Entry Process

Each annual Business Plan Competition will take place from September/October through June, and include three Rounds of evaluation (see Competition Calendar). There is no fee to enter the Competition.

Step 1: Select Track    

     
Find the track that best reflects your initiative:

 

Step 2: Check Eligibility         

 

Step 3: Review Requirements for Each Round 

 

 

Early-Stage Initiatives

Mezzanine-Stage Initiatives

Round I

Complete online application form and upload Strategy Paper describing your plan for scaling (required format for Table of Contents, maximum 8 pages, single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1" margins, PDFs only - click here for REQUIRED FORMAT of Strategy Paper).

Due Date: The entrant deadline for Round I is December 9.

Submit your application and upload your material by clicking here.

Complete online application form and upload Draft Business Plan (required format for Table of Contents, maximum 30 pages excluding appendixes, single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1” margins, PDFs only -  click here for REQUIRED FORMAT of Draft Business Plan).

Due Date: The entrant deadline for Round I is December 9.

Submit your application and upload your material by clicking here.

 

Round II

Entrants invited to proceed to Round II receive business plan training and at the end of Round II submit an “early draft” of their business plan (required format for Table of Contents, maximum 30 pages excluding appendixes single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1” margins, PDFs only –  click here for the REQUIRED FORMAT of Draft Business Plan).

Due Date: April 16, 2012

Entrants invited to proceed to Round II work one-on-one with a consultant to hone their business plan and at the end of Round II submit an updated plan (required format for Table of Contents, maximum 30 pages excluding appendixes, single spaced, 12 pt. font, 1” margins, PDFs only - click here for the REQUIRED FORMAT of Business Plan).

Due Date: April 16, 2012

 

Round III

Finalists invited to proceed to Round III give an 8-minute presentation of their plan before a panel of judges and respond to 10-minutes of Q&A in New York City in June 2012. After hearing all the presentations, the judges deliberate and select the winner.

Finalists invited to proceed to Round III give an 8-minute presentation of their plan before a panel of judges and respond to 10-minutes of Q&A in New York City in June 2012. After hearing all the presentations, the judges deliberate and select the winner.

 

Awards

The winner of the Early-Stage Competition will receive a cash award and the services of a consulting firm to further develop its plan for scaling.

The winner of the Mezzanine-Stage Competition will receive a cash award and the services of a consulting firm to further fine tune its for scaling.

 

 

Step 4: Submit Entry 

Enter the competition by clicking here.