Albers Business Plan Competition

Join the HSBPC Finals & Awards

Friday, June 2, 2023 | 5:00-8:00pm

World Trade Center Seattle, 2200 Alaskan Way, Seattle 98121

RSVP Required: HSBPC23.eventbrite.com

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.

Format of HSBPC consists of:
- Semi-Finals round: May 11, 2023 - a fastpitch competition
- Trade Show: May 11, 2023 - In-person, Two-hour trade show on campus highlighting Semi-Final teams
- Finals & Awards Celebration: June 2, 2023 - Special event Venue in the Seattle area (off-campus)

RSVP for the June 2 Harriet Stephenson BPC Finals & Awards

View Past Winners

HSBPC Program Details & Application

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.

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 ($5,000)

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

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

Volunteer with the IEC

Donate to the IEC

Contact

Peter Rowan

Lawrence K. Johnson Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship

prowan@seattleu.edu

Amelia Marckworth

Director of Community - on leave

marckwor@seattleu.edu

Janie Ng

Interim Director of Community

janieng@seattleu.edu

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.