PEN Boston and Chicago Social Enterprise Pitch Competitions

PEN Boston and Chicago Social Enterprise Pitch Competition

Semi-Finals Leading Up To the Social Enterprise Business Plan Competition

At Princeton Entrepreneurs’ Network National Conference

The Boston and Chicago Chapters of the Princeton Entrepreneurs’ Network cordially invite you to compete in and attend parallel Social Enterprise Pitch Competitions, to be hosted in Boston on April 21st, 2010 and Chicago on April 22nd, 2010. Four teams will be invited to compete at each regional division, the top two scoring teams determined from each event will advance to the first inaugural Social Enterprise Business Plan Competition to be hosted during Princeton Entrepreneurs’ Network’s National Conference on May 28^th, 2010.

Finalists: Sanergy ~ Global Health Bridge ~ Zumer ~ Hippo

Semi-Finalists: Africa Biofuel ~ Global Health Bridge ~ Sanergy ~ Engineering Global Growth ~ Daughters of Judith ~ Zumer ~ Hippo ~ Open Endowment

Thank you to our semi-final round supporters: 

Ariel Investments, CCR, Chicago Booth, McCarter & English, ShoreBank, VisCap, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

Thank you to our semi-final round Judges:

Alden Zecha - Principal, Adz Group

Scott Richardson - Project Consultant, Root Cause Consulting

Rebecca Nemec - Interim Project Director - Boston Public Health Commission

Linda  L. Darragh - Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship

Jason Tyler - Senior VP, Investment Committee, Ariel Investments

Leslie David - Executive Chair, ShoreBank

The top two contestants from each event (four total) will advance to present at the Princeton Entrepreneurs’ Network Social Enterprise Business Plan Competition at Princeton University on May 28th, 2010, where the winner of a $10,000 cash and other prizes will be determined.  Leading up to the event, the four semi-finalists will have the opportunity to work with a mentor to modify and sharpen the business plan and slides prior to final submission.

Rules & Submission Guidelines

To be considered for the Boston or Chicago Social Enterprise Pitch Competitions, candidates must submit a 10 PAGE MAXIMUM PDF format condensed Business Plan (financials may be included as an appendix.)

The Business Plans should include the following to fulfilling the judging criteria below:

• Name and location of the company
• General description of the business and revenue model
• Assessment of the market potential and competitive landscape
• Assessment of the social/environmental return, and strategy to leverage this impact
• Names and brief bios of management, key personnel and/or advisors
• Financial summary, including sources and uses of past and future capital

The submitting company must promote a social or environmental benefit, and both not-for-profit and for-profit business models are eligible.  Additionally, companies must have received no more than $500,000 in cash investments by the submission deadline.

There is no fee to submit a pitch, and no direct Princeton affiliation is required for submission.  

Please note that the file name must include the company name and the words “Chicago” or “Boston” to indicate whether the contestant is applying to the Chicago or Boston competition (GreenBizCo_Boston_Executive Summary.pdf). BASED ON CLOSER PROXIMITY, CONTESTANTS MUST CHOOSE EITHER THE BOSTON OR CHICAGO EVENTS TO SUBMIT AND POTENTIALLY PRESENT.

Deadlines & Presentation Dates

The submission deadline for both events is April 1st, 2010. All submitting companies will be notified via email of their status no later than April 9th, 2010. Four contestants will be chosen to present at each location: Boston Social Enterprise Pitch Competition contestants will present in front of a panel of judges at the April 21st, 2010; Chicago Social Enterprise Pitch Competition contestants will present in front of a panel of judges at the Chicago event on April 22nd, 2010.

Each contestant will have 8 minutes to present, and will then engage in a question/answer session with judges for 2 minutes.

Contestants may use a maximum of 5 slides in PDF format for projection from a PC (not Mac) during their presentation, and access to the internet and multi-media compatibility should not be expected. Guidelines for submitting slides will be provided to the four qualifying contestants for each event .

Judging Criteria (For Both Business Plans & Pitches)

Again, both for-profit and not-for-profit business models will be considered equally.

Judging will be based on the merits of the overall market opportunity and strategy/creativity of the company to capture that opportunity, the degree to which the company will deliver and leverage a significant social or environmental impact, and overall feasibility of the business plan.  The quality of the business plans and presentations themselves will also be considered. 

Confidentiality

Note that any materials that you submit to PEN will be shared with a limited set of screeners and panelists who will review the materials in order to select the contestants. While these individuals are asked to keep materials confidential and PEN does not intend to share your materials beyond those individuals, PEN cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any materials that you provide. All material transmission is done by email, which is not guaranteed to be secure. In addition contestants are required to present their business pitch at a meeting that is open to all PEN members and guests.