• When are applications due? Is there any flexibility in that?
  
  • Applications are due on Friday, April 30th. We will review them and let each team know their company has been accepted and you are eligible to participate in the competition.
    
    
• What does the schedule for this year’s virtual competition look like?
  • We are using a new and exciting pitch portal this year called PitchTape, so companies will record their pitches in advance using this new system. 
    
  • The schedule of the competition is as follows:
    • Business Pitch Competition teams will create and submit pitch by Friday, May 14 via the PitchTape portal
    • Judges will rate pitches by Wednesday, May 19
    • Ciocca Center will host a final competition on Friday, May 21st for the top 3 companies in each track to pitch 
      
      
• Does my team need to be there on May 21st? 
  • The top 3 scoring teams from each track will each pitch live on Friday, May 21st to determine the winners, so make sure that your team is available to pitch that evening in case your team qualifies. Also, the Greatest Social Impact prize and Most Interdisciplinary will be given out at that time. Teams who are not in the final are eligible for these two special prizes. 
    
    
• What key points do we need to touch on during our pitch?
  • There are 9 topics to discuss in your pitch that will be prompted via the portal:
    • Intro - What are your names and company name?
    • Problem - What problem are you solving?
    • Solution - What is the product or service you are building to solve the problem?
    • Market - What is the size of your market and who are major players in it now?
    • Advantage - What is your insight - what do existing players not get? What are you doing differently? What’s
      your “secret sauce”?
    • Business model - How are you going to make money? Pricing? Margins?
    • Traction - What have you achieved? Any big upcoming milestones?
    • Team - Who is on your team?
    • Ask - What are you asking for? Be specific - funding, connections, advice?

• What makes me eligible to compete
  
  • Teams must include at least 2 active members
  • All SCU students are welcome to participate
  • The proposed business should be fundable and for-profit 
  • The proposed business plan/pitch should not be in violation of any IP right. This is what we will be reviewing after applications are submitted.
    
    
• What should my business pitch look like?
  • Your company/team should be prepared with a 3 minute presentation. 
  • Once applications are reviewed and the teams are selected, we will send material out regarding how to pitch using the Ciocca Center Virtual Portal via Pitchtape.
    
    
• How will the competition work virtually?
  • Business Plan Competition teams will create and submit pitch by Friday, May 14 via the PitchTape portal
  • Judges will rate pitches by Wednesday, May 19th
  • Top 3 teams of each track will be notified Thursday, May 20th that they are in the finals
  • Ciocca Center will host the final competition on Friday, May 21st for the top 3 companies in each track to pitch, via Zoom
    
    
• What are my best chances? How do I succeed? 
  • Practice makes perfect here. Make sure to get with your team and complete some run throughs. Send them in for feedback, we are happy to work with you! Pitchtape makes it easy for you to follow along with pitch prompts and record with your entire group!
  • Know that the company idea is equally as important as the actual pitch. Judging will be based on the quality of your product/service/solution, market opportunities and competition, fundability, overall attractiveness of the venture and quality of the pitch presentation.
    
    
• How will our company's pitch be scored or judged?
  • You will be scored by the following criteria on a scale of 1 to 5
    • Quality of the product(s), service(s), and/or solution(s)
    • Market opportunities and competition
    • Is the business fundable?
    • Overall attractiveness of the venture
    • Quality of the pitch/presentation
  • Judges will review the pitches on the Pitchtape portal and will be able to provide commenst and feedback

• We will be hosting BPC Support Sessions during the following times:
  • Friday, May 7th 9am-11am
  • Tuesday, May 11th 9am-10am, 3-5pm
  • Thursday, May 13th 9am-11am, 5-6pm
• These sessions can be used for questions about the PitchTape portal, competition as a whole, or even
  as an opportunity to practice your pitch.
• Zoom details are available in initial competition email

Click here to see a recording of the competition that took place on May 21, 2021. 

• $10,000 in cash prizes will be awarded
  
  
• Prizes will be awarded as follows for each of the 3 tracks:

1st Place - $1500

2nd Place - $1000

3rd Place - $500

• There will be special awards given to the following teams:

  Most Interdisciplinary Team - $500

  Greatest Social Benefit or Impact - $500