SMART 3.0 ONLINE PITCH COMPETITION

1. The Idea:

Too many great ideas will never see the light of day because not enough people have exposure to thinking like an entrepreneur. This competition aims to change that. Sign up on your own, get matched to a team, take self-paced lessons, create a pitch, compete together with your team for prize money. Simple.

Pick one of the following topics and let your imagination run wild. Brainstorm with your team, come up with ideas, pick one related to one of the three topics below, and dream big (but also be sure to look at the judging criteria below).

Exercise/fitness technology
Combating misinformation online
Environmental sustainability

2. Who it's for:

If you are enrolled in a full-time study program at , this is for you. Born engineer? Social sciences idealist? Sign up and learn to think like an entrepreneur: creating a business plan, determining product/market fit, giving a pitch, etc. There are enough dating apps. Learn the skills you need to help make something useful, regardless of your background.

3. Features & Highlights:

Everyone regardless of their backgrounds can join — no specific expertise required
Accelerated workshops to develop an entrepreneurial mindset
Simply for the competition and we will do the team matching for you
Online competition, so you can work wherever is most convenient

4. What you need to do:

Pick one of the topics and create a business idea (for profit, non-profit — whatever your team decides)
Watch the course videos to understand more about creating a business plan, pitch deck, etc.
Create a business plan
Create a pitch deck
Present your team’s pitch in a 5 minute video

5. What you'll gain:

Take a first step to being an entrepreneur, whether as a side hustle or a start-up co-founder
Sharpen your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, language skills, business sense, etc.
Make new friends/contacts of diverse backgrounds from different countries
Cash prizes:
- 🏆 𝘿𝙞𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙: US$5,000 (0-1 team)
- 🥇 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙: US$3,000 (1 team)
- 🥈 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙: US$1,000 (1 team)
- 🥉 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙯𝙚 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙: US$300 (5 teams)

6. How to join:

Just fill out the . Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll assign you to a team in the first week of September, you and your team will work on your business plan and pitch, for submission by October 8th, 2021. (For more, see the timeline.)

7. Got more questions?

If you have questions or just want feedback on your ideas, join us on . Or, if you still prefer email: [email protected]