student business plan competition

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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Student Business Plan Competition

• Submit your letter of intent and two-page Business Snapshot by May 6th.

Contestants must be ADA student members in good standing and must be listed as students at some time during calendar year 2024. Students may participate in the competition individually or as part of a two-person team. No more than two people may participate as a team.

Finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to the AuDacity Conference at the Gaylord Texan, September 5-8, 2024, in Grapevine (Dallas), Texas, where they will present their business plans in person. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $5,000 ADA cash grant to be used to advance business objectives and enhance business and leadership skills.

Business plans will be judged based on the following criteria: Creativity, Feasibility, Completeness, Cohesiveness and Professionalism

SPONSORED BY:

Eligibility Requirements

• Student Enrollment: The competition is for students enrolled in an Au.D. Program at an accredited university at any point during 2024 (recent or upcoming graduates are encouraged to participate).
• SADA Membership: Students must be members of the Student Academy of Doctors of Audiology (SADA) in good standing.
• Nature of Ventures: The ADA Business Plan Competition is for the development of new, independent audiology practices, which are innovative and future oriented.

Business Snapshot

The Business Snapshot is due by Monday, May 6th and should contain the following elements and be no more than two pages:

• Business Name: [Your Practice Name]
• Business Location: [Location Details]
• Services Offered: (Comprehensive audiological evaluations, hearing aid dispensing, tinnitus management, pediatric audiology, vestibular, interoperative monitoring, preventive audiology, industrial audiology, forensic audiology etc.)
• Products Offered and Margins: (what do industry averages tell us)
• Mission Statement: A concise statement that defines the practice's purpose and primary objectives.
• Vision Statement: Long-term goals and what the practice aims to achieve in the future.
• Startup Summary: Initial capital required, planned funding sources, and usage plan.
• Business Goals: Short-term and long-term goals for the practice.

Written Business Plan

• Written Business Plan Submission: A complete written business plan must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, June 3rd.
• Services Offered: Comprehensive audiological evaluations, hearing aid dispensing, tinnitus management, pediatric audiology, vestibular, interoperative monitoring, preventive audiology, industrial audiology, forensic audiology etc.
• Products offered and margins (what do industry averages tell us)
• Startup Summary: Initial capital required, funding sources, and usage plan.
• Industry Background: Overview of the audiology profession, including trends, challenges, and opportunities.
• Business Model: How the practice will operate and generate revenue.
• Unique Value Proposition: What sets your practice apart from competitors.
• Location and Facilities: Details about the practice's location, accessibility, and any special equipment or facilities.
• Target Market: Detailed analysis of your target demographic, including age, location, income levels, and specific needs.
• Market Needs: Identification of the specific needs of your target market that your practice will address. Expand on research conducted to determine the market has a need. What benchmarking is out there to determine the market has a need.
• Market Trends: Current and emerging trends in audiology and how they affect your target market.
• Competitor Analysis: Detailed analysis of direct and indirect competitors, their strengths, weaknesses, and market position.
• Marketing Plan: Strategies for reaching your target market, including online marketing, social media, traditional advertising, community outreach, and professional referrals.
• Sales Strategy: Approach to converting inquiries and consultations into paying patients.
• Pricing Strategy: Pricing of services and products, including hearing aids, compared to competitors.
• Operational Workflow: Day-to-day operations of the practice, including patient consultations, follow-ups, hearing aid fittings, and maintenance.
• Staffing Requirements: Number and type of staff needed, including audiologists, hearing aid specialists, administrative staff, etc.
• Suppliers and Partners: Key suppliers for hearing aids and other equipment, as well as any partnerships with medical practices or organizations.
• Management Team: Key management personnel, their roles, and experience.
• Organizational Structure: Chart showing the practice's organizational structure and lines of authority.
• Legal Structure: Legal structure of the business (sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, etc.).
• Start-up Costs: Detailed list of start-up costs, including equipment, renovations, licensing, and initial inventory.
• Revenue Projections: Detailed revenue forecasts for the first three years, including assumptions.
• Expense Forecasts: Breakdown of fixed and variable expenses.
• Profit and Loss Projection: Projection of net profits after expenses.
• Cash Flow Projection: Monthly cash flow projection for the first year.
• Break-even Analysis: Analysis of when the practice is expected to become profitable.
• Resumes of Key Personnel: Detailed resumes of all key personnel.
• Market Research Data: Full data and sources for market analysis.
• Legal Documents: Business registration documents, professional certifications, and licenses.
• Financial Statements: Detailed financial statements and assumptions. Assumptions are important details. Understanding and tailoring projections to your industry benchmarks. Business reference guides. Industry averages for expenses and revenues. What should the expenses be?

Suggested Resource Materials for Review in Completing the Business Plan

• U.S. Small Business Administration
• SCORE – Business Plan Template for a Startup Business
• Watch our recorded Business Plan Competition & Practice Management Webinar Series.

Important Deadlines

• Monday, May 6th — Deadline to submit Letter of Intent and 2-page Business Snapshot
• Monday, June 3rd — Business plan due
• Thursday, June 27th — Semi-finalists selected/notified with feedback from judges
• Monday, July 15th — Revised business plan due
• Thursday, July 25th — Finalists selected/notified
• Thursday, August 15th — Posters due
• Thursday, August 29th — Presentation slides due
• Thursday, September 5th — Posters at AuDacity
• Friday, September 6th — Live Business Plan Competition and Awards at AuDacity 2024

Business Plan Competition & Practice Management Webinar Series

• Although it is not required, it is highly encouraged that students who wish to participate in the competition also view the Business Plan Competition & Practice Management Webinar Series. This series is hosted by the Student Academy of Doctors of Audiology (SADA) and features experts in a variety of topics, including business planning, finance, marketing, and practice management.

General Notices

• Use of Materials: ADA reserves the right to use material prepared for the competition in publicizing and promoting the event. ADA may use these materials in any printed materials and any videotape or other medium that it may produce. ADA may videotape any portion of the competition and utilize these tapes in any way that its sees fit.
• Entry Fees: The ADA Student Business Plan Competition does not have an entry fee.
• Changes to Competition Rules: While not anticipated, these rules and prizes are subject to change at the discretion of ADA. ADA and its staff and volunteers have the right to interpret these rules according to their own judgment.
• Decisions regarding the Competition and the Winners: All decisions regarding the competition rules, procedures, and processes are at the sole discretion of ADA. Changes and/or interpretations of these rules may be made by the ADA any time. The decision of the participants, semi-finalists, finalists and winner are at the sole discretion of the judges and the ADA. Best efforts will be made to make decisions in accordance with this Official Rules document.

General Guidelines

• Non-confidentiality: All sessions of the competition, including but not limited to oral presentations and question/answer sessions, are open to the public at large. Any and all of these sessions may be broadcast to interested persons through media which may include radio, television and the Internet. Any data or information discussed or divulged in public sessions by entrants should be considered information that could possibly enter the public realm, and entrants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged, or presented in these sessions. Due to the nature of the competition, we are not able to ask judges, reviewers, staff, or the audience to agree to or sign non-disclosure statements. ADA cannot guarantee that other individuals will not obtain access to electronic or hard copies of the business plan. All presentations are open to attendees, and some presentations may be videotaped. Attendance by media personnel is expected.
• Copyrights & Permissions: If a contestant uses copyrighted materials and/or images from a third-party in their submissions or presentations, they must obtain permission and authorization in advance from the owners to use this material.
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• [email protected]

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.

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.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

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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Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition

One of the IEC's largest programs, the HSBPC provides a platform for all SU students and alumni to pitch their ideas and launch their businesses.  Video created by Nils  Gollersrud , Bridge MBA '20.

Ready to launch your new venture?

• Team Registration
• Judge Sign-Up
• Team Coach Sign-Up
• See Past Winners

The Legacy of Harriet Stephenson

The Business Plan Competition was started in 1998 by Dr. Harriet Stephenson, a Seattle University faculty member who began teaching in 1967. It is designed to help students and alumni in launching new business ventures, including for-profit businesses, not-for-profit businesses, corporate entrepreneurship, and social enterprise. Participants enhance their Seattle University learning experience, gain feedback on ideas, develop networks, and expose their ideas to potential investors.

Seattle University,  Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) at the Albers School of Business and Economics hosts the annual Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition (HSBPC) – teams led by Seattle University students and alumni advance through three rounds of judging and feedback to see who will take home the $20,000 Grand Prize .

The HSBPC is a public event and draws hundreds of investors, advisors, business leaders, community members, students, alumni, and faculty as audience members. The IEC has launched entrepreneurial leaders for 30 years, providing students and supporters experiential engagement opportunities and life-long connections.

2024 HSBPC Dates

• Jan 17, Jan 31, Feb 14, Feb 28, Mar 13: Wednesday Workshops (12-1PM)
• March 19: Entry Deadline (11:59PM)
• March 20-24: Screening Round Judging
• March 26: Announce Semi-Finalists
• April 14: Pitch Retreat for Semi-Finalists (12-4PM)
• May 3: Semi-Finals (3-6PM)
• Mid-May: Finalist Team Coaching
• May 31: Finals & Awards (5-8PM)

Key Resources

Preparation & Resources

HSBPC Wednesday Workshops: Hybrid workshops to prepare your screening round entry are held every other Wednesday 12-1pm in-person in the Pigott Puget Sound Energy Room (PIGT 416) and via zoom ( click here to join the zoom ):

• 12-1pm Hybrid: January 17, January 31, February 14, February 28, and March 13

HSBPC Office Hours:  Drop in for a one-on-one conversation with IEC staff to ask questions and get feedback on your business plan, every other Wednesday 12-1pm via zoom ( click here to join the zoom )

• 12-1pm via Zoom: January 24, February 7, February 21, and March 6

See below for templates, examples, and additional resources.

Suggested Resources:

Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) Resources:

• Access presentations, webinars, white papers, and more on the WTIA website here .

CoMotion Fundamentals for Startups series:

• View recording of past presentations on YouTube here and register for upcoming presentations on the CoMotion website here .

UW Buerk Center Startup Resources:

• View recommended resources for local startups on the Buerk Center website here .
• Also note: The Buerk Center's Dempsey Startup Competition is a regional business plan competition open to all Seattle University students!

Team Registration & Team Coach

Team Registration: 

• Register your team and members online using the link at the top of this page. Team registration must be received before submitting your screening round entry.
• Submission includes team/business name, team member names, contact information, and very brief description of your business idea.

Team Coach Application

• Team coaches are assigned to all Semi-Finalist Teams. If you feel that you are ready for a team coach before they are assigned, you may email the IEC Director with a draft of your business plan summary to apply for a teach coach. You should not apply for a team coach until you have a very clear idea for the business you will submit and have a draft of your business plan summary. 
• Coaches will help you refine your business plan, but they should NOT be asked to help you brainstorm business ideas, decide between two ideas, write the plan summary for you, work with you before you have started to draft your plan, or otherwise share their time if you are not prepared to use it respectfully.
• Coaches are all local volunteers - many are entrepreneurs, investors, startup consultants, business leaders, and engaged professionals. 
• You should plan to meet with your team coach every week or every other week (ideally in person, at a location convenient for them, but Zoom video calls may suffice) as long as you remain in the competition.

Rules and Eligibility

• The Seattle University Business Plan Competition is limited to teams that include active SU students or alumni as defined below:
• Seattle University students enrolled either full-time or part-time in degree programs during one or more of the following academic periods: Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024, or Spring 2024 at Seattle University.
• Seattle University alumni who have graduated from SU prior to the Summer 2023 academic period. SU Alumni from any school or college within the university are eligible to participate in the competition.
• Non-student business professionals are allowed as team members, but there must be a Seattle University student or alum on the team.
• The business plan must be developed during the current school year and the student/alumnus must have played a major role in writing the plan.
• Working with outside entrepreneurs with existing businesses/business ideas is permissible but as noted in #3 above, the student/alumnus must write the plan.
• Total company revenues cannot exceed $500K (for existing businesses without a business plan).
• In the Trade Show Round, no more than four team members, including both students/alumni and nonstudents, may present their business concept to the judges at their booth.
• In the final presentation round of the competition, only students or alumni will present.
• The Director of the Entrepreneurship Center reserves the right to make the final determination of the appropriateness of submitted business ventures. Not all prizes may be awarded depending on the quality of submissions.
• Eligible teams must not have previously pitched their idea to an angel or venture investing group.  This ensures a more equitable playing ground for competitors. 

How many people should be on a team?

• There is no set number of participants per team, but recommend teams of 2-4 people. Doing the competition as a team of one or as a team of more than four people are difficult to do, but not impossible.

Can I have non-students on my team?

• Yes! Each team only needs one member who is a student or alum. However, this SU student or alum much present the pitches in Rounds 2 and 3, and must be actively involved in developing the business plan

Do I have to use the prize money for the business?

• No! You can use the prize money for  anything  your team decides - to launch the business, pay for tuition, go on vacation, or pay it forward for future teams! Whatever person or business that accepts the prize money is obligated to pay any required taxes.

ROUND 1: Screening Round

The Screening Round is the first round of the competition! Teams submit a 2-3 page summary of their business plan, which are then read, reviewed, and scored by Screening Round Judges. The 12 top-scoring teams (or the number of qualified teams as determined by the IEC Director) will progress to the second round, the Semi-Finals (Elevator Fast Pitch and Trade Show).

You must first complete the Team Registration Form. Then, email your plans to Peter Rowan ( [email protected] )   by   11:59pm!   Your Screening Round Entry business plan summary should be 2-3 pages, plus appendices, and submitted in a PDF format.

See below for:

Business Plan Summary Template 

Round 1 Judging Rubric 

Past Submission Examples 

Judges & Scoring

• Each business plan is reviewed online by 12-15 individual judges who will score each plan according to the Screen Round Judge Scoring Rubric below. 
• The Judges comment on each of the scoring sections and provide a score 1-5 (note: scoring sections are weighted). All teams will receive the judges' comments, but not their scores.
• Judges are all volunteers with a business degree or relevant work experience.
• Business Plan Overall (20%)
• Market Opportunity & Customers (20%)
• Products and/or Services (10%)
• Competitive Strategy (10%)
• Business Model, Financial Projections, Funding (20%)
• Management Team (5%)
• Sustainability/Triple Bottom Line (5%)

ROUND 2: Semi-Finals

The Semi-Finals Round are held in person on the Seattle University campus. It includes two separately judged (but equally weighted) scoring sections - the Elevator Fast Pitch and the Trade Show. 

Part A: Elevator Fast Pitch

The Elevator Pitch Round consists of a two-minute pitch of the team’s business plan, presented by the active SU student or SU alum team member, in front of a panel of judges. 

• Pitch Judge Scoring Rubric
• Pitch Outline

Part B: Trade Show

The Trade Show is a giant fair where teams have a "booth" space to set up a display and present their business idea. You may have a total of four members of your team, including the student/alumni member, working your booth. Teams are scored by two constituents:

• Tradeshow Judge Scoring Rubric (mentioned below)
• Audience Choice Judges will receive 'funny money' slips at the event to distribute to their favorite team(s).

Executive Summary Sheet

Each team will create a one-page Executive Summary sheet that will be provided to the Pitch Judges, Trade Show Judges, Audience Choice Judges, and event attendees. The executive summary sheet is due three days before the Trade Show.

• Executive Summary Template
• Executive Summary Examples

ROUND 3: Finals & Awards

The Final Presentation Round is where the final teams present their complete business plan to a panel of judges. Normally, four teams will proceed to the Final Presentation round (exceptions to this number may be made based on the quality of business plans submitted). The Final Presentations focus on the complete business plan where teams present their plans to a group of judges and field questions. Presentations are open to investors, Seattle University faculty, staff, alumni, students, and Seattle University friends.

Teams must submit a full (10-15 page) business plan by 11:59pm on the Monday before the Finals event. These plans will be reviewed and scored by the Finals Judges. At the Finals event, teams will give a maximum 10 minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions and answers. The judges will meet after the presentations to make final award decisions. Winners will not be announced until the Awards Reception. 

The finalist teams will receive special coaching sessions prior to their final presentations. If teams choose to revise their final plan before the final coaching session, the business plan will be due back three days prior to the coaching session to give the coaches time to review it. The finalist teams will also be required to create a Power Point presentation for the Final Presentation.

Cash Prizes

Harriet stephenson business plan competition prize sponsors.

Grand Prize - $20,000: The Herbert B. Jones Foundation   & The Madeline Haydon Award for Entrepreneurship

2nd Place Prize - $10,000: John Meisenbach & The Madeline Haydon Award for Entrepreneurship

3rd Place Price - $3,000: In Memory of Don Leuthold & Friends of the IEC

4th Place Prize - $2,000: Lindsey McGrew '16

John Castle Award for Grit & Resilience - $2,000: John Castle Family & Ro Health

Social Innovation Award - $1,000: Elaine Baylor & Friends of the IEC

Pitch Judge Award - $500: Kurt Wedgwood

Tradeshow Judge Award - $250: Friends of the IEC

Semi-Finals Audience Choice Award - $250: Friends of the IEC

Peter Rowan

Lawrence K. Johnson Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship

[email protected]

Amelia Marckworth

Director of Community

[email protected]

Templates and Resources

Round 1: Screening Round

• Round 1 Business Plan Summary Template
• Round 1 Judging Rubric
• Past Submission Examples

Round 2: Executive Summary Resources

Round 2: Semi-Finals Round

• Round 2: Elevator Pitch Scoring Rubric
• Round 2: HSBPC Pitch Outline Guide
• Round 2: Trade Show Judging Form

Wednesday Workshop #1: Ideation and Problem Discovery

• Wednesday Workshop 1: Ideation Lab Handout
• Wednesday Workshop 1: Slide Deck

Wednesday Workshop #2: Customers and Value Proposition

• Wednesday Workshop 2: The Business Model Canvas
• Wednesday Workshop 2: The Value Proposition Canvas
• Wednesday Workshop 2: Slide Deck

Wednesday Workshop #3: Go to Market Strategy

• Wednesday Workshop 3: Go to Market Strategy Handout
• Wednesday Workshop 3: Slide Deck

Wednesday Workshop #4: Legal and Financial Basics

• Wednesday Workshop 4: Legal Structures Matrix
• Wednesday Workshop 4: Financial Projections for Start Ups
• Wednesday Workshop 4: Slide Deck

Wednesday Workshop #5: The Pitch Deck Formula

• Wednesday Workshop 5: Business Plan Template
• Wednesday Workshop 5: Neck Pitch Deck Template
• Wednesday Workshop 5: Slide Deck

If you are already a student entrepreneur, or aspire to be an entrepreneur, you should participate in the Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition as many times as possible. The competition is a free program that most students take for granted. I've learned so much through the competition, and it leaves me with the desire to learn so much more.

Grand Prize ($20,000)

The Herbert B. Jones Foundation & The Madeline Haydon Award for Entrepreneurship

2nd Place Prize ($10,000)

John Meisenbach & The Madeline Haydon Award for Entrepreneurship

3rd Place Price ($3,000)

In Memory of Don Leuthold

4th Place Prize ($2,000)

Lindsey McGrew '16

John Castle Award for Grit & Resilience ($2,000)

John Castle Family & Ro Health

Social Innovation Award ($1,000)

Elaine Baylor & Friends of the IEC

Pitch Judge Award ($500)

Kurt Wedgwood

Tradeshow Judge Award ($250)

Friends of the IEC

Semi-Finals Audience Choice Award ($250)

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Sponsored by the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship

St. Thomas Business Plan Competition

You could win $10,000 to build your company.

The St. Thomas Business Plan Competition is open to all St. Thomas students and recent alumni (graduated within the last 10 years) with plans for a new company or with a business that has not have received more than $200,000 in equity-related capital (such as seed capital or institutional funding) or generated more than $100,000 in gross revenue prior to the current academic year. Revenue generated during a test-marketing project may be excluded from this provision.

Have you participated in the Fowler Business Concept Challenge, or any other business competition? This is the logical next step to get your plans on paper, move your business forward and get paid in the process.

There are two divisions of competition – undergraduate and graduate/recent alumni – with a top prize in each of $10,000 cash. Additional prizes totaling $8,000 more are awarded to teams that advance to the finals division.

Social Ventures can also compete for an additional award and an automatic bid to the 2025 Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge.

If your business is a social venture, you can compete for an additional $6,000 cash award and an opportunity to compete for up to $25,000 in seed funding at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge (FGSIC). After submitting to the Business Plan Competition, social ventures will also submit an additional 3-5 page problem and solution summary. Social ventures will compete in the morning, before the afternoon Business Plan Competition Finals, and the top two social ventures will receive automatic bids to head to San Diego in May and compete in the FGSIC. Being in the social venture finals DOES NOT preclude you from also competing in the Business Plan Finals in the afternoon.

Social Ventures must engage with one or more of the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . Participants can address any social or environmental problem as long as it is aligned with at least one of the SDGs.

Any current student of St. Thomas can compete in the FGSIC individually or as part of a team (with a maximum of five members per team). Alumni are welcome to compete. If an alumni team advances to the June Global Finals, at least one team member must be a current St. Thomas student at the time of participation. The rest of the team may belong to the same institution, another participating university, another non-participating institute, or not be a student at all.

To submit for the FGSIC Award, you must complete a 3-5 page summary in addition to your Business Plan submission. Read about the FGSIC requirements here.

Eligibility

Undergraduate Division

The competition is open to all currently enrolled University of St. Thomas undergraduate students registered in the semester of the competition with a valid St. Thomas student ID.

The competition is open to currently enrolled graduate students and post-doctoral fellows registered in the semester of the competition with a valid St. Thomas student ID. Recent alumni, students who have graduated within the past ten academic years, are also eligible to compete in this division.

In Either Division

• The business should not have received more than $200,000 in equity-related capital (such as seed capital or institutional funding) or generated more than $100,000 in gross revenue prior to the current academic year. Revenue generated during a test-marketing project may be excluded from this provision.
• Teams typically consist of one to four members.
• Each team must designate one student or alumni member as the team leader and point-of-contact for the competition.
• Teams may include non-student or non-alumni members, however, these individuals cannot make up the majority of the team, cannot take part in pitch presentations or win prize money.
• In the case of submissions from an existing organization, at least one student or alumni team member must be a C-level officer or a director of the organization (e.g., Executive Director, CEO, COO, etc.) or the majority owner of the business.

Confidentiality:

All sessions of the competition, including but not limited to oral presentations, video and slide deck submissions and question/answer sessions, are open to the public at large. Any and all of these sessions may be shared with interested people, through media that may include radio, television, printed materials and the Internet. Any data or information discussed or divulged in public sessions by entrants should be considered information that could possibly enter the public realm, and entrants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged, or presented in these sessions. Due to the nature of the competition, we will not ask judges, reviewers, sponsors, staff or the audience to agree to or sign non-disclosure statements for any participant. By participating in the competition, entrants agree that no member of the Business Plan Competition team — The University of St. Thomas, members of the judging panel, sponsors and their designate organizations — will assume any liability whatsoever for any disclosures of business plan information that may be made (whether inadvertently or otherwise) by any judge, reviewer, staff member, audience member or other individual connected with, participating in, viewing, hearing, or receiving information from the competition.

Complete you submission on the Reviewr Portal! (Coming Soon)

Competition Process

Email schulzeschool@ stthomas.edu to indicate your interest in the competition and receive access to a LivePlan account, a software that can help build your business plan.

Submit full business plans via our Reviewer site , by 11:59 p.m. CST, Thursday, February 6, 2025 . Finalists will be announced on Tuesday, February 20. All teams, regardless of outcome, will be given feedback on their business plans.

Submit Here! (coming soon)

The top teams from each division will revise their business plan given the feedback from round 1, and prepare a professional pitch for the finals. Final presentations are in person on the Minneapolis Campus on Friday, February 28.

2025 Finalist Competition and Award Ceremony

Friday, February 28, 2025

Special Award: Fowler Global Social Innovation Finals: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Business Plan Competition Final Round and Awards: 11:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Schulze Hall

Meet the 2023 Finalists

Concept Requirements

Business Plan submissions should be new business plans. If a business plan has won money in a previous St. Thomas Business Plan Competition, it is disqualified from the competition.

Teams can enter more than one business plan into the competition, but only one submission can advance to the finals.

FGSIC Requirements Here

Business Plan Requirements Here

Applicant Resources

Don't have experience creating a business plan? No problem. The Schulze School of Entrepreneurship will supply all entrants with a free LivePlan account, a user-friendly, business plan creation website. Email [email protected] to request access.

If you have a social venture and are wanting some assistance in thinking through your concept and putting together your business plan, contact our new Social Entrepreneur in Residence Kelli Nelson [email protected] .

Info Sessions and 1:1 Mentoring Opportunities

1:1 mentoring sessions are thirty-minute meetings per individual or team with mentors to help you prepare your business plan.

Schedule General Business Mentor Sessions Here

Schedule Social Venture-Specific Mentor Sessions:

• With Kelsey Joson Here
• With Kelli Nelson Here

Missed the Info Session? Watch the recording here.

Learn more about the Business Plan Competition and the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge requirements and resources. There will be an opportunity for Q&A with a former competitor and a reviewer/judge of the competition.

Evaluation Of Initial Submissions

• The Opportunity – How well is it identified? How significant of an opportunity is it? What are the forces creating the opportunity?
• The Business Concept and Product(s) – What’s the core concept for the business? What is your value proposition? What does your product/service mix look like?
• The Market – Define your market. How large is it and what is its potential? Who is your target audience? Who are the purchasing decision makers and what are their processes?
• Economics of the Business – How will you make your money? What are your sources of revenue? What are your most significant costs?
• Marketing – What does pricing look like? How will you promote your product/service? How will you sell your product/service? How will goods be distributed?
• Operations – How will the product/service be produced, delivered and supported? What are the key activities that will need to be carried out to deliver your product and operate successfully? What are the key resources (physical/human/intellectual capital) that will be needed?
• Management Team – Who are the players and what are their roles? How much experience/credibility do they bring? What does compensation look like? Who are your key advisors and do you have a board of directors?
• Venture Financing – How much money is needed and from where? How will financiers receive their return and at what rate?
• Financials – Projected income statements and KPIs
• Pragmatism/realism
• Completeness/comprehensiveness
• Internal consistency
• Writing style
• Professionalism of the document

In addition to the content and written document mechanics scores, judges are asked to score your business plan based on their likelihood of investing, where 5 is an outstanding plan in which a judge would absolutely want to invest.

Evaluation Of Oral Presentations

• Is there a real opportunity? What are the forces creating the opportunity? Did they prove a market need?
• Is there an interesting business concept? Is it an innovative idea that could be implemented?
• Is there a clearly defined market? How large is it and what is its potential? Who is your target audience? Who are the purchasing decision makers and what are their processes?
• Do operations make sense? What are the staffing requirements? How will the product/service be produced, delivered and supported?
• Do they know how to make a sale? How good is the marketing, advertising, branding, promotion, selling and distribution?
• Is it clear how money will be made? What are the margins? What are the revenue drivers? What is the cost structure?
• Are the financial statements believable? Have they made realistic assumptions they can justify?
• Do they know how much money they really need to start? How much money is needed and from where? How will they get it? How will financiers receive their return?
• Ability to capture audience attention
• PowerPoint or other audiovisuals
• Mastery of facts and material related to venture
• Professionalism of the presentation
• Handling of questions

Judges will additionally score the plan on a scale of 1-5, where 5 is an outstanding plan in which a judge would absolutely want to invest. This score is separate from the scores above and is an overall assessment.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

15 Business Competitions for High School Students

What’s covered:, why should you enter an investing competition, how do business competitions affect my admissions chances.

Whether you dream of being a billionaire businessman like Mark Cuban, an investment icon like Warren Buffet, or a founder who’s focused on giving back like Hamdi Ulukaya, the creator and CEO of Chobani, entering a business competition for high schoolers is often a great first step toward a successful enterprise.

Business competitions are a great opportunity to show off your entrepreneurial spirit while gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges of starting and running a business. Business competitions allow you to highlight in-demand skills like idea generation, creative thinking, leadership, and communication. They also give you a chance to learn about building a business and to test your ideas in a relatively risk-free environment—after all, there is no capital or investment to lose. 

Many business competitions will also connect you with real-life professionals and college business school faculty. This creates both the chance for mentorship and the foundation of a business network that can serve you both inside and outside of the classroom—it can help with everything from gaining college admission to getting a business off the ground. 

Business competitions for high schoolers also often provide winners with monetary awards or scholarships which are beneficial for keeping the cost of college down—something every aspiring business person can appreciate. 

1. Conrad Challenge

Date(s): 2023 dates announced in August Type: Global 

This business challenge tasks students between ages 13 and 18 to apply science and technology to solve global issues, create a pitch, and build a business plan. Participants work in teams of two to five students to compete in four traditional categories and one special category that changes annually. The four traditional categories are:

• Aerospace and aviation 
• Cyber technology and security 
• Energy and environment 
• Health and Nutrition 

The 2021/2022 special category was “re-purposed farmlands and alternative uses of tobacco (and its by-products)”. 

2. Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneur Pitch Competition

Date(s): 2/18/22 Type: Global 

The Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneur Pitch Competition is one of the world’s most prestigious business competitions for high school students. Participants can work alone or in teams of up to five to generate an innovative product or service that the world needs and pitch it in a maximum five-minute-long video. 

3. Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition

Date(s): 4/1/22-9/15/22

Type: Global

Individuals between the ages of 13 and 29 are invited to participate in this business competition focused on using entrepreneurship to solve global issues. Participants are challenged to create or implement an idea, project, concept, solution, or initiative with a societal impact that addresses one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals . 

4. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition

Dates: 9/22-4/23

The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a highly regarded business competition for high schoolers and is open to students in grades nine through 12. Participants are required to examine a case study of a potential client and create a portfolio that meets their long-term goals using $100,000 in hypothetical funds. Unlike investment competitions that select winners based on the performance of their portfolio, Wharton Global High School Investment Competition winners are chosen based on the strength and articulation of their investment strategy. 

5. Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC)

Date(s): 5/28/21

The GYEC is a 12-hour, online, worldwide business competition for high school students ages 14 through 19. Participants work in teams of up to eight students—each ideally possessing broad and complementary skill sets—to solve a significant global problem using an innovative and sustainable enterprise idea. Winning teams will receive a trophy along with an award certificate.

6. GENIUS Olympiad Business 

Date(s): 4/18/22-6/18/22

Participants in the GENIUS Olympiad compete in numerous categories (including business) focused on environmental issues. Students can compete in one of two business tracks: entrepreneurship or social responsibility. Both tracks require the participant to deliver a presentation as if they were making a real pitch for funding—dressing in formal business attire and including an accompanying PowerPoint presentation.

7. Diamond Challenge   

Date(s): 1/7/21-4/23/22

Type: National 

This well-known high school business competition is an initiative of Horn Entrepreneurship

at the University of Delaware. The challenge features two tracks for participants to compete, business innovation and social innovation. Both tracks require participants to work in teams of two to four students, to submit a concept narrative, and provide a pitch deck. Diamond Challenge offers substantial awards to its winners—first place takes home $11,000, second place $7,500, and third place $3,750. 

8. Pirates Pitch Competition for High School Students  

Date(s): 9/22-11/22

This Pirates Pitch Competition for High School Students is provided by Seton Hall University and is aimed at teaching high schoolers the basics of entrepreneurship and idea generation. To enter the competition, participants must submit a business idea in 350 words or less. Finalists will need to pitch their idea to judges in a live virtual event. Competition winners receive both a cash prize and a generous scholarship to Seton Hall.

9. Yale DHSRI High School Investment Competition

Dates: 2/22-4/22

The Yale DHSRI High School Investment Competition is hosted by the Dwight Hall Socially Responsible Investment Fund at Yale University, the nation’s oldest undergraduate-run socially responsible investment fund. Competing in teams of two or four students, high schoolers (students in grades nine through 12 are eligible to participate) build a portfolio using $100,000 in virtual funds and ultimately submit a final investment report that outlines their strategy, learning process, and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) themes. 

10. DECA Challenges

Dates: Varies 

For three-quarters of a century, DECA has been helping to prepare future entrepreneurs and leaders in marketing, finance, and hospitality. DECA has more than 3,000 high school chapters and 175,000 members. Throughout the year, DECA issues many challenges to its members, many of which are business focused and require participants to demonstrate specific skills and knowledge.  

11. tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition 

Dates: 3/18/22-4/21/22 

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math)-based business is at the heart of the tecBridge High School Business Plan Competition. Participants are expected to create sustainable and scalable concepts, answer a series of questions, and deliver a ten-minute-long presentation. Students are also expected to demonstrate creativity, critical thinking, and top-notch presentation skills.

12. The Big Idea Competition 

Date(s): 10/31/22-12/7/22

Young entrepreneurs are challenged to think of ways to make the world a better place to live by using business to implement change in this high school business competition. The competition is open to all high school students and requires them to submit a 1,075-word description of their business idea. Nearly $35,000 in prizes are awarded annually, including a $1,000 first prize. 

13. High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge (HSUEC)

Date(s): 2/21/21-3/26/22

Type: State

Utah high school students ages 14 to 18 can show off their entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas in this business competition. Students are encouraged to form teams of up to five students to compete in the HSUEC and are required to submit a business proposal that details:

• the opportunity or problem the business/product addresses
• the solution or improvement the business/product provides
• the market the business/product competes in, its target customer, and what sets it apart from the competition 

Participants must also submit a prototype in any medium of what their idea, product, or service will look like. 

14. West Virginia High School Business Plan Competition 

Date(s): 11/12/22-4/6/22 

The West Virginia High School Business Plan Competition is open to West Virginia students in grades nine through 12. The competition is aimed at helping high schoolers learn how to move a business idea from conception to action. Participants can compete either as an individual or in teams of up to four people. Submissions to the contest are in the form of a maximum 90-second YouTube video that addresses three key points:

• the business product or service
• the problem or opportunity and why is it a problem or opportunity 
• the customer and how the product/service solves their problem

15. Wisconsin High School Business Model Competition

Date(s): 4/20/22 – 5/21/22 

This awesome business competition—open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors—is presented by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s Alta Resources Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Students can compete alone or in teams of up to three and are asked to present an idea or solution to a problem that could lead to a business. Finalists will need to deliver a four-minute-long pitch to a panel of judges. Prizes include cash awards as well as scholarships to UW Oshkosh.  

Business competitions can have varying levels of influence on your odds of getting accepted into college. Everything from the prestige of the competition to where you are placed to the value a college places on extracurricular activities like business competitions can impact the weight they’re given by an admissions office.

The four tiers of extracurricular activities are useful for better understanding how colleges consider your activities outside of the classroom. Top-tier activities (those in tiers one and two) include participation in the most well-thought-of and distinguished competitions. Winning or placing highly in a top-tier competition can significantly improve your admissions odds. Less prominent and lesser-known competitions fall into tiers three and four. Lower-tiered activities don’t hold the same sway over admissions offices and have less effect on admissions chances. 

Interested in learning how your participation in a business competition influences your odds of getting into your dream school? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing calculator considers factors such as grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities while also providing insight into how to improve your profile.

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Mar. 22, 2023

Largest intercollegiate student startup competition announces 2023 teams, graduate student-led ventures from around the world will compete for more than $1 million in prizes at rice business plan competition.

HOUSTON – (March 22, 2023) – The 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC), hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the Jones Graduate School of Business, will be held on Rice University campus May 11-13. The competition brings together the most promising student ventures from top universities across the world to compete for prizes in front of active investors, entrepreneurs and the Houston business community.

This year’s startups represent 37 universities from six countries and were chosen from a competitive applicant pool. With a goal of not only competing for cash but also understanding what it takes to secure investment, raise awareness and launch a successful venture, these graduate students will pitch their companies through four rounds and three days of competition in hopes of taking home the grand prize.

The largest number of Rice student startups to-date participated in the RBPC qualifier in hopes of securing the coveted spot to represent the university on the global stage. Rice Alliance awarded a total of $5,000 in cash prizes to the top three teams from the internal qualifier: Sygne Solutions, Neurnano Therapeutics and Tierra Climate, who will represent Rice at the competition.

The RBPC seeks startups that are building solutions with high investment potential. This year’s entries will compete in five categories: energy, cleantech and sustainability; life science and health care solutions; consumer products and services; hard tech; and digital enterprise.

The 2023 startups join a successful group of RBPC alumni. Over the 22 years of the competition, 784 competitors have raised more than $4.6 billion in capital, with more than 50 successful exits and five public companies.

2023 Rice Business Plan Competition invitees:

• Active Surfaces, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Adrigo Insights, Saint Mary’s University (Canada)
• AirSeal, Washington University in St. Louis
• Algbio, Yeditepe University (Turkey)
• Arch Pet Food, University of Chicago
• Astria Biosciences, University of Pittsburgh
• Atma Leather, Yale University
• Biome Future, University of Florida
• BioSens8, Boston University
• BlueVerse, Texas Tech University
• Boardible, Northwestern University
• Boston Quantum, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• ceres plant protein cereal, Tulane University
• Citrimer, University of Michigan
• Dart Bioscience, University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
• DetoXyFi, Harvard University
• E-Sentience, Duke University
• Edulis Therapeutics, Carnegie Mellon University
• FluxWorks, Texas A&M University
• Integrated Molecular Innovations, Michigan Technological University
• Inzipio, RWTH Aachen University (Germany)
• LoopX AI, University of Waterloo (Canada)
• Magnify Biosciences, Carnegie Mellon University
• MiraHeart, Johns Hopkins University
• MyLÚA, Cornell University
• Outmore Living, University of Texas
• Pathways, Harvard University
• Pediatrica Therapeutics, University of Arkansas
• Perseus Materials, Stanford University
• Pike Robotics, University of Texas
• Quantanx, Arizona State University
• Sheza, San Diego State University
• Skali, Northwestern University
• Sundial Solar Components, University of Utah
• Thryft Ship, University of Georgia
• Tierra Climate, Rice University
• TrashTrap Sustainability Solutions, Visvesvaraya Technological University (India)
• Unchained, North Carolina A&T State University
• Unsmudgeable, Babson College
• Vivicaly, University of Pennsylvania
• Zaymo, Brigham Young University

For more information about the 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition, visit  rbpc.rice.edu .

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Do you have a product that you want to create? Is there a business opportunity that you want to pursue? Enter the Annual Bob Goodrich Business Plan Competition and compete with other CBU students for a chance to win cash prizes for the best ideas!

You and your team will create a plan that will be evaluated by a panel of experts then participate in a live pitch competition. 

Here are key dates to keep in mind:

All team proposals must be in by   Friday, February 16, 2024  in order to be part of the judging process. Here are links you will need:

2024 Official Entry Form (Word Doc)   

Business Plan Competition Rules for 2024 (PDF)

Mark your calendar: Finalists will compete at the Bob Goodrich Business Plan fast pitch competition on   Monday, March 18, 2024   at 5:00 PM, in Innovators Auditorium on CBU’s campus.

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Student Entrepreneurship Competitions

Helping Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams a Reality!

Spring 2024

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

Student Entrepreneurship Competitions Flyer

REGISTER NOW

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

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

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

This can happen in 3 easy steps…

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

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

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

Eligibility

Student Eligibility

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

Group Eligibility

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Student Entrepreneurship Consultants  

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

Heather Brooks 410-546-4325 [email protected]

Business Sector Prize List

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

Rommel Center for Entrepreneurship $2500 Cash Awards

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

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield $5,000 Cash Award

• Medical, Wellness or Health Business

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

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

SU Veterans Service Award $1,300 Cash Award

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

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

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

Diversity Award - $1,000 Cash Award

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

SWED $1,000 Services Award

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

*Indicates additional qualification criteria required for cash award

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

• Student Entrepreneurship Consultants

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Judging Form

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

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

The Bernstein Story

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

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

• Entrepreneurship Coaches & Mentors

• Chat with NCPA

Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition

2023 Business Plan Competition Winner

University of South Carolina

2023 Top 3 Finalists

University of Georgia

University of Texas at Austin

DEVELOP YOUR INNER ENTREPRENEUR

To promote interest in independent community pharmacy ownership, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and the NCPA Foundation have established the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. The goal of the Competition is to motivate student pharmacists to create the blueprint necessary for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new pharmacy. Through this competition, NCPA is better able to prepare tomorrow's pharmacy entrepreneurs for a successful future.

The Business Plan Competition is the first national competition of its kind in the pharmacy profession and is named to honor two great champions of independent pharmacy, the late Neil Pruitt, Sr., and the late H. Joseph Schutte. The Pruitt and Schutte families initiated an endowment fund with the NCPA Foundation to help support annual operating expenses of the Competition. The Competition is supported by  Good Neighbor Pharmacy ,  Pharmacists Mutual , and the  NCPA Foundation .

NCPA Business Plan Tutorial Resources Nov 15 at 7 p.m. ET

Pharmacy Times Podcast

NCPA Business Plan Tutorial

NCPA 2022 Business Plan Competition Updates

Implementing a Student Business Plan Competition in a Local Chapter

2021 Finalists Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition

2020 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition

NCPA Foundation – UAMS Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy | UAMS Current Students

Pharmacy Buyer Resources

Business Plan Competition FAQs

Business Plan Competition Rubric 2024 - Excel | PDF

How to Start a Business Plan Competition at Your Local Chapter

Business Plan Success Stories

Patrick Comerford

Chris Harlow

Audrey Parks

Erik Nelson

INNOVATIONMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME

winner, winner

Annual houston student startup competition doles out over $1.5m in cash, investment prizes.

For the 24th year, the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship hosted its Rice Business Plan Competition, facilitating over $1.5 million in investment and cash prizes to the top teams.

The 42 startups competing this year, which were announced earlier this year and included teams from around the world, participated in the three-day event that culminated in a reception on Saturday, April 6. The companies were divided into five categories: Energy, Cleantech and Sustainability; Hard Tech; Life Sciences and Healthcare Solutions; Digital Enterprise; Consumer Products and Services.

“We award the competitors $1 million in prizes, prizes that serve as foundational capital to launch their startup,” RBPC Director Catherine Santamaria says at the awards gala. “That’s a large number of prizes, but the biggest thing our startups leave with is a feeling of generosity and community from this room. This community is always ready and willing to help our founders and support our vision for the competition by investing time, money and resources in these student innovators.”

While all participating teams received $950 for being selected, several teams walked away with thousands in funding, cash, and in-kind prizes. Here's which companies won big.

MesaQuantum, Harvard University — $335,000​

MesaQuantum is developing accurate and precise chip-scale clocks. While not named a finalist, the company secured the most amount of funding across a few prizes:

• $250,000 OWL Investment Prizes
• $60,000 nCourage Courageous Women Entrepreneur Investment Prize
• $25,000 Jacobs, Intuitive Machines and WRX Companies Rising Stars Space Technology and Commercial Aerospace Cash Prize

Protein Pints, Michigan State University — $251,000

The big winner of the night was Protein Pints, a high-protein, low-sugar, ice cream product from Michigan State University. Not only did the company win first place and the $150,000 GOOSE Capital Investment Grand Prize, as decided by the more than 350 judges, but it won a few other investment prizes, including:

• $100,000 The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Texas Angels Investment Prize — Protein Pints, Michigan State University
• The Eagle Investors Prize
• $1,000 Anbarci Family Company Showcase Prize
• Mercury Elevator Pitch Competition Prize (Best in Consumer Products)
• An invitation to Entrepreneur Magazine's elevator pitch show

Osphim, RWTH Aachen University —$201,000

Osphim, a data acquisition and monitoring platform from Germany, won these prizes despite not being named a finalist:

• $200,000 Goose Capital Investment Prize
• Mercury Elevator Pitch Competition Prize (Best in Digital)

Somnair, Johns Hopkins University — $200,000

Taking second place and a $100,000 from David Anderson, Jon Finger, Anderson Family Fund, Finger Interests, Greg Novak and Tracy Druce was Somnair is a novel non-invasive neurostimulation device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The company also won:

• $100,000 Houston Angel Network Investment Prize
• Mercury Elevator Pitch Competition Prize (Best in Life Science)
• An invitation to Texas Medical Center's Accelerator Bootcamp

Icorium Engineering Company, University of Kansas — $171,000

Icorium Engineering Company — a chemical engineering startup developing technologies to make sustainable, circular economies a reality for refrigerants and other complex chemical mixtures — won fifth place and a $5,000 prize sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, EY, Chevron Technology Ventures and Shell Ventures, as well as:

• $100,000 OWL Investment Prizes
• $40,000 nCourage Courageous Women Entrepreneur Investment Prize
• $25,000 from Finger Interests, the Anderson Family Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Greg Novak and Tracy Druce
• Mercury Elevator Pitch Competition Prize (Best in Energy, Sustainability)

Informuta, Tulane University — $70,000

Informuta's proprietary technology leverages DNA sequencing to predict if bacteria will respond to different antibiotics or, for the very first time, develop future resistance thus causing treatment failure. The company won fourth place and a $5,000 prize sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, EY, Chevron Technology Ventures and Shell Ventures.

• $40,000 Pearland EDC Spirit of Entrepreneurship Cash Prize

EndoShunt Medical, Harvard University — $55,000

EndoShunt created a rapid, targeted blood flow control device to be use in emergency or trauma settings. The company won sixth place and the $5,000 prize, sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, EY, Chevron Technology Ventures and Shell Ventures, as well as:

• $25,000 Southwest National Pediatric Device Consortium Pediatric Device Cash Prize

Power2Polymers, RWTH Aachen University —$50,000

Tackling the challenge of forever chemicals, Power2Polymers is creating safe alternatives free of forever chemicals. The German company took third place and the $50,000 investment sponsored by Finger Interests, the Anderson Family Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Greg Novak and Tracy Druce. The company also won the Mercury Elevator Pitch Competition Prize (Best Overall).

D.Sole, Carnegie Mellon University — $30,000

D. Sole won the wild card ticket to the finals and took seventh place. The company is advancing the development of remote patient monitoring in podiatry with foot insoles designed for the early detection and monitoring of diabetic foot complications, such as ulcers and deformities. They also won $30,000 from Finger Interests, the Anderson Family Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Greg Novak and Tracy Druce.

Other prizes:

• $25,000 New Climate Ventures Sustainable Investment Prize went to Oxylus Energy from Yale University
• $25,000 Dream Big Ventures Latino Entrepreneur Investment Prize went to Dendritic Health AI from Northwestern University
• $25,000 NOV Energy Technology Innovation Cash Prize went to LiQuidium from the University of Houston
• $25,000 Urban Capital Network Diversity Investment Prize in Partnership with South Loop Venture Investment Prize went to TouchStone from University of California, Berkeley

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Tuskegee University

TU Students Edge Out Other HBCUs for Top Spot in Business Competition

April 22, 2024.

Contact:  Thonnia Lee , Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing   

Tuskegee University students grabbed first place during the National HBCU/MI Entrepreneurship and Innovation Business Plan Competition held in Atlanta last weekend.

The students edged out 22 other HBCUs in developing written business plans that were presented to professionals and entrepreneurs in a “Shark Tank” protocol. The team presented an innovative project of a digital comic book software program to promote STEM and improve skills and knowledge for K-5 aged children in underrepresented communities. They earned $15,000 for their work.

Students included: Seanna E. Brooks, Kennedy Leggins, JaMiyah Cameron, and Raylon Autry.  The group was coached by Drs. Y. Essounga, S. Price, and Provost S. Keith Hargrove.

“This is one of many accolades of the quality of students that attend Tuskegee University,” said Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, Provost and Senior Vice President.  “Our students in the School of Architecture & Construction Science won first place in a national competition on building design, and recently won First Place in the HBCU App Design Competition held in Nashville, Tennessee. Now our business students have demonstrated their ingenuity, curriculum knowledge, and creativity in a competitive environment as well.  Credit to our dedicated faculty and students in creating a learning space at the university to truly enhance real world experiences complemented by the academic programs at TU."

© 2024 Tuskegee University

Case Competitions Help Both Students and Companies

The 2024 Pitt Business Analytics Case Competition was held on Friday, April 5, 2024, at DICK’S Sporting Goods headquarters in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania with teams of undergraduate business students from across the U.S. The competition started with 38 teams from 26 universities. After the preliminary rounds which took place virtually, the final eight teams traveled to Pittsburgh.

This case competition is offered in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration and DICK’S Sporting Goods. The national, data-driven strategy challenge requires undergraduate students to use their analytical techniques to solve pressing retail issues and provide creative recommendations to a panel of experts from DICK’S.

The University of Texas – Dallas finished first, taking home a $3,000 prize. Oklahoma State University finished second and Pitt Business finished third, claiming $2,000 and $1,000 prizes respectively. Other teams in the top eight represented Boston University, the University of Minnesota – Duluth, the University of Missouri – Columbia, the University of Southern California, and the University of South Carolina.

Students on the Pitt Business team included:

• Frances Adams
• Isabelle Layding

Strategic Partnership a Win-Win

When Becky Rhoades, associate director of First Year Experience and Career Programming at Pitt Business, took over the competition in 2020, only regional universities participated virtually. In the past four years, she has overseen the revitalization of this offering and says that the partnership with DICK’s Sporting Goods helps bring in the best and brightest students from across the country.

With business analytics of growing importance in business education, building a strong foundation as an undergraduate student is critical. All aspects of business benefit from knowing how to interpret analytics. Ryan Petrovich, senior recruiter for University Relations at DICK’S, says having that understanding “makes you extremely versatile.”

Rhoades says, “This competition gives business students, regardless of their major, the experience necessary to stand out amongst their peers in a competitive market.”

DICK’s and Pitt Business have partnered for many years. “The relationship is invaluable to this school and our students,” says Deb Good, associate dean for undergraduate business education. “Having a national firm, with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, that is willing to work with our students in a variety of ways from guest lecturing to sponsoring case competitions, allows Pitt Business to provide our students the resources and opportunities that will help them develop their skill sets to a very high level.”

Hannah Ye (BSBA ’24) thanked Pitt Business for offering case competitions catering to many business industries and interests. She says, “These competitions often offer you the chance to present your findings to senior leaders within the industry, providing unique opportunities not only to gain valuable feedback but also to network and make professional connections.”

Skill Showcase

To win a case competition on a national scale, students must rise to the challenge. Pitt Business students gain skills inside the classroom that help their performance outside the classroom in internships, competitions, and eventually, their dream career.

Rhoades and Petrovich agree that this competition sets up all participants for success in their future careers. Petrovich believes that “this competition equips students with useful skillsets that will be valuable to them once they enter the workforce.” He notes high-value skills like critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and presentations.

Isabelle Layding (BSBA ’25) gained confidence in her presentation skills through this experience. She says, “The feeling of going in front of people with a slide deck you’re proud of, with data you know inside and out, and with awesome teammates to back you up made me feel so confident in what we were showing the judges.” She knows this skill will help her in projects throughout her time at Pitt Business and in her future career in management consulting.

Ye gained skills in creative thinking and problem-solving and says, “It is this creative, out-of-the-box thinking that is crucial for any career I plan on pursuing.” She has competed in other case competitions and enjoys working with different teams. “The variety teaches me so much about how I adapt to different team dynamics and how my role can evolve in response to those changes.”

The Power of Analytics at Pitt Business

Rhoades says, “This competition prepares students by challenging their skills, all while providing an opportunity to connect with recruiters who see their talent put to action.”

As AI makes companies more data-oriented, Pitt’s undergraduate business program now requires data analytics courses and offers a Business Analytics major or certificate as options for further focus. For more information, contact: [email protected] .

Students participate in QC business plan competition

A total of 82 students from 23 different educational institutions in Quezon City submitted their applications for the StartUp QC Business Plan Competition, the local government announced on Wednesday, April 10. 

The StartUp QC Business Plan Competition is a local government-led initiative that underscores the city's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among the youth.

The applicants will undergo screening and evaluation process and finalists will be chosen to embark on cadetship that will refine their entrepreneurial skills under the guidance of industry experts.

Celebrating the 85th founding anniversary of the city, StartUp QC flares up the city’s commitment to progress and innovation, where student winners have the chance to secure prizes of up to P100,000.

 “It is important to maximize the potential of youth and prepare them to be the future business movers and shakers that create world-class products and services,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. 

Enter a Search Term

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

Conrad School competition roundup: winter 2024

As the winter 2024 term comes to a close, it’s time for a competition roundup to celebrate the successes of Conrad School students!

Graduate students in the  Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology  (MBET) program and undergraduate students in  BET 300  or  Enterprise Co-op  (E Co-op) performed splendidly in both on- and off-campus competitions!

In total, we had 25 Conrad School students compete this term! Congratulations to all!

The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch Semi-Final

Part-time MBET student, Aileen Agada, made it to the semi-finals for her venture BeBlended in the Odlum Brown Forum Pitch competition at the end of February.

The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch, which is for women entrepreneurs, addresses the barrier of access to capital and offers education, mentorship, specialized resources, and more!

APEX Startup Challenge at UNB Fredericton

Aileen Agada, part-time MBET and founder of BeBlended placed first and took home the Entrepreneurial Powerhouse award!

Full-time MBET students Osose Itua and Youssef Ben Ammar and their startup Foodage placed first in the Elevator Pitch.

Texas Christian University - Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures Competition

Earlier this month, BET 320 student Christy Lee alongside her teammates made their way to Texas for the 14th annual TCU Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures Competition. The team took home $500 for the Investor Challenge.

Canadian Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC)

Among several other University of Waterloo students, a graduate team participated in the Canadian Venture Capital Investment Competition ( VCIV) in early April.  The team consisted of Hufsah Khan, Zia Baig, Viershaar Ragavan, and Rran Trainor from MACC, Hisham Ismail from MBET, and Leo Zhang from AFM.

This is the University's first time winning at the graduate level, beating out MBA teams from Queens, Rotman, Schulich, Alberta and UNB!

Read more about the VCIC from MBET student Hisham Ismail on our blog !

Stu Clark New Venture Competition

Conrad School was well represented at the recent Stu Clark New Venture Competition in Winnipeg.

• BET 320 student Christy Lee and her co-founders Valerie Liu and Ethan Alvizo won third place for their startup PatientCompanion as well as second place in the video pitch.
• Enterprise Co-op student Humza Ahmed won fourth place for his venture AutomaxAI.
• The Social Entrepreneurship Award went to PhD Fellow and part-time MBET student Eugenia Dadzie for MetaCycler BioInnovations.

Velocity Semi-Finals

Conrad School was well represented at the Velocity Semi-Final Pitch Competition in March with ten startups being pithed! The semi-finalists included both current and past Enterprise Co-op students, BET 300 and BET 320 students, as well as some of our part-time MBET and PhD Fellowship students, and full-time MBET students!

Day One Teams:

• Automax AI: Humza Ahmed, current E Co-op
• foresAIt: Ibukun Elebute , part-time MBET and Salman Lari, PhD fellow and part-time MBET )
• Montere: current BET 300 students J enny Ho, Jakob Leville, Coleton Myers, and Matthew Xu.
• FarmicleGrow: full-time MBET Lydia Madintin Konlan
• GreaseTech: full-time MBET students Jesurun Ramesh and Minaal Butt.
• SheepIt: BET 300 student Josiah Plett.

Day Two Teams:

• BatBall: Wahaab Ali, Eco-op 2023
• PatientCompanion: Christy Lee, current BET 320
• Wygo: Jocelyne Murphy, former E Co-op 2023)
• LendN: Arsen Stepanyan and Muztahid Azim, full-time MBET students

Velocity Finals

Three of the winning teams in the Velocity finals this term were student co-founders from the Conrad School. We are proud to celebrate with our graduate and undergraduate students.

GreaseTech : Jesurun Ramesh and Minaal Butt, both currently enrolled in the full-time Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program, co-founded GreaseTech to reduce human error and costly failures in manufacturing lines. The two pitched their startup at the winter 2024 Velocity Pitch Competition and won $5,000 to turn their innovative approach to industrial machinery maintenance into a business!

PatientCompanion : Christly Lee, a BET 320 student, pitched her startup PatientCompanion which streamlines the patient triaging system for optimal care coordination. PatientCompanion won $5,000 in the finals!

SheepIt : Josiah Plett, a BET 300 student, credits his motivation to participate in the Velocity pitch competition to the ecosystems around campus. His startup SheepIt is a herd management software for small sheep farmers – inspired by his sister who started her own sheep farm out west. Plett took home a  $5,000 prize.

Ivey Business Plan Competition, Western University

Full-time Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) students Jesurun Ramesh and Minaal Butt won third place for their startup GreaseTech at the Ivey Business Plan Competition at Western University.

GreenHouse Social Impact Showcase

PharmaChill – $8,000: Adedayo Adefarakan, a full-time Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET), founded PharmaChill to provide transparency and visibility in the last-mile delivery of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals in Nigeria. 

EchoNotes – $1,000: Computer science and BET 320 student, Josiah Plett won $1,000 with his startup EchoNotes, which is a self-messaging platform designed to naturally and easily connect you to your future self. 

CareConnect – $1,000: Full-time Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) student Kevin Ye and his co-founder from the part-time MBET and PhD Fellow Aosen Xiong developed CareConnect, a platform that connects clients with caregivers seamlessly to arrange in-home health care. CareConnect is focused on providing flexible solutions for both their clients and caregivers.

Proteus Pitch Competition

Current Enterprise Co-op student Dylan Tan and BET 300 alumni Monica Tsang won first place and took home the $5000 prize at the Proteus Pitch Competition in March!

" Monica Tsang and I pitched a new technology developed by Dr.  Jennifer A. A. Lavoie  at  Wilfrid Laurier University . The Virtual Reality - Mental Health Crisis Response Training (VR-MHCRT) is the first de-escalation program for police officers that is backed by clinical research and input from persons with mental illness (PMI). 80% of fatal police encounters involve a PMI and our current training methods are not equipped to handle these cases. Dr Lavoie saw these gaps and took it upon herself to completely alter the entire landscape of police training" says Tan. "I first want to thank  Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business  for exposing me to the Enterprise Co-op program, had I not enrolled I'd never even have heard about this opportunity. Thank you to  Wayne Chang  who's been a key advisor to me these past months."

Keep an eye out: upcoming competitions

Lydia Konlan, full-time Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) student and founder of FarmicleGrow has made it to the finals of the Social Impact Enterprise Track at the Dobson Cup at McGill University in Montreal on May 1!

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