Compete
Overview
Welcome to the 2015 Johns Hopkins University Business Plan Competition (BPC) website. We appreciate your interest in participating in this year's event. The General Business Category of the competition is open to teams from all schools within Johns Hopkins University. The Medical Technology and Life Sciences Category has two tracks this year, the Undergraduate track and the Graduate Track. The Medical Technology and Life Science Category tracks are open nationwide to teams that meet the eligibility requirements for participation. The Social Enterprise Category of the competition is opent to teams from the DELMARVA region that meet the eligibilty requirements. Student from SAIS Nanjing will be participating for the Hassenfeld Fund.
From all entries, judges will narrow the field to the best thirty-two teams in four categories: general business, medical technology and life science undergraduate track, medical technology and life sciences graduate track, and social enterprises. All finalists will present plans in front of an audience and panel of judges in the final presentation round on May 1, 2015..
Teams will complete for $72,000 in prize money. Teams will have the opportunity to meet and network with JHU alumni, early stage investors, and successful entrepreneurs who will serve as judges for the competition.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Qualification to participate in the competition is determined by the criteria outlined in the Business Concepts and Strategy section and by meeting the deadlines as outlined.
How to Enter
Prior to submitting your application, please review eligibility requirements and submission guidelines. We will begin accepting BPC entries on January 1, 2015. Applications must be submitted online via the online platform by the DEADLINE. A team leader should be designated to complete the following steps:
Step 1:
Create a new user account on YouNoodle or PitchBurner.
Step 2:
Submit the online enrollment form.
Step 3:
Upload the Teams Business Concept and Strategy in .pdf format
Step 4:
Upload a video pitch (three minutes or less) to VIMEO or YouTube and include the link to the video pitch. Team leaders may also invite additional team members to the online platform so they may upload materials as needed.
Steps 1-3 must be completed by DEADLINE. Teams may make changes to the application until the deadline. The system will close at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2015. No new applications will be accepted and no changes may be made to existing entries after this date and time. Partial applications will not be accepted.
Note: Students may compete on multiple teams and submit an unlimited number of plans in each BPC category. However, students on multiple teams must ensure that each team has a sufficient number of members to represent each concept should more than one team advance to the Final Presentation Round. Finals for all four categories will occur simultaneously on Friday, May 1, 2015..
Important Competition Deadlines
| Monday, February 16, 2015 | 12:00 pm EST (noon) | Deadline to submit Business Concept & Strategy and Video Pitch. |
| Monday, March 2, 2015 | 12:00 pm EST (noon) | Semi-Finalists must submit a 3-5 page Short Business Plan |
| Monday, March 30, 2015 | 12:00 pm EST (noon) | Full Written Business Plans due. |
| Friday, May 1, 2015 | 1:00 pm EST | Final Presentation Round |
Use of Competition Materials: The Center for Leadership Education and Johns Hopkins University reserves the right to use any material prepared for the BPC for the purpose of publicizing and promoting the event. The Center for Leadership Education and Johns Hopkins University may use these materials in any printed materials and any videotape or other medium that it may produce. The Center for Leadership Education and Johns Hopkins University may videotape any portion of the Competition and utilize these tapes in any way that it sees fit.
Changes to Competition Rules: While not anticipated, BPC rules and prizes are subject to change at any time. Interpretation of the rules will be at the sole discretion of The Center for Leadership Education, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University.
Decisions regarding the Competition and the Winners: All decisions regarding the competition rules, procedures, and processes are at the sole discretion of the Center for Leadership Education and Johns Hopkins University. Changes and/or interpretations of these rules may be made by the Center for Leadership Education and Johns Hopkins University at any time, even though they may be (or may appear to be) in conflict with some previously published information. The selection of teams and winners is at the sole discretion of the judges and the Center for Leadership Education.
