Up-Start Pitch Competition Finals

CIBC presents Entrepreneurship 101 - Up-Start Pitch Competition Finals 2007/08

2008-05-09

The Up-Start Competition is a business pitch competition open to participants in CIBC presents Entrepreneurship 101. Individuals, or teams of individuals, must give a 10-minute presentation on an idea for a technology based business that they wish to implement (or, if appropriate, for a business that they have already started). They are expected to apply the concepts that they have learned from the course to their business idea, and to make a compelling case that this will lead to a very successful business.

The individual presenting (or the designated head of a team) must be enrolled in CIBC presents Entrepreneurship 101 and have attended a significant number of lectures, either in person or on-line. The proposed venture must be a truly new seed venture that has not attracted investment from outside angels or other investors (personal investment from team members excepted).

REGISTRATION

Registration is free and required.

Please note that all who attend this event will need to sign an NDA.

NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

Download the NDA (PDF)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101 LECTURE SERIES

Click to find out more about the CIBC presents Entrepreneurship 101 Lecture Series.

February 15 - deadline for Stage 1 executive summary submission
February 18 - competitors notified of acceptance into Stage 2 of competition
May 9 - competition presentation and judging

$10K to the winning team presenting an idea for a new technology based start-up company. (The definition of start-up company is intended to include those developing a new product, as well as service-based business ideas or the extension of existing business models to new areas).

Entrants will be required to submit an executive summary of their idea, no longer than three pages, by Friday February 15. The course co-ordinator will select the best 12 summaries to continue to the next stage. Competitors will be notified the week of February 18 if they are proceeding or not.

The twelve entrants selected to go forward will each give a 10-minute presentation, with a further 5 minutes for questions, to a panel of three judges on a day in early May (date to be confirmed). Presentations will be made under cover of a non-disclosure agreement that all audience members will be required to sign. The judges will pick the winner on that day and the first prize of $10K will be awarded. (Note that the prize will be paid out against an approved expenditure program that advances the business upon which the pitch was based.)

At both stages the following criteria will be used to judge proposals:

Has the summary/presentation clearly articulated the value proposition?
Has the summary/presentation demonstrated competitive differentiation / intellectual capital?
Has the summary/presentation demonstrated a business model that makes money?
Has the summary/presentation demonstrated market awareness?
How effective was the overall presentation?
Would you invest?

Entrants at the stage two level will have the opportunity to use the MaRS Venture Group services to mentor the development of their pitch.