I2M Student Business Plan Competition

Innovation and entrepreneurial activity is vital to economic development and societal well-being. Hosted by the University of Alberta Technology Commercialization Centre, the I²M Student Business Plan Competition is a community building initiative designed to encourage entrepreneurship amongst post-secondary students. The focus of the competition is on Science, Technology and Innovation. The competition is launching this fall with the finals to be held Saturday, January 28^th, 2012. There are two categories:

Technology:

The commercial application of scientific knowledge or radical innovation. Sponsored by TEC Edmonton - Venture Prize www.ventureprize.com

Open-Innovation:

Creative mobilization of resources (e.g. opportunity, products, markets, team, financial) with high potential to be a successful new venture. Sponsored by TCP www.tc-partnership.com

The Opportunity

With this invitation students have the opportunity to:

focus their busines desires into a formal action plan;
obtain valuable feedback from local business leaders and experts;
receive one of the top six invitations to present to a panel of judges;
per category earn $6,000 for 1^st place or one of two runner-up prizes of $2,000;
network with business leaders, venture capitalists, investors and government representatives;
interaction with high achieving student entrepreneurs.

Eligibility

All teams must consist of at least 1 part-time or full-time student registered for the 2011/2012 year. Alternatively, students are eligible that have graduated in the year prior to the competition, from a Northern Alberta academic institution.

Teams may consist of members from different areas of expertise or academic institutions.

Teams can be made up of an unlimited number of people. Teams can only submit one business plan.

The business plan must represent an innovative technology or an innovative application of technology. The proposal must represent original work by the submitting team or include a licensing agreement with the owner/inventor. Teams hoping to commercialize existing technologies should speak with the I²M regarding the eligibility of these applications.

The business plan should consist of novel technology business opportunities and not represent an existing business venture that has previously received external financing.

I²M reserves the right to disqualify any submissions that fail to adhere to the guidelines, deadlines, and spirit of the program.

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