Information for Competitors
Eligibility
All teams must have at least two but not more than five members. All teams must have at least one University of Hawaii student. Proof of student status (copy of valid student id card or registration receipt) will be required with the executive summary. The University of Hawaii student must play a key role on the team. Individuals may only be a member of one team per annual competition.
Entry Criteria
All entries must be for new companies and business ideas, or existing companies less than one year old. Businesses may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Registration
Registration is done online. Register online today.
Registration for the 2009 UH Business Plan Competition is now closed.
Key Deadlines
Make sure to meet all key deadlines which can be found on the business plan competition timeline.
Message Board
A competition message board is set up for you to find a team or find other team members. The board is updated regularly and all messages are subject to editing.
Prizes
- Substantial cash prizes will be awarded to the highest scoring teams.
- Please note that these awards are taxable.
- Each team winning a prize will have sole responsibility for deciding how to allocate or otherwise use its prize proceeds. The organizers of the Competition will not become involved, either voluntarily or by request, in a team's decision concerning the allocation or use of prize proceeds.
Coaches
Teams that reach the semi-final round will be assigned a business coach who can help with the business plan process. Teams can indicate their preferences in their registration form.
Judges
Contest judges will be drawn from a variety of backgrounds, including venture capitalists, attorneys, accountants, UH alumni, entrepreneurs, UH faculty and other professionals.
Academic Credit
Participation in the competition does not qualify for academic credit at this time.
Confidentiality
The University of Hawaii Honor Code applies to all participants of the UH Business Plan Contest. If you feel that significant confidentiality issues will arise in the course of preparing your plan, you should have a thorough understanding worked out with your team members in advance. While every effort will be made to preserve the confidentiality of each submission, it is suggested that highly sensitive material be excluded from the entry if a team is concerned about the confidentiality of such material. Note, however, that teams will be making final presentations to an open audience. Of course, technical drawings and formulae need not be shown at this presentation, or even included in the business plan. All reasonable measures to ensure the protection of intellectual property introduced and associated with the Contest will been taken. The University of Hawaii and the organizers of the UH Business Plan Contest cannot take further responsibility to protect the intellectual property or other rights of the contestants. Protection of such rights is ultimately the responsibility of each Contestant. Contestants are urged to mark as "CONFIDENTIAL" any portion of their entries which they consider to be confidential.