2009-10 Connecticut Collegiate Business Plan Competition
Sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Warbros Venture Partners, Connecticut Innovations, LaunchCapital and the Entrepreneurship Foundation
2010 Spring Winners Click here for Contest Winner Photos
| 2010 Spring Winners - Business Plan Competition | |||
| Connecticut University Affiliation | Company Name | University Advisor | Team Leader |
| Winner - Personal Enterprise | |||
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) | The Cupcake Parlor | Drew Harris | Samantha Magri |
| Winner - Venture Enterprise | |||
| University of Connecticut - Storrs | Shizzlr | Dr. Richard N. Dino | Keith Bessette |
| Winner - Best Presentation | |||
| Yale University - School of Management | CheckedTwice | Bruce Judson | Andrew Swick |
| 2010 Spring - Connecticut Innovation Technology Grant Recipients | |||
| Connecticut University Affiliation | Company Name | University Advisor | Team Leader |
| Yale University - School of Forestry | SilviaTerra | Dr. Chad Oliver | Max Uhlenhuth |
| University of Connecticut - Storrs | Shizzlr | Dr. Richard N. Dino | Keith Bessette |
| University of Bridgeport - School of Engineering | Green Splinter Company | Dr. Gad J. Selig | Jawahar Ponnuswami |
| 2010 Spring Winners - Elevator Pitch | |||
| Small Business Category: Samantha Magri - The Cupcake Parlor, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
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| Venture Enterprise Category: Max Uhlenhuth - Silvia Terra, Yale College and Yale UniversitySchool of Forestry and Environmental Studies |
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| Community College Category: Jessica Wood - Doggie Day Spa, Gateway Community College |
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Updated April 27, 2010
Entry Deadlines:
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Spring Semester: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Finalists will be posted here on Monday, April 19 at 5:00 pm |
Finals: (three-minute PowerPoint presentations plus Q&A). Students may not interact with judges or distribute any materials until they have been introduced and the timer started.
| Spring Semester: Friday, April 23, 2010, 1:30 pm - 5 pm, at the New Haven Lawn Club. |
Business Plan Competition Prizes:
All entrants will receive candid feedback from a business financing expert on their on-line executive summary. The schools of the top prize winners in each category will receive a trophy. Press releases announcing the finalists and winners will be sent to media.
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Spring and Fall: Unrestricted $1000 grants will be awarded to: a) a personal business plan b) a venture business plan The judges will determine the category (personal versus venture business**). Spring only: The winner in the venture category will have the opportunity to pitch their proposal at a meeting of the Connecticut Angel Investor Guild. Since grants have generally been awarded to the companies judged, in the final analysis, those most likely to succeed, an additional $500 award and trophy will be conferred for the "Best Presentation." TECHNOLOGY GRANTS. $10,000 in start-up grants will be allocated to one or more technology finalists as reimbursement of factual expenses incurred to start the business in Connecticut. These funds are provided by Connecticut Innovations. The recipients are also eligible to receive other grants and prizes. |
Eligibility Requirements:
| • | The team leader and primary presenter must be a student at a Connecticut college or university during the current academic year. (Entries may be submitted by individuals or teams.) In keeping with the spirit of the competition to foster entrepreneurship, neither plans written for outside companies as student projects nor plans written on behalf of a company not student-owned and conceived are eligible. | • | Students that made it to the Finals in a prior year or semester are eligible to compete again. | • | Teams must have a faculty adviser (from the submitting institution) who sanctions the entry | • | New or relatively new business. (Enterprises with annualized sales in excess of $50,000 are ineligible.) |
To Enter:
The application may be accessed at www.Back-Offices.com/college. The first step will be to create a user name and password. This will enable you and your team members to return to revise your draft prior to submitting. The judges will only consider information contained in the online application. Do not mail or email supplemental material.
** Personal businesses are typically small, serve a limited market, and serve small businesses or consumers. Venture enterprises are generally higher risk, take longer to start up and require more capital but have higher potential returrns. This is often a judgement call as many businesses have characteristics of both. The decision of the judges is final.
60-Second Individual Elevator Pitch Competition
| Spring Semester: Friday, April 23, 2010, 11:00 am, at the New Haven Lawn Club. Winners in the Personal Business and Venture Business categories will each receive an unrestricted grant of $500. There will also be a $500 prize for the best presentation by a community college student. Any student currently enrolled in a Connecticut institution of higher learning is eligible to present. There is no preliminary round but contestants must pre-register through their faculty adviser. |
Competition administered by the Entrepreneurship Foundation
Email: Roer@EntrepreneurshipFoundation.org, Phone: (203) 319-1902