88th Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell.

“All of the concepts in the final round were outstanding. They were unique and filled a clear void in the market, and each has the potential to succeed in the real world,” said Neil Tarallo, PIHE academic director. “A good idea isn’t enough to attract investors, though, and the teams that really stood out were the ones that had fully rounded business plans and were ready to bring their concepts to life.”

Martin Andonov ’13 won the competition and the $15,000 first-place cash prize for his concept, Agora Hellenic Grill, a chain of Mediterranean fast-casual restaurants that will be based in London. Passionate about his nascent business and spurred by his win, Andonov will return to the United Kingdom after graduation to test his concept in a real-life setting and continue on his path to become an entrepreneur.

Andonov got the idea for Agora while he was studying abroad at the London School of Economics and was unsatisfied with his dining options. Citing the growth in interest in Mediterranean food, the rise in healthy eating, and the lack of restaurants filling this niche, he explained “there is a tremendous opportunity that, interestingly enough, nobody is capitalizing on.”

That eye for unrealized opportunities was common among all the finalist teams. Runner-up Voilà Mobile Crêperie—a food truck concept by Michael Perlman ’13, Ethan Joseph ’13, & Tareq Ali ’13—took home the $5,000 second-place prize. Third place and $2,500 went to Spencer Stein ’13, who developed the Solace, an in-room pain-relief product. The Stein Family Prize of $5,000 went to Robert Frisch MBA ’13 and Tara Lobo ’15, for a mobile, luxury eco-tent business, Cairn Tented Resorts. SakuraTerra Hospitality team of Satoko Nagahara MMH ’13, Christopher O’Donnell ’13, Zhuodan Huang MMH ’13, and Blake Golom MMH ’13, earned honorable mention for their a Japanese-style inn and spa.

“The students put a tremendous amount of work into the competition, and I love to watch the business plans develop over the course of the academic year. It is even more impressive to see how much the students grow throughout the competition. Everything from their confidence levels to their critical thinking skills to their time management skills grows,” said Susan Fleming, senior lecturer in management and organizational behavior, who co-chairs the competition with Tarallo.

The teams pitched their business concepts to judges Chris Hemmeter, Thayer Ventures; Bill Minnock ’79, Marriott International; Sandy Solomon, Sweet Street Desserts; and Jacob Wright, High Peaks Hospitality. Judges for the semi-final round were Moby Ahmed; Nick Bayer, Saxbys Coffee; Kenny Blatt ’81, Caribbean Property Group; Larry Hall, PAR Springer-Miller; Ken Hamlet ’66, Crestview Partners; Chris Hunsberger ’81, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts; Warren Leeds ’84, Dartcor Management Services; and Mark Lomanno.

Sponsors for the 2013 competition were Marriott International, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Sun family, and the Stein Family.

To learn more about the Cornell Hospitality Business Plan Competition,  visit the competition web page.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNING TEAMS IN THE 2024 BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION!

The winning College League teams were:

  • Cordoba, $15,000 Cordoba is an AI plug-in that facilitates communication between architects and clients.
  • PicsGenie, $10,000 PicsGenie uses AI to allow anyone to customize shirts in under 15 seconds.
  • Snap Chains, $7,000 Snap Chains is an alternative snow chain designed for instant installation and removal.
  • Serenity Spaces, $4,000 Serenity Spaces is a furnishing company that allows individuals to rent customized furnishing packages.
  • Main Street Trader Bar and Grill, $2,000 Main Street Trader Bar and Grill is a restaurant in Vancouver, Washington, offering diverse food, drink, and live entertainment.

For more information and a complete list of winning teams, visit WSU INSIDER

2024 WSU Business Plan Competition is Continuing as Hybrid

If you’re a student entrepreneur or aspiring business owner, the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies presents the WSU Business Plan Competition – an unparalleled opportunity to practice entrepreneurship in a real-world setting and receive guidance as you launch a new venture, plus a chance to win thousands of dollars in prize money!

The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies is happy to announce that the 2024 WSU Business Plan Competition will still be happening, switching to a hybrid format. Participating in a business plan competition can be a rewarding experience and we are excited to continue to showcase student innovation!

Learn by Doing

  • Sharpen skills.  Working on a business plan team develops innovative thinking, builds leadership, and refines communication skills.
  • Network.  If you’re a finalist, you and your team will present your idea to investors, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals at the competition in April. Finalists also have the opportunity to exchange ideas with judges over dinner.
  • Prepare for your future. Take what you’ve learned and apply it in an existing company or new venture.

Launch a New Venture

  • Move from idea to execution. Develop, test, and pitch a startup idea with your own team.
  • Get advice and mentoring. Seasoned entrepreneurs, industry experts, and entrepreneurship faculty mentors devote countless hours to help students navigate the entrepreneurial process.
  • Build momentum. Take your experience in the competition and invest in the growth of your venture.

Congratulations, Past Winners!

Past Winners

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Collegiate league.

Herbert B. Jones Grand Prize – $15,000 Herbert B. Jones Second Place Prize – $10,000 Third Place Prize – $7,000 Fourth Place Prize – $4,000 Fifth Place Prize – $2,000

Open Collegiate League

Foster Garvey Grand Prize – $5,000

High School League

Herbert B. Jones Grand Prize – $5,000 Second Place Prize – $2,000 Third Place Prize – $1,000 Fourth Place Prize – $500 Fifth Place Prize – $250

Merit Prizes

BECU Best FinTech Venture Prize – $5,000 Sage Fruit Ag Innovation Prize – $3,000 Herbert B. Jones Best Written Plan Prize – $2,500 Herbert B. Jones Best Presentation Prize – $2,500 Herbert B. Jones Best Tech Venture Prize – $2,500 Herbert B. Jones Best Social Impact Venture Prize – $2,500 BEST Trade Show – $500

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The Business Plan Competition is critically important for helping people to turn ideas into reality. I am excited to volunteer as a judge to support the competition and the Center, now that I am on the other side. — Jonah Friedl  , NOMAD founder and WSU alumnus (Carson College of Business, Entrepreneurship – 2016)

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Blackstone LaunchPad Student Start-Ups Place in the Finals of the 2024 New York Business Plan Competition

Two Syracuse University Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad (LaunchPad) student start-up teams placed in the finals of the New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) , powered by Upstate Capital, held in Albany on April 25.

Student winners of business plan competition

Motolani Oladitan ’24 (College of Arts and Sciences), left, founder of Tá Beautie, and Natasha Brao ’22 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) G’23, G’24 (Whitman School of Management), founder of Shooka Sauce.

Natasha Brao ’22, (College of Visual and Performing Arts) G’23, G’24 (Whitman School of Management), founder of Shooka Sauce, won the 3 rd place prize of $1,000 in the food and agriculture track. Shooka Sauce is a Mediterranean-spiced tomato sauce based on the dish Shakshuka, inspired by mixing and melding cultural flavors to promote creative cooking.

Motolani Oladitan ’24 (College of Arts and Sciences), founder of Tá Beautie, was awarded the Concept Stage Award of $500 in the software and services track. Tá Beautie is a virtual marketplace connecting African beauty and wellness brands with the diaspora, making it easier for consumers to discover and purchase high-quality, authentic African products.

Five Launchpad student start-up teams attended the 2024 New York Business Plan Competition. Other student teams to reach the finals include Frank Marin ’24 (Marhold Space Systems), Adya Parida ’25 (Scale Sense), and Dylan Bardsley ’26 and Mark Leaf ’27 (Clarity).

The NYBPC attracts some of New York state’s best student entrepreneurs. The competition promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for college students from across the state to pitch their business plans to seasoned investors. They also receive the opportunity to engage with mentors and judges from the business community. The finals event connects students with business professionals, provides experiential learning opportunities through competitions, connects entrepreneurs with resources at the Entrepreneurship Expo and awards up to $100,000 in cash prizes to help seed new ventures.

Cristina Hatem

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Highlight links, change contrast, increase text size, increase letter spacing, readability bar, dyslexia friendly font, increase cursor size, mps graduate students participate in 2024 energytech competition.

  • May 7, 2024

A group of graduate and undergraduate students participated in the 2024 EnergyTech University Prize , making it to the regionals portion of the competition. The contest is organized by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions and challenges students to create and present a business plan in the energy sector.

A group of 11 people

The group, formed in Bjorn Hamberger’s class on biotechnology, consisted of nine graduate and two undergraduate students from across different programs within the university, as well as an undergrad from Loyola University Chicago. Seven of the graduate students are members of the Molecular Plant Sciences , or MPS, graduate program at Michigan State University.

The idea to participate in EnergyTech came about last minute, when Hamberger heard of the competition from a contact at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center , or GLBRC.

When he asked his students if they would be interested in participating, he was pleasantly surprised by the interest it garnered.

“They coalesced quickly into a very good team, brainstormed lots of ideas and the pace at which this was happening told me that, wow, there's something bigger coming up,” said Hamberger, associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology , or BMB, and MPS.

After going through a few potential ideas, the group landed on using research from Angel McKay Whiteman and Brianna Brown’s thesis projects.

“We only found out a week and a half before we had to submit a 200-word pitch idea, so it was all hands on deck,” said McKay Whiteman, a graduate student in BMB and MPS. “We did a very good job compared to the little time that we had.”

McKay Whiteman’s research looks at sorghum, a grassy plant with uses in biofuel production. When sorghum is used for biofuel, a waxy layer that coats the plant called the cuticle must first be removed. McKay Whiteman is trying to make the cuticle more than a waste product.

Terpenes, a high value product with uses in cancer treatments, flavors and fragrances, cleaning products and more, are produced in the sorghum plant. But what if they could be produced in the otherwise wasted cuticle?

The company they pitched was called Sorghum With Enhanced Economic Traits, or Sweet.

The theory the group worked off was if terpenes can be produced in the cuticle, then the terpenes can be extracted from the cuticle and sold. The business would tap into two markets: flavors/fragrances and biofuels. They could produce valuable and bio-sustainable products, and the high price attached to biofuels could be subsidized by selling the terpenes.

The team was able to utilize MSU resources to generate their business plan, including business coaching from Associate Director Yiying Xiong and sorghum expert John Mullet, both from the GLBRC. The team also utilized the Entrepreneurs-In-Residence program through the MSU Foundation.

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“If we were actually successful in making biofuels cheaper, then there'd be a lot more carbon neutral fuels used out there and they could be a good competitor with petroleum-based fuels,” said İlayda Korkmaz, an undergraduate student who graduated Spring 2024 with a bachelor's in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

While the group may not have ended the project with a business in place, the project did inspire them to think about their research in new ways.

“Now there's a whole other layer of, how does this actually translate to making the impact I want it to on the world?” explained Mitchell Ticoras , graduate student in the Department of Plant Biology and MPS. Ticoras acted as the team leader for this project. “I think a lot of times as academics, we don't think about what comes next. This was a good exercise in considering all of the other challenges that come after doing the science.”

The team included:

  • Brianna Brown; Graduate student in Plant Biology
  • Elliot Braun; Graduate student in Genetics & Genome Sciences Program and Molecular Plant Sciences
  • Duncan Boren; Graduate student in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Molecular Plant Sciences
  • Max Harman; Graduate student in Genetics & Genome Sciences Program and Molecular Plant Sciences
  • Tristan Hart; Undergraduate at Loyola University Chicago
  • Leah Knoor; Graduate student in Microbiology, Genetics & Immunology
  • İlayda Korkmaz; Undergraduate at MSU
  • Angel McKay Whiteman; Graduate student in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Molecular Plant Sciences
  • Lucas Reist; Graduate student in Cell & Molecular Biology Program and Molecular Plant Sciences
  • Luke Sharpe; Graduate student in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Molecular Plant Sciences
  • James Suggitt; Undergraduate at MSU
  • Mitchell Ticoras; Graduate student in Plant Biology and Molecular Plant Sciences

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Latest News

A petri dish with green spots on it.

Government releases 10-year business case for NT AFL team, spruiking $116 million-a-year economic boost

The Northern Territory government and AFLNT say the territory could see its own AFL team take to the field within the next decade, as they release a road map including plans for a new city stadium.

A business case published on Thursday recommends the federal government be asked to help fund construction of a long-mooted stadium in Darwin's CBD, in the hopes it would make an NT bid for a 20th AFL licence more compelling.

It says construction of a new stadium within the next seven to 10 years could cost between $700 million and $735 million.

an architect's design of an afl stadium

It comes after Tasmania was awarded the 19th licence last year , despite plans to build a new waterfront stadium in Hobart being met with resistance .

The 210-page report envisages a new NT side could enter the competition "shortly after Tasmania in 2028", but admits it would need the federal government to "support the delivery of the key stadium and other infrastructure" in both Darwin and Alice Springs.

Announcing the plan at a press conference on Thursday,   AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden said the economic case for an NT team was "very strong".

"This will complete the AFL, it will make the AFL a truly national competition," he said.

"Ultimately, the biggest challenges for us are going to be … making sure our talent pathways are strong, the conditioning of players, and just winning the belief of the national competition that this is the right place and that we can take our rightful place in that competition."

Three people stand in front of microphones at press conference next to football oval

NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the business case showed an NT-based side would be a net-positive for the territory economy, and spruiked its potential to lead to better social and health outcomes for the NT.

"That business case shows that the value of an AFL team would be about $116 million per annum to the Northern Territory, and it would employ around 160 people every year," Ms Lawler said.

She also argued an AFL side could address the NT's "liveability factor" and help retain more people in the territory, and drive business activity in the CBD on game days.

But Mr Bowden said the push to establish a team in Darwin and Alice Springs would need support from the AFL, its teams and the broader community.

TIO Stadium exterior.

"The talent that is just imbued in the Northern Territory amongst so many of our young people has to have that opportunity," he said.

"Talent pathways are critical.

"We want to see a dozen new Cyril Riolis, we want to see half a dozen new Andrew McLeods."

He said a new CBD stadium would "realise the full ambition" for the AFL side, and could even attract visitors from South East Asia.

The AFLNT team taskforce that helped complete the business case includes some of the biggest names in AFL, including former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, Collingwood star Nathan Buckley and Adelaide Crows player Andrew McLeod.

Hopes for local business, tourism boost

NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said an NT AFL team and new stadium would increase tourism and business in the territory.

He welcomed the announcement, saying an NT AFL team and new stadium would improve liveability in the territory and, combined with major development goals around the gas industry, would help the territory economy grow.

He said game days in particular could support smaller businesses.

"We've seen what having world-class sporting facilities in the CBD has done to other jurisdictions," he said.

"The MCG, Adelaide Oval, they really have been an enabler for the local community and that feeds into local business."

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Competition Information

The Washburn University Business Plan Competition prepares students to start a new business by developing a thorough written business plan for a new product or service. A business plan is an important step towards starting a new venture, as it allows entrepreneurs to analyze how their company will operate and brings together many areas of the business environment.

By participating in the competition, students will gain experience through:

  • Identifying business opportunities, developing a business model and writing a formal business plan
  • Performing market research and feasibility analysis using primary and/or secondary data
  • Developing communication and organizational skills
  • Working individually or as part of a team

Student Eligibility

Team composition.

Students may participate as an individual or as a team; a team entry consists of two to a maximum of five eligible students.

Written Business Plan Specifics

The business venture should be original, appropriate and currently not in existence (new). Text for the document should be double-spaced using Calibri 11-point font; no handwritten material of any sort will be accepted. A margin of 1 inch should surround the text. The main body of the business plan must be no longer than 5,000 words. This limit will be strictly enforced. Any entry exceeding the limit will be disqualified . The document should include a title page, specifying the name of the business, the individual and/or team members.

The following sections should be used in the development of your business plan:

• Description of idea and value proposition

• Internal and external environmental analysis / Competition

• Target market / Customer

• Marketing / Promotional plan

• Management team / Human resource needs

• Revenue model / Financial forecast

• Contingency plan

• Appendix (if required)

The business plan document may also include a maximum of five (5) pages of appendices, the purpose of which is to provide support for the assertions and conclusions expressed in the body of the business plan. This content is separate from the main text and will not count toward the word limit. Appendices should be numbered, titled, and appropriately referenced within the body of the document. Although teams may use this space as they see fit, appendices in reports commonly include elements such as:

• Financial statements

• Diagrams / illustrations

• Itemization / categorization of key information

• Implementation timeline

Important Dates

Friday, March 25, 2022 at 5:00 PM - Deadline to enter

Entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. on this date via email.  Entries will include a registration form and Business Plan.  Registration forms can be completed in person in the School of Business office in Henderson building on the Washburn campus or online.  The business plan must be submitted as a Microsoft Word  file. The file should be sent to the attention of Hailey Handy, School of Business office at: [email protected]  and the heading in the email should read: ”Business Plan Competition 20221 Entry.”  An email will be sent back to confirm receipt of your entry.

Monday, April 11, 2022 - Winners announced via email. Winners will be notified of next steps required to receive their checks.

Judging and Evaluation

Each business plan submitted will have its title page removed and replaced with an identification number to ensure anonymity; any names or other personal/identifying information contained in the submission will be redacted. Judges will evaluate these business plans independently (i.e., without consulting each other) and evaluate them on a scale from 1 (extremely weak) to 100 (excellent). These scores will then be averaged and the teams ranked to determine the place of each team.

Evaluation criteria:

  • Business idea and value proposition
  • Internal and external analysis
  • Target market / Customer analysis
  • Revenue model / Financials
  • Marketing / Promotional plan
  • Contingency plan
  • Viability / Feasibility

Judging Panel

The judging panel will consist of at least two judges, drawn from the business community in the local region. No faculty (especially those that play a role in the development of student plans) are allowed to participate in the judging.  

Every judge will receive an evaluation form to assist in evaluating and scoring the plans, on a scale from 1 (extremely weak) to 100 (excellent). These scores will be averaged to produce a point total out of 100. The judges scores are then received by SOBU faculty/staff who will tabulate the results and determine the winners of the competition.

Once winners have been determined, results and feedback can be delivered to students so they may have a clearer understanding of the reasons why the winners were judged to be superior. However, while we encourage our judges to provide written feedback, it is not compulsory.

The prizes awarded to the winning individual/team of the competition are as follows:

1 st  Place = $3,000

2 nd  Place = $2,000

3 rd  Place = $1,000

4 th  Place = $500

5 th  Place = $250

Contact: Dr. David Price , Associate Professor of Marketing

Washburn University School of Business

[email protected]

785-670-3258

GET IN TOUCH WITH School of Business

School of Business Henderson Room 114 1700 SW College Ave. Topeka, KS 66621

Phone & Email Ph: 785.670.1308 Fax: 785-670-1063 [email protected]

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  25. MPS graduate students participate in 2024 EnergyTech competition

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