Supporting content
Vocabulary, the judging rubric, presentation craft, research tools, and the full program schedule — everything that supports the three lectures.
Industry reports — size, trends, and the 5-year outlook.
ibisworld.com → 📊Employment, wages, and industry data straight from the source.
bls.gov → 📈Fast stats on markets, consumers, and trends.
statista.com → 🗺️Demographics and geographics for defining your target market.
census.gov → 🔎Is interest in your idea rising or falling? See the curve.
trends.google.com → 🏦SBIC, SBIR, STTR and loan guarantees for real startups.
sba.gov →| Term | Definition | Lecture |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneurship | Taking a risk to start and run your own business in order to solve a problem or fill a need for others. | 1 |
| Business Opportunity | A specific situation where a product or service can be sold to a group of people because there is clear demand or a problem that needs solving. | 1 |
| Business Plan | A written guide that explains what a business does, how it will make money, and the step-by-step goals it needs to reach. | 1 |
| Market Research | Gathering information about what customers want and what competitors are doing so you can make smarter decisions. | 1 |
| Business Competition | The rivalry between companies trying to sell similar products or services to the same customers. | 2 |
| SWOT Analysis | A framework for identifying internal Strengths and Weaknesses, and external Opportunities and Threats. | 2 |
| Competitive Analysis | Researching your rivals' products, prices, and marketing so you can find ways to do better. | 2 |
| Unique Value Proposition | A clear statement of exactly why your product is better or different — and why a customer should choose you. | 2 |
| Target Market | The specific group a business focuses on selling to, defined by traits like age, interests, or location. | 2 |
| Marketing Plan | A written strategy for reaching your target market, promoting your products, and persuading people to buy. | 2 |
| Definition of One Unit | The smallest individual item or service a business sells, used to measure profit and costs. | 3 |
| Startup Expenses | One-time costs paid before opening — equipment, website, licenses. | 3 |
| Fixed Expenses | Regular bills that stay the same regardless of sales — rent, insurance. | 3 |
| Variable Expenses | Costs that change with sales volume — materials, packaging, shipping. | 3 |
| Startup Funding | Money gathered from savings, loans, or investors to cover initial costs. | 3 |
| Break-Even Point | When total sales exactly equal total expenses — no longer losing money, not yet profitable. | 3 |
Each item scored 0–6. Section 1: the ten slides of your pitch. Section 2: how you deliver them.
| Slide | What judges look for |
|---|---|
| 1 · Title | Business & CEO names, slogan, logo, contact info. |
| 2 · Problem / Opportunity | Empathy; trends; data proving the need; questions existing solutions. |
| 3 · Value Proposition | Solution aligned to the problem; innovative; considers multiple perspectives. |
| 4 · Underlying Magic | Explains how the product works; evidence & data; intellectual risk in design. |
| 5 · Target Market | Objective data; open to feedback; understands the customer's view. |
| 6 · Competitive Analysis | Direct + indirect rivals; advantage tied to the business model; anticipates shifts. |
| 7 · Marketing Plan | Clear metrics; channels matched to target market; long-term relationships. |
| 8 · Cost Structure | Delivery outlined; profitable, competitive price; feasible break-even plan. |
| 9 · Status & Future Plans | Short/long-term goals; benchmarks; funding source overview. |
| 10 · Ending | Thank you, names, logo, slogan, contact info. |
| Delivery · Mastery | Full command and deep knowledge of the material. |
| Delivery · Communication | Clear, persuasive; effective verbal tone and body language. |
| Delivery · Visual Aid | Professional deck that supports the speaker (not a script). |
| Delivery · Q&A | Concise, thoughtful answers to judge questions. |
≤ 5 words per line · ≤ 5 lines per slide · ≤ 5 text-heavy slides in a row. Images beat sentences.
High contrast; 1–2 clean fonts; titles 36pt+, body 24pt+; one idea per slide.
3-second eye contact per person; project to the back row; move purposefully, never pace.
Open with a stat, a “what if,” or a story — never with “My name is…”
Tell them the three things they'll learn, then transition clearly between them.
Mirror test for gestures; record yourself to catch the “umms” and fidgets.
| # | Session | What teams produce |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lecture 1 — The Leap | Mindset, plan elements, idea sources, research basics |
| 2 | TA Workshop — Idea Generation with AI | Opportunity vs. idea; brainstorm list |
| 3 | Breakout 1 | Final idea + industry research |
| 4 | Lecture 2 — The Edge | Competition, SWOT, UVP, target market, marketing |
| 5 | Breakout 2 | Competitive analysis + SWOT |
| 6 | TA Workshop — Elements of a Presentation | Elevator pitch |
| 7 | Breakout 3 | UVP + target market |
| 8 | TA Workshop — Marketing & Social Media | Channel strategy |
| 9 | Breakout 4 | Marketing goals, 4 P's, key metrics |
| 10 | Optional — Commercial Breakout | 15–30s commercial script |
| 11 | Lecture 3 — The Engine | Unit economics, break-even, funding |
| 12 | Breakout 5–6 + Presentation Prep | Finance plan; full pitch assembled & rehearsed |
| 13 | 🏆 Pitch Competition | 10-slide pitch, judged on the rubric above |