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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 launches the 23rd Annual Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition (HSBPC) – teams led by students and alumni advance through three rounds of judging and feedback to see who will take home the $10,000 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 Semi-Finals round consists of a fastpitch competition and a two-hour trade show that will be held virtually this year. The competition ends with The Finals & Awards Celebration, which will also be held virtually.
The IEC has launched entrepreneurial leaders for 30 years, providing students and supporters experiential engagement opportunities and life-long connections. Past winners of the HSBPC range from a nonprofit school for children with autism (The Madrone School, 2016) to a drone technology company valued at $150 million that is contracting with the US military (Vita Inclinata Technologies, 2018).
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.
Dylan Bade 2020 Semi-Finalist Team, BarBuddy
Grand Prize ($10,000)
The Herbert B. Jones Foundation
2nd Place Prize ($5,000)
John Meisenbach
3rd Place Price ($3,000)
In Memory of Don Leuthold
4th Place Prize ($2,000)
Friends of the IEC
Swilo Social Innovation Award ($1,000)
In Honor of the Swilo Team
John Castle Award for Grit & Resilience ($2,000)
John Castle Family & Ro Health
Pitch Judge Award ($500)
Kurt Wedgwood
Tradeshow Judge Award ($250)
Friends of the IEC
Semi-Finals Audience Choice Award ($250)
Friends of the IEC
