Global Entrepreneurship Week

Requirements

• Startup team should have at least one IEEE member (encouraged, but not required).
• Startup should showcase traction, i.e., have an MVP, dummy / demo app, business plan, initial market interest or any source of traction and commitment to their venture.
• Startups should submit a (5-7 minutes long) pitch video in English, and a pitch deck. We want a clear and understandable pitch video for all startups that will be used in the next phase of the Entrepreneurship week, where the top 3 startups from each event will compete on a regional level. In this phase, initial judging takes place virtually.
• Submission deadline is 14 February 2024, 11:59pm.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Innovative: The startup brings forward a new technology, adds to an existing technology, or uses a new application for an existing technology.
2. Scalability: The startup has room to grow its value proposition (i.e. additional applications) or its market (e.g. geographically, sector wise, industry wise, etc.).
3. Impact: The startup creates positive impact for its community, clients, and users, and champions sustainable engineering.
4. Market feasibility: The startup has the potential to, or has demonstrated its ability to enter the market and gain market share.
5. Business potential: The startup has the potential to, or has demonstrated its ability to sustain a profitable business operation.

Evaluation Process

1. Teams will have a 5 to 7-minute pitch presentation in front of a panel of judges and the audience, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session.
2. Teams will deliver their pitch deck presentations using slides.
3. Teams will receive valuable feedback from a panel of experienced and highly qualified judges.

Best pitching teams

Three best teams will be selected to compete in the regional pitch competition semi-finals. Their recorded pitch videos will be shared with a global panel of judges, from the entrepreneurship ecosystem, industry, academic and IEEE Region 8 volunteers. Semi-finals take place in the first quarter of next year and as a result, 5 - 10 startups will be selected to compete in the final. Startups competing in the final will receive high level mentorship to improve their concept, business plan, and pitch in preparation for the finals. Finals will be held at a high-class IEEE international event such as IEEE Region 8 Student and Young Professionals Congress, or possibly outside IEEE such as Web Summit or Wolves Summit.

Prizes & Awards

• 1st Prize: £200.00
• 1st Prize: £100.00
• 3rd Prize: £50.00

Enter Pitch Competition