The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) at the UConn School of Business will host a Startup Strategy Competition as the second part of a two-event Startup Challenge Initiative. Building off the tremendous success of the Pitch Competition on April 8, the Strategy Challenge strongly encourages interdisciplinary teams—which typically reflect complementary skill sets, knowledge, and perspectives—to participate. There are no restrictions on subject matter or theme. Plans for any type of product, innovation, or service are acceptable.
Entries will be reviewed and judged by experienced professional entrepreneur mentors, and a maximum of ten finalists will be selected to present their ideas to the judging panel. The presentations will be held during the last week of classes (stay tuned for the exact date and place), and competitors will be allowed 10 minutes to present their ideas and five minutes to answer questions from the judges.
This competition is open to all UConn students—all majors, levels, and campuses are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please see the competition entry details below:
Written Entries Due: April 26, 2013
Finalists’ Presentations: Date & Time To Be Announced
Length: 5 pages maximum, plus 1 appendix page (optional). Note: Minimum font size no smaller than 11
Prizes: Total prize money to be awarded is $40,000
- First Place: $20,000
- Second Place: $10,000
- Third Place: $5,000
- Honorable Mention (2 prizes): $2,500 each
How to Enter: Official competition entries should be uploaded to the Business Plan Competition website. The submission tool will be made available by April 24th.
Entry Requirements:
- Executive Summary: One or two paragraphs introducing your innovation.
- Product: What is it that you are developing or proposing, and why is it significant, distinctive, and desirable? What will it cost you to make it and how much can you sell it for? How long will it take to get the innovation set for market and what steps do you need to undertake to make this happen? (One page maximum)
- Market: What is the size of the overall market, who makes up the target market for your innovation, how do you plan to reach them (marketing and promotion), and what will they pay for your innovation (technology, product, or service)? (One page maximum)
- Competitors: Who and what else is out there? Why are you better? (Suggested length: half page)
- Team: Who is your team, and how will you be able to develop and market your innovation? (Suggested length: quarter page)
Questions? Contact Katie Huntington at khuntington@business.uconn.edu
