Congratulations to all our 2023 Business Plan Competition Participants
We saw fierce competition this year and would like to congratulate all participants for all their hard work and dedication.
We are delighted to announce the winning teams of the High School League competition:
High School League
- Mai Bowl – ($5,000)
- Oval – ($2,000)
- Wellness Rediscovered – ($1,000)
- Furst Pick Dog Grooming – ($500)
- Luxe Tech – ($250)
Congrats to the Business Plan Competition teams moving forward!
Top High School League Teams Advancing to the Final Presentation Round
- Furst Pick Dog Grooming (Pullman Christian School) – Furst Pick Dog Grooming provides affordable pet conscientious grooming for pet owners who care about their pet’s grooming experience.
- LuxeTech (Mercer Island High School) – LuxeTech is a tech start-up dedicated to innovating the technologically advanced accessories of tomorrow.
- Mai Bowl (Sammamish High School) – Mai Bowl is a healthier dessert option.
- Oval (Mead Senior High School) – Oval empowers real estate investors and landlords with a comprehensive dashboard that streamlines tenant management and offers unparalleled insights into the market through advanced data analytics, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their investments with ease.
- Wellness Rediscovered (Mead High School) – Wellness Rediscovered is a customizable self-care subscription box with all natural, handmade products.
Alternative Team:
- WatterTech (Pullman High School) – WatterTech is a tech startup that strives to help customers reduce water usage through faucet and shower head attachments.
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.
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. Five presenting teams will be selected from this first round.
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’ll need to submit your 1-page executive summary and pitch deck (10-15 slides) by the deadline in the BPC schedule.
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: 20 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.
Important Dates
2-minute video: Friday, March 24
Initial review of all submissions: March 27-April 2
Announcement of top 5 teams: Monday, April 3
Team Information sessions scheduled individually.
Final Five High School 1-page executive summary due April 14
Final High School Presentations in Pullman, Thursday, April 27 (travel funding available)
Questions?
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