Enterprise Center at Salem State University

2018 BUSINESS PLAN PROGRAM & COMPETITION

PITCHPANELAPPLICATION

Overview

The Enterprise Center at Salem State University is launching its 2018 BUSINESS PLAN PROGRAM & COMPETITION. This yearlong initiative, which begins in January 2018 and ends with theCompetition Finale on December 4, 2018, has been improved to help businesses strengthen their planning and operations in advance of entering the Competition.

For the first time in the Competition’s 13-year history, businesses that want to enter the Competition will have anopportunity to PITCH their business idea before entering the formal Competition, if they choose to do so. The goal of aPITCHPanel Session is to help applicants improve their business idea, receive feedback from business professionals, and therebystrengthentheir business.

In order to enter the PITCHPanel each business must meet the following criteria of the 2018 Business Plan Competition. The business must:

Eligibility

  1. Start-up businesses that are less than three years old (including those not yet operational) and early stage growth businesses may apply.
  2. Growth companies that are older than three years may apply IF they are developing growth through a new product, service line, expansion or implementation of a new strategic plan. Growth trajectory MUST be clear to be eligible.
  3. Applicants must be located in or must relocate to one of 30 cities and towns that make up the North Shore.*
  4. If the business plan is for a startup business, that business must commit to locating in one of 30 cities and towns that make up the North Shore.*
  5. Businesses must have plans to grow the equivalent of at least 5 full-time employees (FTEs) in addition to the founders or existing workforce within three years.
  6. Your business idea must beoriginal workthat you will be fully able to disclose.
  7. Any non-venture funded business is eligible.
  8. Businesses with existing professional venture investment are not eligible.
  9. Non-profit organizations are not eligible.

Amesbury * Beverly * Boxford * Danvers * Essex * Georgetown * Gloucester * Groveland * Hamilton* Ipswich* Lynn* Lynnfield* Manchesterby the Sea* Marblehead * Middleton * Nahant * Newbury * Newburyport * Peabody * Revere * Rockport* Rowley * Salem* Salisbury * Saugus * Swampscott * Topsfield * Wenham * West Newbury * Winthrop

What is the PITCHPanelprocess?

All businesses interested in participating in a PITCHPanel Session, must do the following:

  1. Fill out the attached PITCHPanel Application Form and submit it, via email, to the Enterprise Center.PITCHPanel Session dates and deadlinesarelisted below and scheduling is based on a first come/first serve basis.
  2. Once the PITCHPanel Applicationis received, it will be reviewed and, if the business idea meets the eligibility criteria listed above, the business will be invited to “PITCH” their business idea to a panel ofPITCHPanel Coaches.
  3. Each PITCHPanel Session will last 25 minutes. The business will have 10 to 12 minutes to PITCH the business idea, and the PITCHPanel Coaches will have the remaining time to provide feedback and comments.
  4. PITCHPanel Session participants must be prepared to cover the following topics in their PITCH:
  • What is the business idea? Product or Service.
  • Why is the business idea unique?
  • What market does thisbusiness serve/ plan to serve, and what is the demonstrated need for this product or service?
  • What obstacles is the business facing now and in the near future?

PITCHPanel Application Schedule and Dates

Applicants must fill out thePITCHPanel Application Form and upon receipt and approval will be scheduled for one of the four (4) PITCH Panel Sessions listed below. PITCH Panel Application Forms must be submitted a minimum of one week prior to the PITCH Panel Session dates scheduled below:

January 2018

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 PITCH PANEL Application due to the Enterprise Center

Thursday, January 25, 2018PITCH PANEL, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

March 2018

Wednesday, March 14, 2018PITCH PANEL Application due to the Enterprise Center

Wednesday, March 21, 2018PITCH PANEL, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

May 2018

Wednesday, May 9, 2018PITCHPANELApplication due to the Enterprise Center

Wednesday, May 16, 2018PITCH PANEL, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

July 2018

Wednesday, July 11, 2018PITCH PANEL Application due to the Enterprise Center

Wednesday, July 18, 2018, PITCH PANEL, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

If you have any questions, please contact:If you have any questions please contact: Noreen Hazelton, Enterprise Center Assistant Director at 978-542-7576 or .

BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

PITCH PANEL APPLICATION

  1. PITCH Panel Applications will be processed on a “rolling admission” basis. This means that upon receipt and approval of your PITCH Panel Application, you will be scheduled for one the four (4) PITCH Panel Sessions listed below. Every effort will be made to schedule you for the PITCH Panel Session of your choice. However, PITCH Panel Session Applications must be submitted a minimum of one week prior to the scheduled PITCH Panel Session dates below:

__January 2018

Tuesday, January 23, 2018PITCHPanel Application due to the Enterprise Center

Thursday, January 25, 2018PITCH Panel, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

__March 2018

Wednesday, March 14, 2018PITCHPanel Application due to the Enterprise Center

Wednesday, March 21, 2018PITCH Panel, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

__May 2018

Wednesday, May 9, 2018PITCHPanel Application due to the Enterprise Center

Wednesday, May 16, 2018PITCH Panel, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

__July 2018

Wednesday, July 11, 2108PITCHPanel Application due to the Enterprise Center

Wednesday, July 18, 2018, PITCH Panel, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

  1. Business Name______
  1. URL/website ______

(If you do not have one write NA)

  1. Address______

Street______

City or town______

  1. Business phone #______
  1. Name of Applicant______
  1. Your Title______
  1. Your Email ______
  1. Retype email______
  1. Cell Phone #______
  1. Please give us athree to five sentence description of your business or business idea.

______

______

______

  1. Is this a product or service business?
  2. ___ Product
  3. ___ Service
  1. What year was your business founded?______
  1. How much capital, if any, have you raised?______
  1. Current number of employees ______

(FT, PT, other)

  1. What are your growth plans for the ______

next 12 months?

  1. Is there any additional information that you believe is important to evaluate your eligibility and/or business potential that you want to share with us?

______

______

______

Only email applications will be accepted. Please complete this application, save it as a PDF document if possible and email it . You will receive an email confirmation of your application. If you have any questions, please contact: If you have any questions please contact: Noreen Hazelton, Enterprise Center Assistant Director at 978-542-7576 or .

1