2013 Business Plan Competition

The Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition is the year's main event for Seattle University's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC).  Prominent early-stage company investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the Seattle area will judge the presentations by the final four student teams at the May 15th Finals Event (details below).  Prior winners have launched actual ventures that have successfully raised more than $4 million in initial capital.  Congrats to all of the teams that have competed so far and big thanks to our sponsors below, as well as the coaches, judges, and other volunteers!

 Final Four teams:

•  Nutraberry (Elena Lausberg MBA '08, David Wishnick MBA '11): Nutraberry is a producer and supplier of premium quality berry seed powder ad oil to the health food and supplement industries. Nutraberry addresses a growing consumer need for healthier and more nutritional food by helping food manufacturers to develop the product that meet this growing demand. Our products are a nutrient rich addition to a healthy diet, resulting in higher competiveness and quality of products containing our ingredients.
•  Octave (Alex Tsway Albers UG '13, Brett Kennedy, Chenyu Wang, Michael Fogarty, Thanh Huynh):  Octave is an education platform that teaches beginners and amateur singers the basics of singing through a gamified and social experience.
•  Recurrence (Brayden Olson BABA '08, Juan Arango MSF '14):  Simply put, Recurrence  is the 21^st century internet generation that takes the crises faced by real companies and let students make their own decisions, with emergent outcomes, within a game simulation. This will teach the next generation of college students not only how to build crucial business skills, but also learn, to critically think and deal with a variety of issues currently face by companies. These games are multiplayers, collaborative and build by critically acclaimed modern video game designers. The product is a gamified version of the traditional business cases.
•  Universal Charge (Brett Phillips MBA '14): Universal Charge will create ad operate the country's first interconnected access and payment system for commercial fueling of electric vehicles (EV). The system, called the Universal Charging Network, will enable EV drivers to recharge their vehicles between commercial charging station providers.

Come see these teams compete in the Finals Event on Wednesday, May 15th, 4 - 6:30pm, followed by an entrepreneurship panel and awards dinner (until 7:30pm), Campion Ballroom.  RSVP at Eventbrite for you, family, friends, and colleagues:  www.2013BPCFinals.eventbrite.com. 

2013 SPONSORS

A huge thanks to the 2013 sponsors below and to our Center's Advisory Board members. 

Gold Sponsors:

May McCarthy & Bizzultz

Herbert B. Jones Foundation 

MCM/John Meisenbach

Silver Sponsors: 

The Hub Seattle

Point Inside

Elgin & Elaine Baylor

Lombardo & Company

Paul & Sharon Ramey

Dr. Rev. Kathianne Lewis/CSL Seattle

Lee Hayes PLLC/Pat Santos

Kathleen Miller, Miller Advisers

 Bronze Sponsors

Janis Avery

Don Beaty 

Brain Voice Connection

Columbia Tower Club

Darcie Durr

Equinox Business Law

Timothy Hicks

Impact Washington

Richard Jacroux

Patricia Johnson

Candy Lee

Emily Marshall

Stoel Rives, LLP

Speaking Science

Kurt Wedgwood/IBM

Zino Society

 Background:

 The Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition is the year's main event for Seattle University's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC).  Prominent early-stage company investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the Seattle area will judge the presentations by the final four student teams.  Prizes Prior winners have launched actual ventures that have successfully raised more than $4 million in initial capital.

  Special thanks to the many individuals who have generously shared their time and energy in this competition, including sponsors, mentors, judges, presenters, staff, and IEC Advisory Board members.

 The Business Plan Competition was started in 1998 by Dr. Harriet Stephenson, a Seattle University faculty member since 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, are encouraged to participate in the UW’s northwest invitational business plan competition, and expose their ideas to potential investors.

2012 Business Plan Competition Winners:

 Grand Prize Winner- Populous Legal Services: David Wilkinson, Randy Trick, Jonathan White
1st Runner up - In My Grandma's Kitchen: Nicholas Woog
2nd Runner up - Lockstep Shoes - Joe Lancaster
2nd Runner up - Symgo Express - Evan Fried
Small Business Award - deep.snow.development: Aleko Lilly
Social Enterprise Award - Lumenomics, LLC: Marti Hoffer 
Special Recognition Award - Tag!: Andrew Mewborn, Gregory Romein, Armand Pizzicarola
Community Choice Trade Show Award - Table-T: Ryan Luis, Margaret Hazuka
Trade Show Judges Award - MyPartsYard.com: Josiah Arteaga, David Muzechuk, Harmanas Chopra, Dmitri Muzechuk

 Intent to Enter form  

 Why participate in Seattle University’s Business Plan Competition?
 Cash Awards
 Who can participate?
 How is Seattle University’s Business Plan Competition Organized?
 Business Plan Competition Rules & Eligibility
 Confidentiality
 Seattle University Business Plan Competition Dates to Remember
 Definitions
 Resources
 Testimonials

Check out the past winners of the Business Plan Competitions.

 Why participate in Seattle University’s Business Plan Competition?

Seattle University’s 15th annual Business Plan Competition is designed to help students and alumni in launching new business ventures:

• For-profit Businesses
• Not-for-Profit Businesses
• Corporate Entrepreneurship
• Social Enterprise

As part of this experience, participants will enhance their Seattle University learning experience, gain feedback on ideas, develop networks, be encouraged to participate in the UW’s northwest invitational business plan competition, and expose their ideas to potential investors.

 Are there cash awards?

Yes. The Grand Prize winner will walk away with $10,000! Please see below for all award categories and prizes.

 Final Round
$10,000 Grand Prize
$5,000 Runner-up Prize
$3,000 Prize for two remaining finalists

 Other awards
$2,500 Small Business Award
$2,500 Social Enterprise Award
$1,000 Special Recognition Award

$250 Community Choice Trade Show Award
$250 Community Choice Finals Award
$250 Trade Show Judges Award
$250 Elevator Pitch Judges Award

$150 all teams that advance and participate at the Trade Show

Note: While not expected, please note that cash prizes and prize categories are subject to change and will not be confirmed until winter term 2012.

 Who can participate?

Any enrolled Seattle University students or Seattle University alumni can participate in the competition (see Rules & Eligibility for details). A team participating in the competition can consist of one or more contestants and can include non-students. However, there must be at least one SU student or alumnus on each team. We encourage all participants to take advantage of all the resources provided, mentors, prep sessions, etc.

 How is Seattle University’s Business Plan Competition Organized?

There are three major parts to the competition:

1. The Screening Round is the initial review of business plans that determines which teams will be moving ahead to the Trade Show/Elevator Pitch Round. Approximately 15-20 teams are chosen to progress to the next round. You can find sample business plans and other valuable resources on our Business Plan Competition ANGEL page.
2. The Trade Show/Elevator Pitch Round is divided into two distinct parts:
•  Part 1: The Trade Show is a giant fair where teams have a space in the Student Center 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:
  
  1.  Trade Show judges. Trade Show judges are pre-selected judges chosen by the Entrepreneurship Center who visit the booths and select a minimum of three teams they feel have the best business idea and presentation.
  2.  Community Choice judges. Community Choice judges consist of fellow students, friends, and other members of the community who visit the displays and then vote on their favorite business ideas and presentations. They may vote for one to five business ideas and presentations.
   
•  Part 2: The Elevator Pitch Round consists of a three minute pitch of the team’s business plan, presented by the active SU student or SU alum, in front of a panel of judges. Two minutes are also given for a question and answer session. During the Trade Show, each team will designate one member (student or alum) to give their three-minute Elevator Pitch. While absent from the Trade Show giving your Elevator Pitch, be sure to have a back-up person manning your Trade Show booth. If you are the only person on your team, it is possible to engage up to two other non-team individuals to help with the booth and make presentations to Trade Show and Community Choice judges.
  
  The combined results of the Trade Show scores, given by the Community Choice judges and the official Trade Show judges, as well as the scores from the Elevator Pitch Round and Screening Round, will narrow the field down to the final teams that will continue to the Final Presentation Round.
3. 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 will give a maximum 15 minute presentation followed by 10 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 presenters will receive feedback from the judges in written form and mentoring within a week after their presentations.
   
   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. After the coaching sessions, the final business plans will be due at least six days prior to the Final Presentations. The finalist teams will also be required to create a Power Point presentation for the Final Presentation.

 Business Plan Competition Rules & Eligibility

Teams must comply with the following criteria to be eligible for the competition. Please read carefully! (NOTE: We have done our best to align our rules with the UW 2013 Business Plan Competition rules so contestants can participate in both competitions with the same material. However, please be aware there may be slight differences. See bottom of page for details).

1. 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 2012, Fall 2012, Winter 2012, or Spring 2013 at Seattle University.
   • Seattle University alumni who have graduated from SU prior to the Summer 2012 academic period. SU Alumni from any school or college within the university are eligible to participate in the competition, not just Albers School of Business and Economics alumni.
    
2. Non-student business professionals are allowed as team members, but there must be a Seattle University student or alum on the team.
3. 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.
4. Working with outside entrepreneurs with existing businesses/business ideas is permissible but as noted in #3 above, the student/alumnus must write the plan.
5. Total company revenues cannot exceed $500K (for existing businesses without a business plan).
6. 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.
7. In the final presentation round of the competition, only students or alumni will present.
8. 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.

 Note: University of Washington 2013 Business Plan Competition may have the additional qualifications:

1. Students must have an ownership stake in the business or the potential for equity or employment.
2. Only student team members are eligible to win prize money. No payments will be made to non-students.
3. Alumni are not allowed to participate as the key member of the team. Each team must have a current student.
4. While we try to be consistent, there may be different judging criteria for business plans between UW and SU.

 Confidentiality

The Seattle University Business Plan Competition considers all submitted business plans as confidential and treats all team matters accordingly. But, due to the nature of the event, we cannot guarantee complete confidentiality for proprietary matters. Seattle University, The Entrepreneurship Center, the Albers School of Business and Economics, and the organizers of the competition are not responsible for any proprietary information and/or intellectual property included in a submitted business plan.

Ultimately, protection of sensitive materials such as intellectual property, copyright, or patent confidentiality is the sole responsibility of the individual or team participating in the competition. Non-Disclosure Agreements will not be signed by judges, mentors, or any SU staff associated with the business plan competition, so please do not ask.

 Seattle University Business Plan Competition Dates to Remember

 February 8, 2013 ( Has been extended from Jan. 16th)
Intent to Enter Due by 12 p.m. The Intent to Enter form is available on the EC website: https://www.seattleu.edu/albers/inner.aspx?ekfrm=45530

 March 4, 2013
Final business plan (5-7 pages) due by 12 p.m. Send to ecenter@seattleu.edu. The 5-7 page business plan is your official submission to the Business Plan Competition.

 March 5, 2013
The Screening Round begins. Business plans will be reviewed by a panel of judges and will determine whether who continues on to the Trade Show/Elevator Pitch Round.

 March 14, 2013
Announcement of which teams are advancing to the Trade Show/Elevator Pitch Round. Judge's critiques of business plans will be returned electronically the week of April 1^st.

  March 16, 2013
Business Plan Competition Mini Boot camp, on campus

 April 12, 2013
Electronic copy of a one-page business summary due (must be submitted to ecenter@seattleu.edu by 12 p.m.) See the Business Plan Competition ANGEL page for examples of one-page summaries.

 April 17, 2013
Trade Show
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Campion Ballroom
The Trade Show is open to the Seattle University community, friends, family, colleagues, and the public. Set-up can begin at 9:30 am.

 April 17, 2013
Elevator Pitch Round
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.  TBD, on campus

 April 18, 2013
Notification to Trade Show/Elevator Pitch Round participants of which teams advance to the Final Round.

 TBD (tentative)
First round of coaching sessions for teams advancing to the final round. These mandatory sessions are generally two hours per team.

 TBD (tentative)
Second round of coaching sessions for teams advancing to the final round. These mandatory sessions are generally two hours per team.

 May 15, 2013
Final Presentation Day
4:00 -7:30pm in Campion Ballroom

 Finals Agenda:

4:00pm – 4:15pm:  Welcome and Introduction
4:15pm – 4:25pm:  Father Sundborg
4:25pm - 6:25pm:  Four finalists teams present
6:25pm - 6:35pm:  Audience Voting
6:45pm – 7:15pm:  Keynote and dinner
7:15pm – 7:30pm:  Announce winner