Barney School Annual Business Plan Competition

Entrepreneurship is one of the vibrant engines of our economy and an essential source of growth, energy, and creativity. Recent research indicates that at least 70% of both high school seniors and the US work force are considering going into business for themselves. Most likely you are one of them. We are pleased to offer to all degree-enrolled students at the University of Hartford Barney School of Business the opportunity to compete in the Annual Business Plan competition. It is the opportunity to showcase your ideas, which could lead to the next business venture.
The Barney School Business Plan Competition is the framework for identifying creative and motivated students and providing a platform for developing their entrepreneurial talents. Business plan competition would inspire them to develop their business ideas from general concept to market.

THE COMPETITION CATEGORIES

Individual students or groups of students will compete against each other in any two categories:

• Undergraduate Student Competition
• Graduate Student Competition

COMPETITION DATES

• Deadline for the registration form submissions is November 4, 5:00PM. You may submit your registration form electronically to naoumova@hartford.edu or bring it in the hard copy to Auerbach Hall, Room 310, Department of Management and Marketing
• Deadline for the Business Plan submissions is November 25, 5:00PM. Submit your plan electronically in pdf format to naoumova@hartford.edu or bring it in hard copy to Auerbach Hall, Room 310, Department of Management and Marketing

• Presentations to judges –
• Undergraduate students:  December 2 and 4 (12:00 – 4:00PM, room A326)
• Graduate students:  December 2 (5:00 – 9:00PM, room A326)
• Award Banquet - December 9, 5:30-7:00 PM

COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS

Each student or group of students will be required to make a 5-minute elevator presentation in front of judges who are either entrepreneurs or connected to entrepreneurship activities in the state. Two finalists for each category will be required to present at the award ceremony.

Undergraduate and Graduate competition entries require an on-line formal plan submission and a presentation to the judges.

Formal Plan Submissions should include the following sections:

• Product/service description, including unique aspects
• Business model
• Target market niche, number of prospective customers and the Annual demand in units
• Competitive landscape
• Sales and distribution plan
• Amount of new investment sought and intended use

2009 BARNEY BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION “CLINIC SESSIONS”

• Managing entrepreneurial company (Speaker: Gerald Vitkauskas, Retired President of AIG Credit Group; October 21, room A320, 5:00-6:00PM)
• Business Plan Competition requirements (Instructor: Irina Naoumova, Assist. Prof. of Entrepreneurship; November 2, room A326, 12:30-1:30PM)
• Legal Framework for Small Businesses (Speaker: Karen Gantt, Associate Professor of Business Law; November 11, room A320, 5:00-6:00PM)
• Business Plan Financials (Speaker: Mitchell Weiss, Founder of M.D. Weiss LLC; November 11, room A320, 7:30- 8:15 PM)

COMPETITION AWARD CEREMONY

As a part of the 2009 Barney Business Plan Competition events the top management of the Harford county established businesses would be present at the traditional Barney School award ceremony at Club 1877(December 9:  5:30-7:00 pm)

LINK TO REGISTRATION FORM (Click below)
LINK TO REGISTRATION FORM

LINK TO BUSINESS PLAN REQUIREMENTS (Click below)
LINK TO BUSINESS PLAN REQUIREMENTSW
LINK TO BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE 
LINK TO BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE (Click below)
LINK TO BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE