RULES

Eligibility

• The WSU Business Plan Competition is open to all Washington State University students who are enrolled in the current spring semester. At least one member of your team must be a full-time undergraduate student. Teams may include graduate students.
• The BPC also includes a dedicated league for collegiate teams outside the WSU system. Five teams from other universities will be selected to compete in the Open League. If you are competing in the Open League, please be aware of the procedural differences listed in the competition rules.
• To enter the competition, a team must complete the online registration. Teams should include members possessing the essential background to enable the development of a serious business plan. Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. There is no limit on the number of members; however, only four team members can present in the presentation round. Small teams are recommended.

Competition Rules

• Teams must submit all required documentation to advance to each stage of the competition, including a full set of pro-forma financial statements for five (5) years (statement of cash flows with first year by quarter, income statement with first year by quarter, and balance sheet). No exceptions will be made to this policy.
• Advancing teams must send at least one team member to the virtual Team Info Session. Remote access will be available on request for teams at other campuses or enrolled online. Open League participants are not required to attend.
• Advancing teams must also present in person during the Live Presentation Round of the competition. Only four members of the team will be allowed to present their idea before the judges during the Presentation Round of the competition. Advisors and other team members may observe, but may not participate in any way during the presentation, Q&A, or judges’ feedback session.
• The business plan must be developed during the student’s tenure at the university. Students working with outside entrepreneurs must create an original business plan.
• The same business idea will not be accepted at the competition more than twice. Repeat submissions after the second attempt will automatically be declined.
• All submissions to the Business Plan Competition must live up to the higher ideals of Washington State University. Your idea must be appropriate for a university-sponsored event. The Center for Entrepreneurship reserves the right to disqualify any entry that in its judgment violates the letter or the spirit of the competition or exceeds the bounds of social convention.
• Prize money will be divided equally among all registered team members.

Preparation

We encourage all BPC teams to attend Resource Nights, a series of speaker sessions that bring in experts from WSU’s business community to discuss various aspects of starting and launching a venture. Offered throughout the spring semester, these sessions are open to all students and the public and are available online. Open League participants are encouraged to watch Resource Night sessions as they prepare.

COMPETITION ROUNDS

Virtual Screening Round

The Screening Round is the first stage in the competition. Submit your 1-page executive summary online for scoring by our judges. 20 Collegiate League teams and five Open League teams will be selected from the Screening Round applicants to move forward to the virtual Presentation Round.

View Screening Round Rubric

Virtual Presentation Round

After the Screening Round, you’ll receive an email listing the teams that will advance to the Virtual Presentation Round on the day of the Business Plan Competition. If your team is selected, you will need to submit your full business plan (4-7 pages), financial statements, and pitch deck (10-15 slides) by the deadline in the BPC schedule.

View Written Plan Rubric

How the Virtual Presentation Round Works

Collegiate League teams are divided up into five leagues; each league includes four teams. The Open League will include the five teams selected to participate in this round.

During the Presentation Round, each team delivers a business plan pitch to a panel of judges, following the schedule below:

FORMAT/TIMING

• Tech Transition: 5 minutes
• Team Set-up: 5 minutes
• Presentation: 15 minutes
• Q & A: 15 minutes
• Judges Feedback: 5 minutes

Presenting teams are evaluated both on their written plan and their presentations. Judging criteria include team presentation and style, the customer problem, solution, value proposition, competitive advantages, market and sales strategy, management, financials and offering, and investment analysis. Judges choose the top team in each Collegiate League to advance to the final round. The winning Open League team is selected during this round.

View Presentation Rubric

Live FINAL ROUND

Competition organizers announce the top five Collegiate League teams that will advance to the final round.

HOW THE FINAL ROUND WORKS

Finalist Collegiate League teams present by a live panel of judges and a live audience who have no prior knowledge of their plans and have not seen their earlier presentations, following the schedule below:

• Set up: 5 minutes
• Presentation: 15 minutes
• Questions and feedback: 10 minutes

Trade Show

All participants including High School and Open League participants will present their business during a cocktail hour Trade Show in the Senior Ballroom before the Awards Ceremony and dinner. This is a great opportunity for teams to network with and meet judges from all of the leagues.

COMPETITION AWARDS DINNER

All participants and judges are invited to join the Awards Ceremony and Dinner where competition organizers will host a Key Note speaker, award Merit Prizes, and announce the winning teams from all leagues.

Congrats to Collegiate League Teams advancing to Presentation Round in the 2025 Business Plan Competition!

• AVIA – An artificial bird manufacturing company that produces artificial birds for airline manufacturers.
• Bong Caddy – A unique all-in-one storage solution for bong users
• Carma Pay – Handle secure payments, verify titles through the state databases, and complete the car title transfer, all in one simple, trusted flow
• Driveway Pit Stop – Mobile Mechanic – Mobile oil changing service provides convenience to busy vehicle owners who want to keep their car well-maintained without disrupting their schedule.
• Helical Solutions – Leverages CRISPR technology for rapid, onsite DNA/RNA analysis in 40 minutes without a lab
• Kerat AI – Personalized recommendation platform uses a novel technology to measure customers’ unique hair type and recommend hair care products best formulated for them.
• Miata Fitment – Simplifies the buying process with a 3D fitment visualizer, allowing users to input any wheel, tire, and suspension setup.
• Next Step Invest – Teaches financial literacy through three integrated components
• OasiFi – An all-in-one platform for exploring, managing and optimizing passive income.
• Pop!Golf – Brings the ultimate portable mini-golf experience straight to your event,
• Rainmaker Solutions – Offers a turnkey automation service built for mobile car detailers.
• REFRSH – A gamified digital detox app incentivizing young adults to engage in real-life experiences while reducing screen time.
• Side Quests – Offers users tailored experiences for diverse experiences
• Stepocalypse – Platform that reimagines walking as an immersive, rewarding game experience.
• stillHQ – FIrst Linux-based OS that is truly consumer-friendly.
• Team Cat – An experience-driven cat cafe
• The Growth Innovators – Offers a more robust vetting process by acting as a trusted connector between employers and gig workers.
• Three Doughmigos – A small restaurant in the heart of downtown Boise providing high-quality artisan pizza.
• Vision Tag – An advanced learning management system (LMS) with an interactive desktop device that integrates hardware, software, and AI to modernize classroom learning.
• Wearable Aromas – A solid perfume locket necklace designed for on-the-go, mess-free application
• Data Deviant (Alternate) – Create a more efficient testing environment by limiting the amount of data that is affected by sensors malfunctioning
• Lucio’s (Alternate) – Bringing people together through an unforgettable authentic Italian dining experience in Costa Rica
  
• Mythic (Alternate) – A premium, all-natural hair oil designed to tame frizz, deeply hydrate, and promote overall hair health
• PetAura (Alternate) – Monitors pet’s health in real-time
• Round-the-clock Rain (Alternate) – A smart irrigation system built using AI to determine effective irrigation water usage.

Congrats to the Winning Teams in the 2024 Business Plan Competition!

The winning College League teams were:

• Cordoba, $15,000
  Cordoba is an AI plug-in that facilitates communication between architects and clients.
• PicsGenie, $10,000
  PicsGenie uses AI to allow anyone to customize shirts in under 15 seconds.
• Snap Chains, $7,000
  Snap Chains is an alternative snow chain designed for instant installation and removal.
• Serenity Spaces, $4,000
  Serenity Spaces is a furnishing company that allows individuals to rent customized furnishing packages.
• Main Street Trader Bar and Grill, $2,000
  Main Street Trader Bar and Grill is a restaurant in Vancouver, Washington, offering diverse food, drink, and live entertainment.