BELIEVE IN ME HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE GUIDELINES

Congratulations to the Believe in Me High School League Winners at the Business Plan Competition 2026:

• First place: Sandwich Haven – Sammamish High School
• Second place: CS Optics – Mead Senior High School
• Third place: DermaDetect – Bellevue High School
• Fourth place: Backyard Butler – Sammamish High School

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 4 BELIEVE IN ME HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE TEAMS ADVANCING TO THE FINAL PRESENTATION ROUND OF THE 2026 BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

• Backyard Butler (Sammamish High School) – an exterior cleaning business, that does roof cleaning drive ways and a lot more and puts it into one service so it would be one call to get it all done great for people who are about to move and all homeowners.
• CS Optics (Mead Senior High school) – Sports Photography
• DermaDetect (Bellevue High School) – My business is an innovative one-of-a-kind product named DermaDetect. DermaDetect is a small, wireless patch that monitors how your skin reacts to new skincare or cosmetic products, measuring pH, hydration, temperature, and redness. These are all signs of irritation or barrier disruption which can cause long term damage. The patch connects to a Bluetooth AI powered app that logs the products you use and flags potential irritants. Using the data, the app spots patterns in how your skin reacts, identifies ingredients that may be causing irritation, and recommends alternative products that provide similar benefits without triggering reactions. This way, users who once feared trying new products can confidently experiment with their skincare journey. This is your skin, decoded.
• Sandwich Haven (Sammamish High School) is a rotating-menu sandwich shop that showcases global cuisines through seven sandwiches, combining simplicity, cultural exploration, and the excitement of limited weekly drops. The menu includes four permanent sandwiches and three rotating weekly specials. Over time, the permanent menu will expand based on customer preferences and the popularity of the rotating sandwiches. In addition to sandwiches, the shop also offers sides and beverages.

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RULES

Eligibility

• The contest is open to all Washington State high school students. 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, small teams are recommended.
• Teams must have a school or community advisor.

Competition Rules

• Advancing teams must present in-person on the Pullman campus during the Final day of the competition. Only four members of the team will be allowed to present their idea before the judges during the Final Round of the competition.
• All teams that present during the Final Round must be present in person at the Trade Show before Awards Dinner.
• 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 Entrepreneurial Studies 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.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI tools may be used in the Business Plan Competition as support tools—not as substitutes for original thinking or entrepreneurial effort. Teams are fully responsible for the quality, accuracy, and originality of their submissions. Participants must review the AI Use Guide for Students in the General Resources section prior to submission. Any use of AI requires a brief AI Use Statement in the written materials.

ROUNDS OF COMPETITION

Screening Round

The Screening Round is the first major hurdle you’ll face in the competition. Submit your 2-minute video online for scoring by our judges. Four presenting teams will be selected from this first round.

View Video Rubric (pdf)

Presentation Round

After the Screening Round, you’ll receive an email naming the teams that will advance to the Presentation Round on the day of the Business Plan Competition. If your team is selected, you will submit your 1-page executive summary by the deadline in the BPC schedule and bring a pitch deck (10-15 slides) to the competition.

View Presentation Rubric (pdf)

Executive Summary Rubric (pdf)

How the Presentation Round Works

Our High School League includes five teams. During the Presentation Round, each team delivers a presentation of its business plan to a panel of judges, following the schedule below:

• Set up: 10 minutes
• Presentation: 15 minutes
• Questions and feedback: 10 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, and financial planning.

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

If you competed in the Presentation Round, you and your teammates will dine with the judges—a priceless opportunity to build professional connections. Following dinner, competition organizers will announce the winning teams.