2013 Connecticut Collegiate Business Model Competition
Sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Warbros Venture Partners, Connecticut Innovations, LaunchCapital, Angel Investor Forum and the Entrepreneurship Foundation
Updated 4-30-13
NEW: At the suggestion of investors, the Connecticut Consortium of Entrepreneurship Educators (CCEE) has voted to incorporate the principals of Business Modeling into the competition. This new emphasis on research, verification of assumptions and substantiation of claims is manifested in a few new or revised questions. Since Business Modeling also encompasses post-launch pivots (reacting to market realities) we have added a new spring category for companies in the market.
2013 Spring Winners and Finalists
| 2013 Spring Winners |
| Personal Business Category | Company | Type of Business | Connecticut University |
| First Place | CineGame |
Cinema Marketing Platform |
Central Connecticut State University |
| Second Place and Best Written Executive Summary | Pancake Power |
Gateway Community College |
A food truck serving healthy gourmet pancakes |
| Best Oral Presentation | IGreekU |
Social media network for Fraternity and Sorority life |
Quinnipiac University |
| Venture Business Category | Company | Type of Business | Connecticut University |
| First Place | Sea Green Organics |
Organic liquid seaweed-based lawn fertilizer |
University of Connecticut - Stamford |
| Second Place and Best Written Executive Summary | Pulse.ly |
Mobile phone-based customer feedback at the point of sale |
Yale University |
| Best Oral Presentation | WattMarket |
Connecting investors with clean energy projects through the web |
Yale University |
| 2013 Spring Finalists |
| Category | Company Name | CT University & Advisor | Team Leader |
| Personal Business | Barkin' Green and Clean All natural pet shampoo |
Gateway Community College |
Megan Eaton |
Personal Business |
Cafe Colette |
University of Connecticut - Stamford |
Michael Halim |
| Personal Business |
Castle Weddings in the Park |
Central Connecticut State University Advisor: Drew Harris |
Tabitha Arce |
| Personal Business |
CineGame |
Central Connecticut State University |
Rob McGrath |
| Personal Business |
Crepe Escape Cafe |
University of Connecticut - Stamford |
Brandie Heydt |
|
Personal Business |
IGreekU |
Quinnipiac University |
Marc Vandal |
| Personal Business |
Pancake Power |
Dr. Michael Okrent Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) |
Chris Warner |
| Personal Business |
Utune Guitar |
Dr. David Tomczyk, Prof. Brett Orzechowski Quinnipiac University |
Khemmaraks Srey |
| Personal Business |
White Grape Catering |
Dr. David Tomczyk, Prof. Brett Orzechowski Quinnipiac University |
Nora Gonzalez |
| Venture Business |
BuyLocally |
University of New Haven |
Gary L. Crawford III |
| Venture Business |
Good To Go |
Fairfield University |
Gabriel Garcia |
| Venture Business |
Grow It LLC |
Central Connecticut State University |
John Filippides |
| Venture Business |
Pulse.ly |
Yale University |
Wayne Smith |
| Venture Business |
Sea Green Organics LLC |
University of Connecticut - Stamford |
Timothy Hidu |
| Venture Business |
The Community |
University of Hartford |
Andrew Slaiby |
| Venture Business |
TradespersonConnection.com |
Gateway Community College |
Frank Kuchinski |
| Venture Business |
Truly Protect |
Yale University |
Maria Polo |
| Venture Business |
WattMarket |
Yale University |
Truman Mak |
Finals (3-minute PowerPoint pitches plus Q&A. Students may not interact with judges or distribute materials until the timer starts.) Parents and friends welcome to attend.
Spring Semester: Friday, April 26 2013. Personal Businesses at 10 am. Ventures at 1:30 pm. New Haven Lawn Club.
Business Plan Competition Prizes:
Business Plan Competition Prizes: All entrants will receive candid feedback from a business financing expert on their on-line executive summary. Press releases announcing the finalists and winners will be sent to the media. Cash awards are granted to the student companies; trophies are awarded to the schools. Checks will be made out to the company and winners will need to provide an FEIN or SSN of the team leader.
Morning presentations (10:00 am)
Personal Business Model (not yet in the market) - $1000 **
Personal Business Model (in beta testing or with actual sales) - $1000 **
Personal Business Oral Presentation - $500
Personal Online Submission (written Executive Summary) - $500
Best Community College Business Model - $500
Afternoon presentations (1:30 am)
Venture Business Model (not yet in the market) - $1000 **
Venture Business Model (in beta testing or with actual sales) - $1000 **
Venture Oral Presentation - $500
Venture Online Submission (written Executive Summary) - $500
** 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 returns. This is often a judgment call as many businesses have characteristics of both. The decision of the judges is final.
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. |
| • | Teams must have a faculty adviser (from the submitting institution) who sanctions the entry. |
Competition administered by the Entrepreneurship Foundation
Email: Roer@EntrepreneurshipFoundation.org T: (203) 540-5903