Annual Pitch Competition Overview, Timeline, and Attachment Forms
Executive Summary Welcome to the Appalachian State K12 Startup Pitch Competition event document! This material is designed to provide you with the overview knowledge, tools, and resources to help your students prepared to participate in this annual event. Purpose Lets start by going over a big picture overview of the events purpose and format. The event was created in partnership with the Appstate Center for Entrepreneurship, Gear Up, and the local school systems in Western NC. The purpose is to inspire and prepare future entrepreneurs by providing them a regional platform where they can share their ideas in a collaborative and competitive environment. Structure The event is structured like the TV show Shark Tank, where student teams present for 5-10 minutes to a panel of successful entrepreneurs. Middle School Maximum 5 Minute Pitch Submission of 2 page business plan Scored on pitch, idea, and research, and prototype High School Maximum 10 Minute Pitch Submission of 5 page business plan Scored on pitch, idea, research, prototype, and financial viability Awards $4,000 in scholarship monies will be awarded to winners fo any North Carolina higher education institutions. The scholarship will be split between the team members. 1 st Place Scholarship $1,000 Attachments 2 nd Place Scholarship $750 3 rd Place Scholarship $500 Below you will find the following attachment documents: Timeline, Entry and Commitment Form, Grading Rubric, and Outline of Business Plan. The timeline will outline all important dates and items that will need to be turned in by that time. The entry forms and commitment forms will begin the process, and the business plan outline and grading rubric will help guide subjects the plans and pitches should cover. We look forward to hosting your teams on Saturday, April 15, 2018 for the first annual ASU Pitch Competition!
Timeline Introduction Session Email reminder Team Entry Form due Working Lunch Session I Local Business Involvement GU staff gives powerpoint presentation, reviews timeline and disseminates Entry Form Wade and Kim have all 8 th graders check their email and discuss the competition. Teams turn in Entry Forms (including initial idea for business, team members, what else??) Entrepreneurship Club Director meets with competition participants during lunch to work on projects Local Chamber of Commerce and Business members meet with students to help develop ideas Last Week of August, 2017 Jan15th Jan 31 st, 2018 February 3rd Feb 15th Working Lunch Session II Semi-finals Working Lunch Session III Business Plan writeup due Local Business Involvement Presentation Skills Dress rehearsal Entrepreneurship Pitch Day! Entrepreneurship Club Director meets with competition participants during lunch to work on their projects Students give presentation to school staff. Those sufficiently prepared are invited to continue; those who are not end the competition here Entrepreneurship Club Director meets with competition participants during lunch to work on their projects Students submit the business plans that will be submitted to judges prior to competition Local Business Members meet with competition participants to work on their presentation skills Entrepreneurship Club Director meets with competition participants on the gym stage to practice their presentations Travel to ASU, tour campus, and meet with Entrepreneurship faculty and students! 1 st round of pitches before lunch and finalists during luncheon. Feb 30th March 15th March 30th April 10th April 15th April 25th April 28th th, 2018
2017/18 ASU Pitch Competition Entry Form (due January 31 st ) 1. Team Participant(s): 1) 2) 3) 4) 2. Proposed business name: 3. What kind of business would you like to start? What will you make or do? 4. How will you do it? What materials and/or people will you need? Where will it be located? 5. Who do you expect your clients/customers will be? 6. What can you do now, to begin this plan? (For example, if your idea is to raise cattle, right now, you might be able to start a cattle-feeding service for farmers who are out of town) \
Certification of time commitment (all team participants must initial next to each statement) I commit to working on my team s business plan and pitch during lunch at least three times before the competition. Participant 1 Initials Participant 2 Initials Participant 3 Initials I commit to working on the business plan with my teammates outside of school time as required to finish the proposal. I commit to presenting a draft of my team s business plan to school teachers and staff to get ready for the competition. I commit to presenting my team s pitch at Appalachian State for the April 28 th pitch competition.
Awards: Middle School Scoring Rubric Annual Pitch Competition 1 st Place 2 nd Place 3 rd Place Example Guiding Questions for Panel and Breakout: What personal and business skills did you use during the simulation? What did you learn? What would you do differently if you had to do it over again? TEAM: Scoring Category: Rate 1-5 with 5 being highest and 1 being lowest Comments: Hook: Problem: Solution: Why its Different: Target Market: Marketing and Sales: The Ask: Visual and Presentation Skills: Novelty Utility Other:
High School Scoring Rubric Annual Pitch Competition Project Name: Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree PRESENTATION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Clear statement of need Solution addressed need Connected with audience Has passion for the project Was well prepared CONTENT (including business plan) Material well organized Understands the market Has plan to reach customers Understands the competition Concept is viable Score Summary: Presentation Content Comments to share with participant:
OUTLINE FOR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I. Cover page a. Name of company b. Logo (if you have one) c. Names, titles, and contact information of owners d. Date II. Business Plan Overview a. Business concept i. Overview of business 1. Hook 2. Define Need 3. Describe your product or service 4. What differentiates your product or service? 5. What market do you intend to serve? 6. How can you serve the market better than your competition? 7. Mission statement (Why are we in this business in the first place?) b. Market Overview i. Description of industry 1. Background of industry 2. Industry trends ii. Your market 1. Ideal customer profile and target market 2. Size of your market 3. Market potential iii. Competition 1. Direct competition (similar product) 2. Indirect competition (reasonable alternatives to your product) 3. Evaluation of competition 4. Your value proposition (what distinguishes you from your competition) iv. Market strategies
1. Market positioning 2. Advertising/Promotion Plan 3. Channel/Distribution Plan 4. Sales strategy 5. Brand promise 6. Pricing 7. Public relations 8. Customer service c. Financial plan i. Basic pricing strategy ii. Volume estimates iii. Revenue target d. Conclusion i. Statement of viability ii. Vision statement iii. Close with your tagline