Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition

Description

General Rules and Judging Criteria 

Individuals wishing to participate in the competition must register with the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs, provide a completed Business Plan and a request for funding, including a dollar amount and intended use, to the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs five days prior to the competition.  This year that date is April 29, 2025

An opportunity to practice their presentation will be available one week prior to the actual competition.  Judges will provide feedback to those presenting so they can polish their presentation prior to the competition.  The practice is optional, but highly recommended. 

Entrepreneurs have 10 minutes to pitch their ideas to the panel. 

• All presentations are private. Only the presenter, judges, and timekeeper are present.  
• PowerPoint presentations, flip charts, and samples are permitted. 
• Judges are limited to 10 minutes Q&A.
• The timekeeper will give a two-minute warning and stop the presentation and Q/A when time expires.

Judges will sign a confidentiality agreement prior to the competition to protect the ideas of the business participating in the competition.

The judges’ role is to evaluate the presentation of the business plan, financial projections, and the likelihood of success and growth in the existing market.  

The judging criteria will include:

• Executive Summary
• Mission
• Goals and Objectives
• Background Information
• Organizational Matters
• Marketing Plan
• Financial Plan

The judges can choose to award a portion of the $6,000 prize fund in the business ventures presented.

After the presentations are completed, the judges will determine which participant(s) will be awarded prize money based on the merit of the business, the criteria listed above, and how the money will be used in the business.  Up to $6,000 in prize money will be available to be awarded.