The 6 M’s | Why Compete in UF’s Big Idea Competition?

By Jamie Kraft, Director, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center

As another busy semester comes to a close at the University of Florida, we find ourselves once again soliciting registrations for the 2019 Big Idea Competition. With a deadline of December 15, you don’t want to miss this amazing opportunity. Why is it amazing? hMMMMMM…

 

 

 

 

Motivation

By participating in the competition, you will be accountable to deadlines that can fuel you to completion of your business plan. In addition, by working with others on a business planning team and surrounding yourself with others in the competition, you will be able to leverage all that energy to move you to the finish line.

Meet

You will have the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who are motivated to solve problems and deliver value to the marketplace. Potential co-founders, teammates, and partners will be available to the left and the right of you. Value that, celebrate that, take advantage of that.

Maintenance

Many folks have ideas but they are not sure what should be included in their plan or where to begin. By participating in the competition, you will have access to the Business Plan Lab where you will receive faculty oversight and guidance regarding the layout of your plan and the information needed to convey your compelling message…and you will be able to revise and pivot based on the feedback.

Mentoring

Every participant in the competition has the opportunity to be connect with a been there, done that mentor who will serve as a guide, advisor, business expert, sounding board and general motivator. In addition, if they do not have the answer they will help to triage the situation and connect you to those who can help.

Magic

This is where the rubber hits the road and it all comes together….you will have the chance to pitch your plan…to teammates, to faculty, to advisors, to judges, to investors, to entrepreneurs and anyone else who will listen. More importantly, you will receive valuable feedback on your business model and the opportunity that you are pursuing.

Money

Or funding. Or capital. Or investment. Call it what you want, doing well in the competition can ultimately lead to prizes on the order of $25,000, $10,000, $5,000 or $1,000…free money…no equity taken and not a loan. Enough said…get on it and register for the Big Idea Competition here!