Student Elevator Pitch Competition & Project Plan Competition

               

Stevens students competed for investment funding for their innovative research and business ideas, with prize totaling $12,000 on April 24, 2013. The competition was moderated by New Jersey Tech Meetup Founder Aaron Price , and the 2013 judging panel included: Ethan Chazin, President & Founder of The Chazin Group; Christine Curatolo, Founder & CEO of Jumblzar Mommy; Jeanne Gray, Entrepreneur; Travis Kahn, Executive Director of Tech Launch; Matthew Wade, Founder and CEO of Talisman Guidance Solutions; and Mark Yackanich, CEO of Genesis Media.

Project Plan Pitch Competition Winers
1st Prize – Grey Water Treatment

2nd Prize – EcoHabit
3rd Prize – Coast

Elevator Pitch Competition Winers
1st Prize – AcceleroMetrix

2nd Prize – Nevros
3rd Prize – AquaNow

Elevator Pitch Olympics

Project Plan Olympics

What is an Elevator Pitch?What is a Project Plan Pitch?
An elevator pitch is a short presentation made by an entrepreneur raising money for a venture. The term describes a pitch that?s short enough that it could be given during an elevator ride when the entrepreneur has the only chance to talk with a potential investor.A project plan pitch is a short presentation made to persuade potential clients to select your project design over the competition. Similar to an elevator pitch, it is a pitch short enough to persuade your boss or potential client to want to learn more about your project.
Who should participate?Who should participate?
  • Students seeking to turn Senior Design Project into a business
  • Undergraduate Students who have started a company or interesting in starting one
  • ANY Senior Design Team from all disciplines!!

Prizes: $6,000 in total cash prizes!

Three winners will be named from each category

  • 1st Prize - $ 3,000
  • 2st Prize - $ 2,000
  • 3st Prize - $ 1,000

Competition Format

Each participant will have 2 minutes to make their pitch to a panel of judges. If you exceed the 2 minute time frame you will be cut off. Your presentation may be followed by up with 2 minutes Q&A.

Judging Criteria

Elevator Pitches will be judged on the following:

  • Quality of the elevator pitch/project pitch
  • Competitive (Business ) Advantage
  • Viability of business plan/innovation elements

Typical Timeline & Application Procedure

February - Formal Information Session
March - Executive Summary Due / Intent to Participate

Executive Summary - Elevator Pitch

Executive Summary - Project Plan Pitch

One Page Executive Summary MUST include the following:
  • Team Members (include which team member will be presenting).
  • Product/Service Description
  • Problem Being Solved
  • Competitive Advantage (Why you are better than competitors, lighter, faster, stronger, cheaper, more features? etc.)
  • Business Model (How you make money!)
  • Target Market (Who buys this and how much would they pay for it
One Page Executive Summary MUST include the following:
  • Team Members (include which team member will be presenting).
  • Project/Service/Competition Description
  • Problem Being Solved
  • Competitive Advantage (Why you are better than competitors, lighter, faster, stronger, cheaper, more features? etc.)
  • Innovative Elements (How you are differentiated!)
  • Societal Impact (Is this green or sustainable?)

Early April - Preliminary Competition
End of April - Elevator Pitch/Project Plan Final Competition Stevens Innovation Expo