Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition

2020 Dates

• 1.19.20   Team Registration Opens
• 1.19.20   Application for Team Coach Opens for Registered Teams
• 3.07.20   Team Registration Closes
• 3.14.20   ROUND 1: Screening Round Submission Due (Business Plan Summary) 
• 5.01.20   ROUND 2: Semi-Final Round (Exec. Summary + Fast Pitch + Trade Show)
• 5.29.19   ROUND 3: Finals Presentation (Pitch Presentation + Full Business Plan) 

Screening Round

• Business Plan Template
• Screening Round Judges Rubric

Past Examples:

• Brew University, 2017 Finalist
• Nuciano, 2017 Special Recognition Award Winner
• The Madrone School, 2016 Grand Prize Winner (nonprofit)
• Key Tech Labs, 2016 Social Innovation Award Winner (nonprofit)
• PediGlide, 2015 Semi-Finalist

Semi-Finals

Judging Rubrics

• Pitch Judging Form
• Trade Show Judging Form

Resources for Semi-Finals

• Pitch Template Worksheet
• Rules for Nailing Your Pitch
• Executive Summary Template
• Executive Summary Examples

There are three major parts to the Business Plan Competition.

1. Screening Round

The first 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. 

2. Semi-Finals Round

The Trade Show/Elevator Pitch Round is divided into two distinct parts:

Part A: Trade Show

The Trade Show is a giant fair where teams have a space in the Campion Ballroom 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:

• 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.
• Audience 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 B: 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, in front of a panel of 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. Finals Round

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 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 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.

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 2019, Fall 2019, Winter 2020, or Spring 2020 at Seattle University.
   • Seattle University alumni who have graduated from SU prior to the Summer 2019 academic period. SU Alumni from any school or college within the university are eligible to participate in the competition.
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.
9. 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. 

FAQ

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.

THE ENTREPRENEUR'S TOOL KIT

Not sure where to start on your entrepreneurial journey? Take a look at some of our favorite resources to help you get started! 

• UW Dempsey Startup Competition (open to any university student in Washington State)
• The Lean Startup - Principles
• Strategyzer - Business Model Canvas
• Simon Sinek - Start with Why TED Talk
• Adeo Ressi - The One-Sentence Pitch
• Slidebean - Complete Guide to a Pitch Presentation
• UW CoMotion - Events
• UW CoMotion - Startup Training Videos
• Mercy Corps Northwest - Small Business Resources
• Alliance of Angels - Entrepreneur FAQ
• Alliance of Angels - Events & Trainings
• Keretsu Forum NW - Events & Trainings