business plan competition

A record number of aspiring entrepreneurs entered 45 ideas for new ventures in the annual Olin Cup business plan competition this fall. As the race toward $75,000 in seed money enters its last stage, seven finalists are crunching numbers and honing their plans for the crucial final presentation to judges in January.

Seven entrepreneurs enter the final round of the Olin Cup business plan competition this month as they vie for $75,000 in seed money. Ken Harrington, managing director of the Skandalaris Center, co-sponsor of the Olin Cup, emceed the recent “Elevator Pitch” event where 17 semi-finalists had two minutes each to present their business plans. The teams presented privately in front of 16 judges, then presented publicly in front of an audience. Harrington said, “the judges, audience, and I were very impressed with the quality of this year’s pitches and ideas. We look forward to the next phase in the competition and seeing their full business plans.” Winners will be announced in February. Video report on the competition included.

The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition (SEIC) enters its fifth year with a new name in recognition of a St. Louis community foundation. The competition offers mentoring, business advice and workshops for social enterprise start-ups. Contestants in the seven month-long competition must pass several hurdles before investment awards, totaling thousands of dollars, are announced next spring for the most promising ventures.

From home-delivered soup to house calls, the finalists for the 2007 Olin Cup Competition were announced Nov. 8. Six teams, including four student-owned or student-supported ventures, remain in the annual business formation contest organized by the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. This year’s finalists were selected from a field of 12 teams. Ultimately, two teams […]

The finalists for the 2007 Olin Cup Competition include six teams, four of which are student-owned or student-supported ventures. The annual business formation contest is organized by the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at WUSTL. Ultimately, two teams will win up to $70,000 in seed investment capital and a student-owned or – supported team will win a $5,000 cash prize.

Finalists for the inaugural Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Competition have been selected after a half-year of preparation. The eight finalists include entirely new business proposals and existing non-profit organizations. The winners will be announced at a special presentation May 11.

The winners of the 2005 Olin Cup Competition will be announced Thursday, December 1. Six finalists are in the running to receive a total of $70,000 in seed investments. Additionally, a $5,000 grant will be awarded to the best student-owned venture. The Olin Cup Competition is an annual business formation contest organized by The Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.