Recommended Business Competitions

Competitions are organized by the month during which they take place. Application deadlines and event dates are approximate and are based on previous years. Please confirm exact dates by visiting the websites provided.

Selected Competitions listed below were chosen based on the following criteria:

  • Nationally recognized competitions
  • Themes that align with Lang's mission and values
  • Sponsored by key external organizations

Industry Run Competitions 

(Eligible for  two  Lang branded items) 

Additional Competitions

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The BMO Apex Startup Challenge

Apex business competition winners

The BMO Apex Startup Challenge invites students and entrepreneurs from across Canada to compete at the largest competition of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

Thanks to the generous support of BMO and our sponsors, teams will pitch their ideas to successful business leaders to win $30,000 in prizes.

  • Event brochure

Sponsorship package

Register now

Student business plan track New venture track

The hybrid experience

The two-day 2024 Apex Hybrid Competition’s online and in-person elements provide flexibility for participants to take part from anywhere. Students and entrepreneurs will be engaged in webinars with the business community, ice-breaker social activities and networking opportunities with sponsors.

Online elements

  • Pre-competition mentorship and coaching
  • Elevator pitch workshop

Hybrid elements

  • Eliminations
  • Elevator pitch round
  • Final rounds
  • Panel sessions
  • Gala awards and dinner

Event schedule

Participants will have the flexibility to take part remotely regardless of the time differences with Fredericton, New Brunswick. We encourage all participants to take part in the networking events for a chance to win additional exciting prizes. Participants will receive more details on the networking fun activities closer to the date.

Thursday, Jan. 25

  • Student business plan track (eliminations)
  • New venture track (eliminations)
  • Lunch and networking afternoon
  • Elevator pitch and networking evening

Friday, Jan. 26

  • Student business plan track (finals)
  • New venture track (finals)
  • Awards and gala dinner evening

Competition track logos

Winners 2024

Investment presentation awards

Undergraduate track

  • First place | $5,000 | Aquavantage – St. Francis Xavier University Our innovative tool streamlines the handling, measuring, and banding processes, addressing inefficiencies in the Lobster fishing industry. Our user-friendly solution, designed for commercial fishermen and deckhands, ensures precision and compliance while saving time and effort. We offer a game-changing product that simplifies lobster.

At athlete aid, we are committed to enhancing injury management and prevention in high-contact minor sports leagues across North America that lack on site-medical services, like athletic therapists. Our software acts as a sports triage service that provides young athletes with game-time decisions on whether they can continue playing without worsening their injury. Based on their symptoms, our app uses AI to pull from our database, providing individuals with a diagnosis, recommendations and rehab.

The school bus system in New Brunswick is unable to provide accurate and timely reporting, leading to uncertainty for both parents and school administrators. MapMyBus aims to solve these problems through bus tracking software.

Graduate track

  • First place | $5,000 | BeBlended – University of Waterloo BeBlended is an online marketplace that connects Black clients with freelance hairstylists that can work on afro-curly hair textures. Hairstylists receive access to a tailored client base, hairstyling gigs and a platform that manages all back-office business operations. Overall, both clients and hairstylists are met with a variety of tailored software tools and resources to enhance their experience within the Black hair care industry.
  • Second place | $2,000 | Swish – University of Waterloo and Technical University of Munich Dust accumulation on solar panels reduces its efficiency by 60% and in 2020 it resulted in a revenue loss of $5 Billion. Currently, you can either clean the solar panels using fresh water, which is a massive waste of water or you can use cleaning robots which are very expensive. The solar panel cleaning market is worth $70 billion. At 'Swish' we are developing a cost-effective product to clean solar panels in a sustainable and economical way without the use of water or expensive cleaning robots.

Yellowbird Diagnostics, Inc. specializes in biomedical imaging solutions across commonly used clinical imaging techniques. Our imaging solutions aim to embolden physicians with actionable diagnostic information earlier in to the onset of disease, while seamlessly integrating into existing clinical workflows.

New venture track

  • First place | $6,000 | Aruna Revolution – Nova Scotia Aruna creates compostable menstrual pads using natural fibers extracted from local food and crop waste. Aruna sustainably, locally manufactures to provide affordable, body and planet-friendly menstrual care. We'll divert 20B menstrual products from landfills annually in North America and repurposing local agricultural waste that otherwise releases GHGs. Our commitment to sustainability and safety sets us apart from competitors, embodying true model of circular economy and community-based sustainability.

Altheda is a natural product company focused on delivering education and products designed to proactively promote and maintain healthy aging. By bridging the gap between science, nature, and medicine, our team of scientists and health experts have created a suite of innovative products supporting optimal health and wellness as you age. Our products and educational pieces are intended to target following areas of need as our bodies age: brain, eyes, bladder, skin and immune system health.

  • Second place | $2,000 | Parados – New Brunswick We use computer vision AI to turn your phone into a motion capture system.

Elevator pitch

  • First place | $1,000 | Foodage – University of Waterloo Foodage enables restaurants to optimize staffing and reduce waste by predicting future demand. Despite restaurants contributing 4% of Canada's GDP, they consistently battle slim profit margins. Foodage uses Machine Learning software that integrates with restaurants Point of Sales systems to analyze historical sales and combine it with external factors (weather, events nearby, trends etc) to enhance forecasting accuracy. This unique approach provides a preventative solution to waste and staffing.
  • Second place | $500 | Aruna Revolution – Nova Scotia Aruna creates compostable menstrual pads using natural fibers extracted from local food and crop waste. Aruna sustainably, locally manufactures to provide affordable, body and planet-friendly menstrual care. We'll divert 20B menstrual products from landfills annually in North America and repurposing local agricultural waste that otherwise releases GHGs. Our commitment to sustainability and safety sets us apart from competitors, embodying true model of circular economy and community-based sustainability.

ReSpool - 2nd Cycle Filament addresses the linear economy prevalent in the 3D printing industry and by creating a circular economy turns 3D printing into a zero-waste process. ReSpool strategically targets educational institutions and public libraries as they prioritize sustainability. They are not only consumers but also suppliers of waste from 3D printing which ReSpool turns into "2nd Cycle Filament". ReSpool is dedicated to making a positive change on the environment and society.

  • Viewer’s choice best elevator pitch | $250 | Themis Core – University of New Brunswick Our venture, ThemisCore, pioneers the fusion of law and cutting-edge AI technology within the legal tech landscape. Leveraging innovative AI algorithms, we empower legal professionals with swift access to nuanced case insights. Our platform gathers and filters vast legal data so lawyers don't have to manually go through tons of databases. We also offer up to date tailored summaries and detailed information to each firms needs and jurisdiction while preserving user privacy.

Theme awards

  • BAUS Business Planning and Entrepreneurship Award | $500 | MapMyBus – University of New Brunswick The school bus system in New Brunswick is unable to provide accurate and timely reporting, leading to uncertainty for both parents and school administrators. MapMyBus aims to solve these problems through bus tracking software.
  • Entrepreneurial Powerhouse Award | $500 | BeBlended – University of Waterloo BeBlended is an online marketplace that connects Black clients with freelance hairstylists that can work on afro-curly hair textures. Hairstylists receive access to a tailored client base, hairstyling gigs and a platform that manages all back-office business operations. Overall, both clients and hairstylists are met with a variety of tailored software tools and resources to enhance their experience within the Black hair care industry.
  • McInnes Cooper Legal Services Package | Chick Pick – New Brunswick Chick Pick uses machine learning and computer vision to automate the chick-sorting process in chicken hatcheries.
  • Social Enterprise Award | $500 | EmployNXT – Nova Scotia Welcome to EmployNXT, where innovation meets diversity in the world of hiring. We're not just a platform; we're your strategic partner in reshaping the future of recruitment. With AI-enabled technology and GPT power at our core, EmployNXT stands as an industry trailblazer, offering an end-to-end solution for diversity hiring. For employers, we are the catalyst for change, revolutionizing hiring processes by automating 90% of the journey and boosting team efficiency by a remarkable 60%.
  • Rising Star Award | $500 | ReSpool – St. Francis Xavier University ReSpool - 2nd Cycle Filament addresses the linear economy prevalent in the 3D printing industry and by creating a circular economy turns 3D printing into a zero-waste process. ReSpool strategically targets educational institutions and public libraries as they prioritize sustainability. They are not only consumers but also suppliers of waste from 3D printing which ReSpool turns into "2nd Cycle Filament". ReSpool is dedicated to making a positive change on the environment and society.
  • Startup Innovation Award | $500 | Aruna Revolution – Nova Scotia Aruna creates compostable menstrual pads using natural fibers extracted from local food and crop waste. Aruna sustainably, locally manufactures to provide affordable, body and planet-friendly menstrual care. We'll divert 20B menstrual products from landfills annually in North America and repurposing local agricultural waste that otherwise releases GHGs. Our commitment to sustainability and safety sets us apart from competitors, embodying true model of circular economy and community-based sustainability.

The experience

The Apex experience extends beyond the competitive events, where competitors will be engaged in training workshops, networking opportunities with judges, potential investors and future employers.

  • Pre-competition mentorship on pitching and networking
  • Live practice rounds with experienced coaches
  • Minimum of two opportunities to present per team
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks both days
  • Networking opportunities to meet investors
  • Friday awards reception and dinner

Two competition tracks

Student business plan track.

This is the traditional Apex competition track for graduate or undergraduate students. Judges, entrepreneurs and business leaders mentor students making their first step as entrepreneurs.

  • Divided into two streams: Undergraduate teams and graduate teams
  • $20,000 in cash prizes and awards
  • Deliverables: 10-minute investor pitch presentation, executive summary, financials and 60-second elevator pitch
  • Travel subsidy of up to $500 per team available
  • No fees to apply or compete

For early-stage, scalable ventures looking to accelerate their growth to the next stage. Open to graduates, non-students and students running early-stage ventures. Judges play the role of investors.

  • Early stage ventures in any sector eligible
  • $10,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes
  • Deliverables:10 minute investor pitch presentation, executive summary, financials and 60 second elevator pitch
  • No fees to apply or competed

Event details

Eligibility, student track.

business plan competition canada

  • Actively enrolled full or part-time students and recent graduates in a post-secondary institution anywhere in the world. All team members cannot have graduated before May 1, 2023.
  • Any degree program.
  • Apply as an individual or in a team of up to four members.
  • Teams may be comprised of students from different post-secondary institutions.
  • Teams are required to compete in the track dictated by the highest educational level in the group. For example, if a team consists of two undergraduate members and one graduate member, the team is required to compete at the graduate level.
  • Apply individually or in a team consisting of a maximum of four members.
  • Teams consisting of students may apply, but it is up to the applicants to determine if they are better suited for the undergraduate or graduate track. Teams may apply for only one track.
  • Revenue is less than one million dollars per year (CAD).
  • Fewer than 25 employees.
  • Venture is less than three-years old.

This is a competitive event. A panel will review all applications and select the top participants to present in the BMO Apex Startup Challenge.

Deliverables

Executive summary.

A one-page (maximum) executive summary. Examples to use as a guide: Syracuse University , Seattle University , Rice University . 

Financial projections for a three-year period in any format that best demonstrates your venture’s financial potential.

Investment presentation slides

PowerPoint or Keynote slide deck, 10-15 slides. Presentations are maximum of ten minutes, plus ten minutes question and answer period. A good guide for your investment presentation is the Kawasaki pitch deck or Sequoia pitch deck .

60-second verbal pitch. No slide deck. Pitch delivered behind a podium with a mic to a large audience. No question and answer period.

Timing of deliverables

When your team applies, you will submite your executive summary, financials and investment presentation slides. If you are accepted to compete, you may submit an updated executive summary and financials up to Jan. 19. You will bring your final investment presentation with you to Apex, which may be updated before and at any time during the event. You elevator pitch does not need to be submitted at any time.  

Investment presentation prizes

business plan competition canada

Student track: Undergraduate

  • First place: $5,000
  • Second place: $2,000
  • Third place: $1,000

Student track: Graduate

$10,000 is allocated to up to three teams at the judges’ discretion.

Elevator pitch prizes

  • First place: $1,000
  • Second place: $500
  • Third place: $250
  • Viewer’s choice: $250

Five additional awards of $500 will be provided to teams.

Location and schedule

business plan competition canada

The BMO Apex Startup Challenge will be held at the Wu Conference Centre at the University of New Brunswick.

Travel subsidy

In addition to group rates on a downtown Fredericton hotel, Apex provides cash travel subsidies of up to $500 to teams traveling from outside Fredericton. Your university may also provide their own travel subsidy.

Final schedule to be provided in January 2024.

Thursday, Jan. 25 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Practice and qualifier rounds 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Lunch break 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Qualifier round continues 7 p.m. | Finalists announced 5:30 - 7 p.m. | Elevator pitch competition Friday, Jan. 26 9 - 11: 50 a.m. | Wildcard round 1:30 - 4 p.m. | Final round 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Dinner and awards announcements

Important dates

business plan competition canada

  • Nov. 15, 2023 | 11:59 p.m. AT | Early bird application deadline (draw for $250)
  • Dec. 1, 2023 | 11:59 p.m. AT | Final application deadline
  • Dec. 11, 2023 | Teams selected to compete announced
  • Dec. 18, 2023 | Teams commit to attend
  • Jan. 11, 2024 | Virtual workshop: "Preparing the Investment Slide Deck and Preparing your Elevator Pitch”
  • Jan. 18, 2024 | Virtual workshop: "Apex orientation and networking 101"
  • Jan 19, 2024 | Deadline to submit revised financials and/or executive summary (Optional)
  • Jan. 25 and 26, 2024 | BMO Apex Startup Challenge at UNB

business plan competition canada

One member of your team should be the main contact throughout Apex. This team member completes the online application by:

  • Reading the complete Apex competitor's guidebook
  • Completing the survey questions
  • Uploading your draft investment presentation slide deck (The slide deck you submit on the application does not have to be your final and may be updated for your presentations at Apex)
  • Uploading your company logo (JPG or PNG version)
  • Uploading your company summary (50 - 100 word synopsis of your startup)

There are no fees to apply or to compete (teams must cover their own travel costs to attend). Once an application is submitted, no changes can be made.

Selection process

Entry into the BMO Apex Startup Challenge is competitive. Thirty teams (ten undergraduate teams, ten graduate teams and ten new venture teams) will be selected from all applications to compete in January.

Invitation to compete

Confirmation to compete.

Invited teams will have until Dec. 18, 2023 to confirm their participation.

Become a judge or sponsor

business plan competition canada

The Apex Startup Challenge would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.

We are seeking funding for Apex to enhance the overall experience for the participants by providing prizes, networking events and meals.

We invite you and your organization to take part in the Apex experience as a judge and a participant in all our networking events. All sponsors will receive promotional opportunities to showcase your organization, with additional benefits available based on donation amounts.

Get in front of students and real ventures – promote your name, potential to work together down the road and make connections.

We also welcome individuals interesting in judging to contact us  [email protected] .

International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Faculty of Management University of New Brunswick 9 Macaulay Lane, Tilley Hall

Email [email protected]

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The 20 Best Business Plan Competitions to Get Funding

business plan competition

Business plan competitions can provide valuable feedback on your business idea or startup business plan template , in addition to providing an opportunity for funding for your business. This article will discuss what business planning competitions are, how to find them, and list the 20 most important business planning competitions.

On This Page:

What is a Business Plan Competition?

How do i find business plan competitions, 20 popular business plan competitions, tips for winning business plan competitions, other helpful business plan articles & templates.

A business plan competition is a contest between startup, early-stage, and/or growing businesses. The goal of the business plan competition is for participants to develop and submit an original idea or complete their existing business plan based on specific guidelines provided by the organization running the contest.

Companies are judged according to set criteria including creativity, feasibility, execution, and the quality of your business plan.

A quick Google search will lead you to several websites that list business planning competitions. 

Each site has a different way of organizing the business planning competitions it lists, so you’ll need to spend some time looking through each website to find opportunities that are relevant for your type of business or industry.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Below we’ve highlighted 20 of these popular competitions, the requirements and how to find additional information. The following list is not exhaustive; however, these popular competitions are great places to start if you’re looking for a business competition.

Rice Business Plan Competition

The Rice University Business Plan Competition is designed to help collegiate entrepreneurs by offering a real-world platform on which to present their businesses to investors, receive coaching, network with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, fine-tune their entrepreneurship plan, and learn what it takes to launch a successful business.

Who is Eligible?

Initial eligibility requirements include teams and/or entrepreneurs that:

  • are student-driven, student-created and/or student-managed
  • include at least two current student founders or management team members, and at least one is a current graduate degree-seeking student
  • are from a college or university anywhere in the world
  • have not raised more than $250,000 in equity capital
  • have not generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period
  • are seeking funding or capital
  • have a potentially viable investment opportunity

You can find additional  eligibility information on their website.

Where is the Competition Held?

The Rice Business Plan Competition is hosted in Houston, TX at Rice University, the Jones Graduate School of Business.

What Can You Win?

In 2021, $1.6 Million in investment, cash prizes, and in-kind prizes was awarded to the teams competing.

This two-part milestone grant funding program and pitch competition is designed to assist students with measurable goals in launching their enterprises.

Teams must be made up of at least one student from an institution of higher education in Utah and fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • The founding student must be registered for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours during the semester they are participating. The credit hours must be taken as a matriculated, admitted, and degree-seeking student.
  • A representative from your team must engage in each stage of Get Seeded (application process, pre-pitch, and final pitch)
  • There are no restrictions regarding other team members; however, we suggest building a balanced team with a strong combination of finance, marketing, engineering, and technology skills.
  • The funds awarded must be used to advance the idea.

The business plan competition will be hosted in Salt Lake City, UT at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah.

There are two grants opportunities:

  • Microgrant up to $500
  • Seed Grant for $501 – $1,500

Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards is a worldwide business plan competition for students from all majors. The GSEA aims to empower talented young people from around the world, inspire them to create and shape business ventures, encourage entrepreneurship in higher education, and support the next generation of global leaders.

  • You must be enrolled for the current academic year in a university/college as an undergraduate or graduate student at the time of application. Full-time enrollment is not required; part-time enrollment is acceptable.
  • You must be the owner, founder, or controlling shareholder of your student business. Each company can be represented by only one owner/co-founder – studentpreneur.
  • Your student business must have been in operation for at least six consecutive months prior to the application.
  • Your business must have generated US $500 or received US $1000 in investments at the time of application.
  • You should not have been one of the final round competitors from any previous year’s competition.
  • The age cap for participation is 30 years of age.

You can find additional   eligibility information on their website.

Regional competitions are held in various locations worldwide over several months throughout the school year. The top four teams then compete for cash prizes during finals week at the Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City.

At the Global Finals, students compete for a total prize package of $50,000 in cash and first place receives $25,000. All travel and lodging expenses are also covered. Second place gets US $10,000, while third place earns US $5,000. Additional prizes are handed out at the Global Finals for Social Impact, Innovation, and Lessons from the Edge.

Finish Your Business Plan in 1 Day!

The collegiate entrepreneurs organization business plan competition.

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization Business Plan Competition (COEBPC) exists to help early-stage entrepreneurs develop their business skills, build entrepreneurial networks, and learn more about how they can transform ideas into reality. It also offers cash prizes to reward entrepreneurship, provide an opportunity for recognition of top student entrepreneurs around the world, and provide unique opportunities for networking.

To compete, you must:

  • Be a currently enrolled student at an accredited institution
  • Have a viable business concept or be the creator of an existing business that generates revenue.

If you are among the top three finalists of the business plan competition and successfully receive prize money, you will be required to submit a class schedule under your name for the current academic semester. Failure to do so will result in the forfeit of the prize money.

All competitions are held online. The finalist will receive a trip to the International Career Development Conference, where they have an opportunity to win additional prizes from CEO’s sponsors.

  • First Place – $7,000
  • Second Place – $5,000
  • Third Place – $3,000
  • People’s Choice Award – Collegiate Entrepreneur of the Year – $600

MIT 100k Business Plan Competition and Expo

The MIT 100K was created in 2010 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to foster entrepreneurship and innovation on campus and around the world. Consists of three distinct and increasingly intensive competitions throughout the school year: PITCH, ACCELERATE, and LAUNCH. 

  • Submissions may be entered by individuals or teams.
  • Each team may enter one idea.
  • Each team must have at least one currently registered MIT student; if you are submitting as an individual, you must be a currently registered MIT student.
  • Entries must be the original work of entrants.
  • Teams must disclose any funding already received at the time of registration.

Hosted in Cambridge, MA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology beginning in October through May of each academic year.

Top finalists will have a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at a live event for the chance to win the $5,000 Grand Prize or the $2,000 Audience Choice Award.

20 Finalists are paired with industry-specific business professionals for mentorship and business planning and a $1,000 budget for marketing and/or business development expenses.

The 10 Top Finalists participate in the Showcase and compete for the $10,000 Audience Choice Award while the 3 Top Finalists automatically advance to LAUNCH semi-finals.

The grand prize winner receives a cash prize of $100,000 and the runner-up receives $25,000.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Business Plan Competition

The FAU business plan competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate student entrepreneurs. The competition covers topics in the areas of information technology, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, operations management, etc.

All undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate.

The business plan competition will be held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

  • First prize: $5,000 cash
  • Second prize: $500 cash

Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition

The Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition is designed to offer an opportunity to develop your business plan with the guidance of industry experts. It provides the opportunity for you to compete against fellow entrepreneurs and explore big ideas.

  • Participants must be the legal age to enter into contracts in the country of residence.
  • Participants may not be employed by an organization other than their own company or business that they are launching for this competition.
  • The plan should be for a new business, not an acquisition of another company.

The Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Business Plan Competition is held in the USA.

There is a cash prize for first, second, and third place. There is also a potential for a business incubator opportunity, which would provide facilities and assistance to the winners of the competition.

Washington State University Business Plan Competition

The Washington State University Business Plan Competition has been serving students since 1979. The competition is a great opportunity for someone who is looking to get their business off the ground by gaining invaluable knowledge of running a successful business. It offers a wide range of topics and competition styles.

  • Any college undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree-seeking student at Washington State University
  • The company must be an early-stage venture with less than $250,000 in annual gross sales revenue.

The Washington State University Business Plan Competition is held in the Associated Students Inc. Building on the Washington State University campus which is located in Pullman, Washington.

There are a wide variety of prizes that could be won at the Washington State University Business Plan Competition. This is because the business plan competition has been serving students for over 30 years and as such, they have offered more than one type of competition. The common prize though is $1,000 which is awarded to the winner of each class. There are also awards for those who come in second place, third place, etc.

Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition

The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition is one of the most well-known competitions in the country. They have partnered with many prestigious institutions to provide funding, mentorship, and expertise for the competition.

Education ventures with innovative solutions to educational inequity from around the world are encouraged to apply, especially those ventures founded by and serving individuals from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.

We encourage applicants working in every conceivable educational setting–from early childhood through corporate and adult training. We also welcome both nonprofit and for-profit submissions.

The competition is held at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

All finalists receive $1,000 in cash and $5,000 in Amazon Web Services promotional credits.

Next Founders Business Plan Competition

Next Founders is a competition geared towards innovative startups with a social impact, looking to transform society by addressing key global human needs. The competition inspires and identifies energetic, optimistic entrepreneurs who are committed to achieving their vision.

Next Founders is for Canadian business owners of scalable, high-growth ventures.

Next Founders is held at the University of Toronto.

You could win up to $25,000 CAD in cash funding for your new business.

Hatch Pitch Competition

The Hatch Pitch competition is one of the most prestigious business competitions in the US. The winners of the Hatch Pitch Competition are given access to mentorship courses, discounted office space with all amenities included, incubators for startups, tailored education programs, financial counseling & more.

The competition is for companies with a business idea.

  • The company’s product/service must have launched within the past 2 years, or be launched within 6 months after the Hatch Pitch event.
  • Founders must retain some portion of ownership in the company.
  • Received less than $5 million in funding from 3rd party investors.
  • The presenter must actively participate in Hatch Pitch coaching.

The Hatch Pitch Competition is located at the Entrepreneur Space in Dallas.

The grand prize for this business plan competition is access to resources like incubators and mentorships that could prove invaluable in bringing your startup company to the next level.

TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield

The Startup Battlefield is a business plan competition that is sponsored by TechCrunch.  It awards the winner $50,000. There are two different rounds to this competition:

  • First Round – 15 companies from all of the applicants that submitted their business plans for this round.
  • Second Round – Two finalist companies compete against each other at TechCrunch Disrupt NY’s main stage.

At the time of the application process, companies must have a functional prototype to demo to the selection committee. In selecting final contestants, we will give preference to companies that launch some part of their product or business for the first time to the public and press through our competition. Companies that are in closed beta, private beta, limited release or generally have been flying under the radar are eligible. Hardware companies can have completed crowdfunding but those funds should have been directed to an earlier product prototype. Existing companies launching new feature sets do not qualify.

TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield is held at different locations.

The Startup Battlefield rewards the winner with $50,000. In addition, the two runner-ups get a prize of $5,000 each.

New Venture Challenge

New Venture Challenge is a competition hosted by the University of Chicago. There are 3 main categories that will be judged:

  • Innovative Concept – Arguably the most important category, this focuses on uniqueness, originality, and suitability.
  • Market Fit/Business Model – Are you solving an actual problem for your target market? Does your project have the potential for profit?
  • Presentation – Did you make a compelling, impactful presentation? Did you clearly communicate your goals and vision to potential investors?

You can find  eligibility information on their website.

The New Venture Challenge competition is held in Chicago, IL.

Finalists are awarded:

  • First Place: $50,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.
  • Second place: $25,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.
  • Third place: $15,000 equity investment and access to industry mentors and other resources.

New Venture Championship

The New Venture Championship is hosted by the University of Oregon and has been since 1987. The championship brings new ventures and innovative business ideas to life and the competition offers plan writing as a service to those who need it.

The University of Oregon New Venture Championship is open to university student teams with 2-5 members that have at least one graduate student involved with their venture. Students should be enrolled in a degree program or have finished their studies in the current academic year.

The New Venture Championship hosted by the University of Oregon is held in Eugene, Oregon.

Every business plan has a chance of winning a cash prize from $3,000 to $25,000 and additional benefits like plan coaching and office space rental.

Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT

The Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT is a competition that focuses on companies that are involved in the area of energy, environment, and climate change.

  • Participants must be a team of two or more people.
  • At least 50% of formal team members identified in the competition submission documentation must be enrolled as half-time or full-time college or university students.

The Climatech & Energy Prize @ MIT is held in Cambridge, MA.

The grand prize winner receives $100,000 and other winners may receive other monetary prizes.

Baylor Business New Venture Competition

This competition has been offered by Baylor for the last 20 years. It is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs refine business ideas, and also gain valuable insights from judges and other entrepreneurs.

Must be a current undergraduate student at Baylor University or McLennan Community College.

The Baylor Business New Venture competition will be held at the Baylor University, Waco, TX.

The grand prize winner will receive $6,000. There are also other prizes given out to the other finalists in each category which are worth $1,500 – $2,000.

13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup

The 13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup was organized by the 13th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup Association. It was organized to provide a platform for innovators from all over the world to showcase their innovative ideas and projects. The competition aimed at drawing the attention of investors, venture capitalists, and potential business partners to meet with representatives from different companies and organizations in order to foster innovation.

The revolutionary Internet of Things and Wearable Technologies solutions from developers, innovative startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and researchers across the world are invited to participate. Eight different categories are available: Industrial, City, Home, Agriculture, Sports, Lifestyle, and Transport.

Only those submissions that have a functional prototype/proof of concept will advance in the competition, mere ideas will not be considered. 

The competition is held in Cleveland, Ohio also an important center for innovation and cutting-edge technology.

Win prizes worth over $500,000, connect with leading tech companies, speed up your development with advice from tech experts, join international conferences as a speaker or exhibitor, and become part of the worldwide IoT/WT Innovation World Cup® network. 

The U.Pitch is a competition that gives you a chance to share your idea and for the community of budding entrepreneurs, startup founders, CEOs, and venture capitalists to invest in your enterprise. It also provides mentoring by experts in the field.

  • Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program
  • Applicants may compete with either an idea OR business currently in operation
  • Applicants must be 30 years of age or under

The U.Pitch is held in San Francisco, California.

Enter to win a part of the $10,000 prize pool.

At the core of CodeLaunch is an annual seed accelerator competition between individuals and groups who have software technology startup ideas.

If your startup has raised money, your product is stable, you have customers, and revenue, you are probably not a fit for CodeLaunch.

CodeLaunch is based in St. Louis, Missouri. 

The “winner” may be eligible for more seed capital and business services from some additional vendors.

New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition

The New York StartUP! is a competition sponsored by the New York Public Library to help entrepreneurs from around the world to develop their business ideas.

  • You must live in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island
  • Your business must be in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island
  • All companies must have a big idea or business model in the startup phase and have earned less than $10,000

The New York StartUP! competition is held in New York, NY.

Two winners are chosen: 

  •  Grand Prize – $15,000  
  •  Runner-up – $7,500  

tips for success

First, determine if the competition is worth your time and money to participate.

  • What is the prize money?
  • Who will be on the judging panel?
  • Will there be any costs associated with entering and/or presenting at the competition (e.g., travel and lodging expenses)?

Once you’ve determined the worth of the competition, then shift to focusing on the details of the competition itself.

  • What are the rules of the competition?
  • Are there any disqualifying factors?
  • How will you be judged during the different parts of the competition?

After conducting this research, it’s best to formulate an idea or product that appeals to the judges and is something they can really get behind. Make sure you thoroughly understand the rules and what is expected from your final product. Once you know what is expected from you, you’ll be able to refine and practice your pitch to help you move through the stages of the competition.

These competitions are a fantastic method to get new business owners thinking about business possibilities, writing business plans, and dominating the competition. These contests may assist you in gaining important feedback on your business concept or plan as well as potential monetary prizes to help your business get off the ground.  

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Ideas with Impact UNB Faculty of Management

Results from the largest business plan competition in canada.

Author: Liz Lemon-Mitchell

Posted on Feb 7, 2020

Category: Programs , Students , IBEC

business plan competition canada

What began over two decades ago as a small competition for the best business plan in an entrepreneurship course at UNB has become a national event for university students across Canada .

In the early 2000's, the Faculty of Management moved the competition out of the classroom to create an Atlantic competition, and in the past ten years since BMO Financial Group began sponsoring, it has attracted student teams from one side of Canada to the other.

This year the BMO Financial Group APEX Business Plan Competition broke a new record with 34 teams representing 11 Canadian business schools. Schools attending for the first time included McGill, Queen’s, McMaster and Manitoba. Among those returning were St. Mary’s, Acadia, St. Thomas, Waterloo and British Columbia.

In a brand-new track for 2020, students in UNB’s new first-year BBA course, Business Planning and Entrepreneurship pitched a business plan they developed throughout the term. The top prize in this category went to the team who tackled parking problems at UNB with a solution called Parking Wizards. Kelsey Embleton, one of the students who competed in this track said APEX was a great learning experience for her. “The atmosphere was welcoming and you could tell how determined all the teams were.”

Over $20,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams from both the undergraduate and graduate streams. Team FlutterLet from the University of British Columbia went home with the top prize in the graduate track, while Team Bloxo from Saint Mary’s took first prize in the Undergraduate track. McGill won first place for the best Elevator Pitch with Unfuuds, and UNB’s GreenSource won second place.

Other highlights this year included a keynote address by Jeff Alpaugh (CEO of World’s Most Dangerous Shirts), a panel moderated by Krista Ross (CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce), and student mentorship from entrepreneurs Barry Bison (CEO of Propel ICT), Aimee Foreman (CEO of Silvermark) and Jeff Thompson (VP M&A with Verint Customer Engagement Solutions).

“APEX is one of the best times of the year at UNB,” said Devashis Mitra, Dean of the Faculty of Management. “Over the years it has helped to build a strong community of student entrepreneurs in the region and across the country. Events like APEX are so important because they encourage students to act on their business ideas and inspire them to help others do the same.”

A few former APEX winners came back this year to help out:  Jenna Evans, a 2019 BBA graduate of UNB and one of the winners last year helped judge the competition and delivered a speech during the Gala Awards Dinner; and Hannah Chisholm, a graduate of St. Francis Xavier who won top prize a few years ago for Eggcitables, also judged some of the rounds.

APEX is organized by the International Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (IBEC) within the Faculty along with a strong team of dedicated student volunteers from our business programs. 

Photo: Members of UNB Team Green Source who won second place for Best Elevator Pitch at the 2020 BMO Financial Group Business Plan Competition.

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  • Canada’s Business Model
  • New Strategies
  • Gaming Industry Growth
  • Online Casinos in Canada

Business Enterprise Strategy to Implement in Gaming Industry

In order to really do something meaningful in business and have a striving one too, you need to know how to tackle down the competition in business industries, regardless of how low-competition your industry is. You need to be prepared for anything that might come across any type of competition in business. This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise that about 85% of the new businesses fail within the first few years of their launch.

By the business model definition, it is proved that the Canada business model competition is much more effective than a regular business plan competition because it includes a break-down of the idea, customer development, testing the assumptions and addressing the real competition in Canada. Since we all know that there is a lot of competition in Canada, the model competition serves as a preparatory phase of having a striving business.

Here at BMC Canada, we strive to help participants overcome obstacles like competition in business, disregarding the general rules of the business model definition and going outside the box to make their business prosper. So, if you want to take part in the Canada business model competition – sign up at Bmc.ca, we promise you, your participation in the Canada business model competition will be hard, but a worthy investment of your time.

How do you Implement a Successful Strategy?

There are many different examples where a successful strategy was implemented in a same business model, making it hard to actually make a fool-proof plan. The process of building your strategy should take up most of your time when you are starting a business, and the competition in business should always be on your mind – this is the kind of strategy that should guide you.

Besides the competition in business, you mustn’t follow a basic template, as these tend to fail, even if they have succeeded sometime in the past. Times are changing, and so do the business movements and trends. Make sure to work on lean development and product development as well, but not too much, as the key to successful businesses now is accepting change and being adaptable.

What is Business Enterprise Management & Why Marketing is Important?

The business enterprise management in the business model definition encompasses using all your resources like manpower, knowledge and materials and making the most of it, all while having the competition in business processes in mind. This especially comes in handy when a business is taking over another business.

Data collection

Total damage has been caused by the civilians arounf the new apple  store at Wall street.

Guaranteed ROI

Always online.

Together with marketing, these two add up to a whole of an almost fool-proof plan that will provide positive results, wealth and productive business activities. Marketing is incredibly important for businesses because it gives them recognition, brand reputation building and ultimately, it brings new customers and clients to their business. However, marketing should be taken very seriously, since with the developments of the digital era it is evolving too, and its activities are gaining a new aspect of using the resources, especially knowledge gained through the internet, which is more than significant for a striving business.

What Exactly is Casino Enterprise Management CEM?

Business enterprise management exists for any industry and field, including the casino industry, which is one of the biggest and most important entertainment industries in the world. In fact, the best online casinos wouldn’t exist without proper enterprise management. These legal online Canada casinos work tirelessly on building the Canada legal online casino industry in one of the most competitive in the world. This is why the online casino industry in Canada features various games that are offered to the players including online poker, slot games, roulette, blackjack, video poker and many more that keep bringing new customers. Signing up at online casinos is a perfect solution for those who like playing poker, or any other casino game in peace, without being disturbed. That’s why promoting trusted, and reliable online gambling sites on the market is really important.

The online casino industry in Canada build casino games like slot games with different themes, competitive video poker and online poker games, interactive roulette and blackjack casino games, and they do this using a planned business strategy which helps them improve their business by offering a real chance of winning real money for their customers.

To add up to this business model, they also add a casino bonus feature or two in their legal online casinos that keeps attracting new players. For instance, the most famous casino bonus is the no deposit one. With this one, they offer the no deposit casino bonuses which is a way of playing a game of choice for free and winning real money in the process. We recommend you to visit casinoonlinecanadian.ca if you want to learn how to keep your winnings and everything you need to know about why no deposit bonuses are the best way to play online casino games for free.

The Business of Video Games: A Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

It seems that many people like playing interactive, easy video games, especially online which is why the video game industry is a multi-billion dollar one. There are games like Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, Fortnite and even CS:GO which keep on selling merchandise, selling games and breaking records when it comes to developing an industry.

How Do Video Games Stay Relevant and Continue to Make a Profit?

If you are an avid video game player, you will notice that the most popular video games that stay relevant on the market and bring in the most money are the ones that have compelling stories, exciting content, and high-quality gameplay. We can take into consideration League of Legends, a multi-billion dollar game created by Riot Games, which has millions of monthly concurrent players. While the game was released in 2009, it is still relevant because of the content the developers are constantly coming out with. Every character or champion in-game has its own lore, which is either written by a professional storyteller, content writer , or creative writer. This brings a whole new perspective to the game, either bringing in new players interested in the lore or keeping the active players engaged. On top of that, new characters or champions are constantly being added to the game. In the beginning, there were only 40, and throughout the years, more than 100 new ones were added, not to mention skins which make up the majority of the profit that the developer makes from the game. As long as you have something new to promote or sell in-game, you will always attract new players and keep the ones you have entertained.

If you want to crush your competition even before you start a business, you need to work hard on implementing business enterprise strategies, this way, you do exactly what your competition does but you do it in a way that will be beneficial for your own business.

business plan competition canada

Best Business Competitions in Ontario: Our Top 10 Competitions + How to Win

business plan competition canada

Business competitions are a great way for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and gain recognition for their hard work. These competitions are designed to encourage business growth, provide networking opportunities, and offer a chance to win valuable prizes. In Canada, there are many business competitions that take place throughout the year, each with its own unique set of rules and requirements.

This article provides an overview of business competitions, including what business competitions are , how business competitions work, and the benefits of participating in one.

We also cover the ten best business competitions for Ontario entrepreneurs , and we offer tips on how to win!

business plan competition canada

What are Business Competitions?

Business competitions in Canada are events that challenge entrepreneurs and business students to pitch their ideas, products, or services to a panel of judges. These competitions are designed to provide a platform for participants to showcase their business acumen and creativity, network with industry experts, and win prizes that can help fund their ventures.

There are various types of business competitions in Canada, including:

Business competitions in Canada are organized by universities, business schools, government agencies, and private organizations.

Benefits of Participating in Business Competitions

Participating in business competitions can be an excellent opportunity for individuals and teams to showcase their skills, creativity, and knowledge. Here are some of the benefits of participating in business competitions:

Best Business Competitions for Ontario Entrepreneurs: Top Ten

business plan competition canada

1. TiE Global – TiEQuest

TiEQuest is a multi-stage business venture competition, bringing startups from across Canada to receive advice from industry professionals, and network with top angel investors, venture capitalists, fund managers and other professionals. The winner takes home a cash prize of $25,000, $15,000 in kind prizes and the opportunity to receive $100,000 in investments. TiEQuest 2022 offered two separate tracks: MedTech and Regular.

business plan competition canada

2. Startup Canada – Startup Global

Startup Global connects a pan-Canadian cohort of entrepreneurs committed to growing global businesses with a network of partners committed to their success. They are hosting several live webinars, a pitch competition, and exclusive in-kind help to support entrepreneurs’ journey to exporting. This annual flagship program empowers founders to start their business with a global mindset and connect with key industry partners to set up for success.

Check back for updates. Pitch applications open in Spring 2023.

business plan competition canada

3. Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC) (Georgian College) – Further Faster and the Grand Pitch Competition

The Further Faster program is a seven-week business training program for entrepreneurs at any stage, from idea all the way to scaling, for any type of product or service-based business. Entrepreneurs that are not current Georgian students have to pay the $99 plus HST entry fee to join the program.

The culmination of the Further Faster program is the possibility for participants to pitch their business in the Grand Pitch Competition for a chance to win up to $10,000.

business plan competition canada

4. University of Toronto Entrepreneurship – UTE Startup Prize

The University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (UTE) Startup Prize is an annual business pitch competition offering $60,000+ in prizes to recognize, reward, and accelerate the University of Toronto’s most innovative startups. Applications are open to all faculties and sector, but at least one founder must be affiliated with the University of Toronto (a student, post doc or a recent alumn).

business plan competition canada

5. Velocity, University of Waterloo – Velocity $5K (formerly Concept $5K)

The Velocity $5K pitch competition offers the opportunity for University of Waterloo student-led teams with innovative solutions and high potential business ideas to showcase their hard work and compete for grant funding. Participants receive valuable feedback, pitching experience, and idea validation from a network of experienced entrepreneurs and Velocity Coaches.

business plan competition canada

6. Haltech Regional Innovation Centre – Hi5 Pitch Competition

The Hi5 Pitch Competition features 5 high-potential clients who are given 5 minutes to pitch for a winning prize of $5,000! This competition provides Haltech’s most innovative start-ups with a fabulous opportunity to generate awareness, build the skills necessary to present in front of a broad audience and gain exposure to our broad ecosystem of industry partners.

business plan competition canada

7. Innovation Factory – LiONʼS LAIR

LiONʼS LAIR is an annual competition presented by Innovation Factory in partnership with the City of Hamilton Economic Development office, which brings together the entrepreneurship and innovation community in Hamilton. The competition gives up-and-coming entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business to a panel of Hamilton’s top business experts for a chance to win cash prizes.

business plan competition canada

8. Western Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship (Western University) – Western Angels’ Demo Day Western

Western Angels’ Demo Day , an investor event, is a celebration of entrepreneurship that aims to bring together budding start-ups, experienced entrepreneurs, and a community of investors. This program is designed to provide opportunities for Western entrepreneurs to secure investments typically ranging between $50,000 and $3 Million+.

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business plan competition canada

9. Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CEIE) (Toronto Metropolitan University) – Innovation Boost Zone (IBZ): Raise

IBZ’s Raise is a nine (9)-week hybrid program designed to help technology-agnostic startups become investor-ready. From determining their company’s best financing option to nailing their pitch, entrepreneurs will have everything they need to approach investors with confidence.

Entrepreneurs without any affiliation with TMU are eligible to apply, but they must be able to attend in-person events in Toronto.

business plan competition canada

10. The Forge, McMaster University – Startup Survivor Program and Pitch Competition

Startup Survivor is a 4-month innovation program culminating with a pitch competition in October, open to McMaster students and recent alumni. Throughout the summer, The Forge will be giving out up to $75,000 cash to the teams competing in the 6 challenges.

This year’s program runs May to August and applications close on March 31 st , 2023.

Tips to Win Business Competitions in Canada

Understand the competition.

Before entering any business competition, it’s essential to understand the competition. Research the past winners, the judges, and the criteria used to select the winners. Knowing what the judges are looking for will help you tailor your pitch and business plan to meet their expectations.

Create a Compelling Pitch

Your pitch is the first impression the judges will have of your business. It’s crucial to make it compelling and memorable. Start with a strong opening that captures their attention and clearly communicates your business idea. Use visuals, storytelling, and data to support your pitch and make it more engaging.

Build a Strong Team

A strong team is critical to winning a business competition. Make sure to assemble a team with diverse skills and experiences that complement each other. Each team member should have a clearly defined role and be able to contribute to the success of the business plan.

Develop a Solid Business Plan

A solid business plan is the foundation of a successful business. Make sure your plan is well-researched, realistic, and includes a clear path to profitability. Show the judges that you have a deep understanding of your market, your competition, and your customers.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice makes perfect, and that’s especially true when it comes to business competitions. Practice your pitch, your business plan, and your responses to potential questions from the judges. The more you practice, the more confident and prepared you’ll be on competition day.

List of Business Competitions in Canada

We’ve covered some of the best business competition for Ontario-based businesses in this article. If you’re looking for a complete list of case competitions, pitch competitions, and business plan competitions in Canada, check out these lists:

Lists of Case Competitions Across Canada

Lists of pitch competitions across canada, lists of business plan competitions across canada.

business plan competition canada

About the author

Maurice (Moe) Muise learned the ins-and-outs of government while an employee of the Government of Canada in Ottawa for 10 years. His current focus is helping small businesses in Ontario to identify and maximize government grants to grow their business. Click here to learn more about Moe’s background and how he can help your business.

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The Best 20 Business Plan Competitions to Get Funding in (2024)

Business Plan Template

Free Business Plan Template

Radhika Agarwal

  • October 18, 2023

11 Min Read

Top Business Plan Competitions

Brilliant business ideas deserve 2 things for sure – Feedback and Funding.

And if you think you have a good business idea and have some bit of groundwork figured out, you may want to look into business plan competitions.

Now, what is a business plan competition? Why should you participate in one? How to find one that’s just right for your business?

We’ll discuss all of the above and more through this article.

What is a Business Plan Competition?

A business plan competition is an event that allows small businesses and startups to compete with each other, get feedback and advice on their business, and also can help you get your business funded.

Businesses are judged on several factors including execution, feasibility, innovation, etc.

How to Find a Business Plan Competition?

There are several business plan competitions listed on Google that you can look through. Different competitions have different eligibility criteria and guidelines. Go through all of that to know if it fits your business or not.

At the same time, it is important to check the credibility and check for any scams or illegitimate sites.

To make finding business plan competitions a little easier we have compiled a list of 20 popular and credible competitions that you can apply for.

Business Plan Competitions

  • Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
  • tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition
  • HATCH Pitch
  • Rice Business Plan Competition
  • New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition
  • MIT 100k Business Plan and Expo
  • FAU Business Plan Competition
  • NIBS Business Plan Competition
  • Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge
  • College of New Jersey’s Mayo Business Plan Competition
  • Next Founders Business Plan Competition
  • TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield
  • New Venture Challenge
  • New Venture Championship
  • Climatech & Energy Prize @MIT
  • Baylor Business New Venture Competition
  • 13th IOT/WT World Cup

1. Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

To encourage students across the globe to become entrepreneurs GSEA organizes this competition for students from all disciplines and countries. The main aim of the awards is to draw people towards entrepreneurship, shape their ideas, and become a catalyst for their business’s growth.

Eligibility

The student must enroll in a part-time or full-time undergraduate or graduate course.

The student should own or work as a founder or co-founder of the startup.

Only one person from the startup can represent it.

The person should either be 30 or under 30 years of age.

The startup should be running for at least 6 months from the date of application.

The startup should either generate $500 or get $1000 as investments at the time of application.

The startup shouldn’t have reached the final round of the competition in previous years.

For more details check out their website.

The competition is held at several locations across the world over months during a school year. The finals among the Top 4 teams are held at Goldman Sachs New York.

  • First Prize: $25,000
  • Second Prize: $10,000
  • Third Prize: $5,000

Lodging and travel expenses are covered and additional prizes are handed out at the event.

2. tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition

The tecBRIDGE competition is divided into two parts, with one for college students across 14 colleges and universities and a non-collegiate one for early-stage entrepreneurs.

( For Collegiate )

At least one member as a college student

The product must identify commercial solutions through technical processes.

( For Non-Collegiate )

The startup must gross less than $250k in revenue from its start date up to the last tax filing date.

It is held in Northeastern Pennsylvania every year. The businesses that win have to establish their headquarters there as well.

Prizes worth $100,000 are shared amongst the winning teams.

3. HATCH Pitch

Through the Hatch Pitch program, you get access to mentorship courses, discounted spaces, funds, education programs, financial consulting, and so on.

The product/ Service was launched within 2 years.

Founders should retain some part of the ownership.

Must actively participate actively in Hatch Pitch coaching.

Must receive less than $5 million in funds from third-party investors.

The competition is held at Entrepreneur space in Dallas.

Access to high-level incubators and mentorship.

4. Rice Business Plan Competition

The Rice University business plan competition is specially designed for college students to present their ideas to investors , get mentorship and help shape their ideas and business journey better.

Students managed or created businesses.

Consists of at least 2 college students, and one student pursuing a graduate degree.

Have raised less than $250k in equity capital.

Have generated less than $100k in any 12-month period.

Houston at Rice University, graduate school of business, hosts this event.

In 2021, the winners were awarded investments worth $1.6 Million , cash prizes, etc.

5. New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition

New York Public library sponsors this competition to help entrepreneurs from around the world. They give wings to their ideas.

Must live in Manhattan, Staten Island, or The Bronx.

Your business should be in any of the above places as well.

The idea or business model is in the startup phase and shouldn’t have earned more than $10,000.

The competition is held in New York.

A grand prize worth $15000 and a Runner Up prize worth $7500 .

6. MIT 100k Business Plan and Expo

MIT organizes this competition to promote innovation in the university as well as the world. It consists of 3 competitions throughout the year namely Pitch, Accelerate, and Launch.

Each team should enter one idea.

Participants must have original work ideas

Should disclose the received funding.

Hosted in Cambridge MA MIT campus from October to May through the academic year.

  • Pitch: $5000 jury award and $2000 audience choice award.
  • Accelerate: 20 finalists get industry-specific mentorship programs with a budget of $1000 each. The top 10 finalists compete for the Audience Choice award worth $10,000. The top 3 finalists immediately get into the finals of the launch.
  • Launch: The winner gets a whopping amount of $100,000 while the runner gets $25000 .

Official Website MIT 100k

7. FAU Business Plan Competition

The Florida Atlantic University Business Plan Competition is for graduate and undergraduate students spanning all continents.

Undergraduate or graduate participants.

The competition is held at Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, Florida.

First Prize: $5000 and Second Prize: $500

8. NIBS Business Plan Competition

The NIBS competition helps you discuss and give a boost to your ideas. It also helps you get industry experts guidance.

Entrants of legal age to have contracts as per the rules of their country of residence.

Should not hold any employment apart from their own company.

The plan must stand for a startup business and not an acquisition.

It is held in the USA.

There’s a cash prize for the first three places as well as an opportunity to get an incubator program for the winners.

9. Get Seeded

Get Seed is a two-part funding program for students in launching their businesses.

At least one student from a higher education institution in Utah is a must.

Should be enrolled for nine credit hours during that semester.

Utilization of funds to take the idea further.

Salt Lake City in Utah hosts the business plan competition.

A micro-grant worth $500 and a seeded grant from $501 to $1500

10. Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge

This competition was designed for startups focusing on digital and health technology.

Legally formed entities

The company must have less than 50 people.

Annual sales under $5 million.

The product should have been launched within 3 years.

Your country should not have USA’s trade restrictions imposed.

You can submit your ideas from anywhere.

Five finalists win $5000 and 2 winners receive $20,000 .

Official Website

11. College of New Jersey’s Mayo Business Plan Competition

This competition is held for students to appreciate new challenges.

The teams must consist of two and bot more than four students from the College of New Jersey.

The College of New Jersey hosts this event.

The winners get mentorship and guidance programs.

Check Official Website

12. Next Founders Business Plan Competition

This competition focuses on startups with an innovative approach to solving social problems and global needs.

It is for Canadian entrepreneurs with scalable, high-potential ventures.

The University of Toronto.

Up to 25,000 CAD$ in cash for funding your startup.

13. TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield

TechCrunch sponsors this competition which comprises two levels.

The companies must have a functional prototype of their product or service to present to the committee.

Different locations.

The winner gets $50,000 and two runner-ups get $5000 each.

Check Competition Website

14. New Venture Challenge

This competition is held at the University of Chicago. Three evaluation points for participants are – Innovation, Product Market Fit , and presentation.

The eligibility information is available on their website.

Chicago, IL.

1st Place: $50,000 ; 2nd Place: $25,000 ; 3rd Place: $15,000 . In addition to that, the winners get access to mentorship and resources.

15. New Venture Championship

This competition is for those with a good business idea. Even if you don’t have a business plan, you can participate as the competition provides optional plan writing services.

The team should have 2-5 members.

Should have at least one graduate student.

The students should be pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Eugene, Oregon.

Teams have a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $3000 to $25,000 with additional benefits like mentorship and rented office spaces.

16. Climatech & Energy Prize @MIT

This competition is ideal for companies with a core focus on energy, climate change, and the environment.

The team must have more than 2 members.

At least 50% of part-time or full-time university students.

Cambridge, MA hosts this competition

The winner gets a sizable sum of $1,00,000 .

17. U.Pitch

This competition gives entrants a chance to present their ideas to people from different levels and spectrums in the business space and get an opportunity for investments and mentorship programs.

Undergraduate or graduate program students.

Functioning Business

Age up to or below 30

San Francisco, California hosts this competition.

Prizes worth $10,000 are given.

18. CodeLaunch

It is a seed accelerator competition for entrepreneurs who have technology startups.

The detailed eligibility criteria can be found on their website.

St. Louis, Missouri hosts these competitions, usually.

The winner gets seed fund capital and access to other additional resources.

19. Baylor Business New Venture Competition

Baylor launched this competition to help entrepreneurs discuss their ideas and get advice from judges.

An undergraduate student at Baylor University and McLennan Community College.

Baylor University, Waco, Texas hosts this competition.

The first prize winner receives $6000 . The other finalists win prizes ranging from $1500-$2000 .

20. 13th IOT/WT World Cup

The innovation world cup was started to give startups a chance to display their ideas and business. The competition aims to attract venture capitalists, investors, and potential business partners .

The startup should have a concept of innovative technologies.

You should have a functional prototype of the product.

Cleveland, Ohio hosts this event.

You get a chance at winning prizes worth $500,000 and connect with leading tech companies in your field.

Even if you don’t receive funds, there’s a lot of chance to network, get exposure, and get your ideas validated. Especially, if you are someone who’s new in the business space business plan competitions are a great way to learn the ropes of the trade.

So, go ahead, write your business plan , look up the details, and register for a competition that fits your business the best!

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business plan competition canada

Radhika is an economics graduate and likes to read about every subject and idea she comes across. Apart from that she can discuss her favorite books to lengths( to the point you\'ll start feeling a little annoyed) and spends most of her free time on Google word coach.

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A hand-picked list of the 25 top startup pitch competitions of 2024

Wondering what are the best pitch contests for you to showcase your ideas in 2024? Check out our hand-picked roundup and start applying!

Avatar photo

  • Founder at GrowthMentor
  • 12 Dec 2023

Pitching competitions are to startup entrepreneurs what skydiving is to most people: a bucket-list item that’s both exciting and terrifying. To take the skydiving analogy further, joining a Startup Pitch Competition may be the only way for your business to land where it’s supposed to.

During such an event, you get to pitch to multiple investors, gain some valuable exposure, and get some equally valuable feedback. You will network, you will potentially build partnerships, but, most importantly, you will get a chance to secure funding and accelerate your business. All you need to do is jump from the airplane… but which one?

To take the guesswork out of the process, we’ve compiled below a list of the best Startup Pitch Competitions you can attend this year. Do your research to decide which one (or ones) is the best fit for you and your startup idea/business. Check the qualifications for entry and prepare your best pitch deck yet — make sure to steer clear of too much text or super busy visuals/animations.

And when it’s time to stand in front of the judges, contrary to skydiving, remember that you should open your “parachute” right away. Usually, you’ll have only a few minutes to wow your audience, so don’t wait: Cut straight to the chase, using language that’s simple but captivating. Show them you are your brand’s biggest fan… and they will probably become its fans too. See you on the stage!

Does pitching your idea make you nervous?

This could be the single most important moment of your life and determine your entire future – no pressure though!

Hopping on 1:1 calls with vetted startup mentors who have already raised millions of dollars themselves is an excellent way to prepare for your startup pitch.

Suggested Mentors for Pitch Prep:

  • Itay Forer: YC alumni, Founder, Entrepreneur, Investor & Advisor
  • Frank M. Savine: Portfolio raised $100mn in VC money, 4 exists under the belt
  • Felix Wong: Seed Investor. Community Manager for Techstars in Asia Pacific.
  • Manish Balakrishnan: Pitched to raise pre-seed and seed funding of $1.3mn at various startups
  • Martin Adams: 3 exits, £40m in investment and £100m in revenue
  • Miguel Á. López Trujillo: Fundraising + Sales & Business Development Mentor
  • Erik Bullen: Top-ranked VC advisor and investor, Judge at MassChallenge, Mentor at Techstars
  • Satwik Govindarajula: Head of Products at Seedstars
  • Ari Bencuya: 3x Founder, ex-partner at incubator/accelerator, multiple exits

Learn more about how to connect with fundraising mentors here .

1. Startup World Cup 2023

Why you should go:.

The cream of the crop of the startup world will be there. The Startup World Cup (SWC), powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, comprises 60+ regional events which culminate in the Grand Finale event in Silicon Valley.

There, the finalists can compete for one million USD in investment and attendees can network with top industry players. The all-star cast of judges has in previous years included names such as Apple’s Steve Wozniak and Netflix’s Marc Randolph.

KEY INFORMATION

  • Location: San Francisco, California, USA
  • Date: November 29-December 1, 2023. On 30th November you can attend workshops led by industry professionals
  • Cost: Tickets to attend the finale on December 1 are between $100 – $490. You can buy them on Eventbrite
  • Industry focus: Geared towards improving lives and transforming industries — such as with healthcare, artificial intelligence, robotics, transportation, financial technologies, IoT, augmented reality, and agriculture
  • Amount you can win: $1,000,000 in investment

Official Website

2. Collision 2024

Collision-2024

Despite the change of venue last year (bringing its 36,000 attendees to Toronto after three years in New Orleans), Collision still remains the fastest-growing tech conference in North America.

Attend various startup workshops, get in-person advice from investors, and join the ultimate startup battle at PITCH, the contest section of the conference where you can compete for three days with the top 70 startups, in order to be crowned winner.

You can use the event as an opportunity to connect with top-tier investors from the world’s leading funds and use the matchmaking tools to identify the best investors in your industry.

  • Location: Toronto, Canada
  • Date: June 17-20, 2024
  • Cost: They are releasing a limited number of discounted tickets for Collision 2024 in Toronto; you can save 50% by registering for their flash sale where tickets cost CA$446
  • Industry focus: Broad
  • Amount you can win: There is no money — but there is a ton of exposure, and a PITCH trophy

Want help with your pitch?

An overview of the screen mockup

3. TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

With previous winners including companies such as Dropbox and Trello, you know this is an event (and a pitch competition) not to miss. The Startup Battlefield at the Disrupt SF is always the place to be for early-stage startups who dream of taking over the world and impressing the TechCrunch judges.

200 of the top startups from around the world get to battle it out for the prize. As part of the event, they get access to training, masterclasses, and investor meet and greets.

Of the top 200, 20 finalists are invited for the final pitch round on the Disrupt Stage to battle it out for a $100k equity-free investment. Probably doesn’t get more Silicon Valley than that.

  • Application: Applications for 2024 entrants open soon
  • Date: Dates still tbc, 2024
  • Cost: TBD, but you can get a $500 discount by registering early
  • Industry focus: Ranging from Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and VR, to HealthTech and FinTech
  • Amount you can win: A $100,000 equity-free prize

4. Web Summit PITCH 2024

If you haven’t had a major change in your business model in the last three years and your overall funding still amounts to less than five million euros… well it’s time to change all that.

Prepare to battle live with the world’s leading early-stage startups in front of more than 2,500 global journalists — and the CEOs and founders of some of the biggest companies in the world.

  • Location: Lisbon, Portugal
  • Date: November 11-14, 2024
  • Cost: €950, but by pre-registering, you can get one extra ticket for free
  • Industry focus: Technology
  • Amount you can win: There is no monetary prize, but ask every previous winner and they will tell you the exposure is priceless

5. Slush 2023

This is the cool kids table. Or tables, given that Slush events take place in Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Helsinki, where the festival/conference first started. Slush is all about community building and facilitating founder and investor meetings run by successful entrepreneurs such as Nokia’s Risto Siilasmaa.

  • Location:  Helsinki
  • Date: November 30 – December 1, 2023
  • Industry focus: Tech
  • Amount you can win: There is no monetary prize, but you can take advantage of the Slush community; get speed mentoring and resources

6. South Summit Startup Competition

South-Summit-2024

If you think your startup belongs among the world’s 100 most innovative, the South Summit Startup competition gives you the chance and the tools to prove it. You get the opportunity to attract the investment you need to take your business to the next level. Mentoring, exposure, and networking are all included for the 50 finalists who get to pitch at the event.

Taking place in Madrid, Spain, and Porto Alegre, Brazil, and with almost half of the projects having a Spanish origin, South Summit is a great place for all entrepreneurial voices to be heard.

  • Locations/Dates: Porto Alegre, Brazil March 20-22 2024, Madrid, Spain, June 5-7 2024
  • Keep in mind: Applications for Brazil close on 20 December 2023, and applications for Madrid close on January 31, 2024
  • Cost: Prices range from €153-€1,364, depending on the types of ticket and areas of access, it’s free for startups to apply to pitch
  • Industry focus: Any sector at any stage in development

7. Demo Day 2024

Demo Day is less of a startup competition and more of a culmination of a “slower” process. It starts with applying to Y Combinator for seed funding — they do two batches of mass funding per year, in return for a small equity in the funded companies — and relocating to the Bay Area if you are selected.

Demo Day takes place about 11 weeks after so that you can present your startup to an invite-only audience of approximately 1,500 investors and media, which can help you find later-stage investors.

  • Location: Virtual
  • Date: Applications for Winter 2024 are officially closed, but they accept applications until the end of Jan 2024; you can also apply for the Summer 2024 batch — Demo Day dates TBC
  • Cost: There is no cost, but the event is private and attendance is invitation-only. You just need to snag that invite!
  • Amount you can win: No monetary prize in Demo Day, but to even be in the process means you’ve already gotten funding from Y Combinator

8. Next Founders 2024

Another slower and more immersive option — this one geared to the Canada startup ecosystem. Next Founders accelerates your startup’s growth and your personal growth as a founder through mentoring and access to capital… You will also get your chance to present your startup during various events and attend many workshops before the big presentation on Venture Day.

  • Location: Toronto, Ontario
  • Date: The 2024 cohort runs from May 1 until August 8. Applications are open from February 1 – March 19, 2024. Get notified when applications open by filling out this form .
  • Cost: There is no cost to participate in the program
  • Industry focus: Broad, but you need to have a product in the market with existing customers

9. Utah Entrepreneur Challenge 2023-2024

This statewide business model competition is an excellent opportunity for students at one of Utah’s universities to compete for a cash prize — and also get valuable feedback and coaching.

  • Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  • Date: The application period for the 2024 UEC is September 18, 2023, to February 21, 2024. The competition final is on March 23, 2024
  • Cost: Free — but you can only join if you are a university student in Utah
  • Amount you can win: $100,000 in cash, prizes, and awards to the top 20 finalists

10. Jacob Startup Competition 2024

Jacob-Startup-Competition 2023-2024

JSC is one of the biggest startup competitions in Germany and brings together pre-seed startups from universities around the world with investors, speakers, mentors, their business partners, and more representatives from the German Startup scene. Each team or individual can benefit through the one-to-one mentoring process and win up to €3,000 in prizes.

To enter, at least half of your team needs to be bachelor’s or Master’s students enrolled in university.

  • Location: Bremen, Germany
  • Date: Applications are open until December 4, 2023, the second application round is between December 10 and January 8, followed by online mentoring for selected participants to meet their mentors. The final event, where the final 10 pitch their ideas takes place between 14th-16th March 2024
  • Cost: Free. They cover parts of the travel cost and accommodation in Bremen for two of each team member at the final event. More members can attend without financial assistance
  • Amount you can win: Prizes of up to 3,000€

11. SXSW EDU Launch Competition 2024

business plan competition canada

The Launch Startup Competition has a great impact on the future of teaching and learning. By attending, you can seek feedback, investment, strategic partnerships, and exposure.

Finalists have additional opportunities to showcase their ideas in front of the SXSW EDU community.

  • Location: Austin, Texas
  • Date: Applications to participate in the 2024 competition are now closed. The event takes place March 4-7, 2024.
  • Cost: Free for the participants of the competition, but you can get SXSW EDU Badge which includes primary access to all EDU Events for $645 if you register early
  • Industry focus: EdTech
  • Amount you can win: No cash prize is awarded for winning the competition. Finalists receive a number of benefits, such as the opportunity to win one out of several awards, participate in Startup Spotlight, a cocktail-style reception where teams can connect one-on-one with attendees, demo products and receive valuable, real-time feedback, and many more

12. WMF Startup Competition 2024

WMF-Startup-Competition-2024

With more than 4,300 startups applying, the WMF Startup Competition is one of the largest international competitions for innovative projects in Southern Europe, with attendees and international delegates from 89 countries.

Companies have a chance to present their reality to an audience of major players in the digital sector, investors, entrepreneurs, and experts in innovation, an audience who may actually decide to support the growth of a great business idea.

For the final 3-minute pitch, 6 finalists will be chosen to present, and then votes cast to decide the winner. One of the criteria for entering is that startups need to prove how they are accepting the challenges of the future.

  • Location: Rimini EXPO Centre, Italy
  • Date: June 13-15, 2024
  • Cost: €549+VAT
  • Industry focus: Broad, but requires innovative projects or ideas regarding the digital/technological sector
  • Amount you can win: There isn’t a specific cash prize but the total value of prizes (services from the event’s partners) to date has been more than 3,300,000€

13. AWE USA Startup Competition 2024

AWE-USA-Startup-Competition-2024

The AWE USA Startup Pitch Competition is part of the AWE USA Event, which includes more than 6,500 attendees and 500 speakers. Since 2010 over 5,000 companies and 60,000 professionals have trusted AWE to connect, learn, and grow their business in the XR ecosystem.

By joining the Competition or attending the Event, you get the chance to present your company to a huge audience. You also get to be a part of a community that includes end-users and solution providers, investors and startups, brands, and creators and developers, job seekers, and recruiters.

  • Location: Long Beach, California
  • Date: June 18-20, 2024 (The deadline for pitch submissions is May 8 and pitching is on June 19)
  • Cost: Prices range from $695-$2499, depending on types of ticket and areas of access. For finalists attending the final event is free. Early bird pricing ends on March 14
  • Industry focus: Attendees are from a broad variety of industries, the startups pitching need to have an AR/VR-focused startup
  • Amount you can win: No cash prize is awarded for winning the competition. The winning startup takes home a grand prize and is honored on the main stage at AWE USA 2024 with the winning title of “Start-up to Watch”

14. Inventures Startup Pitch Event

Inventures-Startup-Pitch-Event

Inventures Startup Pitch finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their product or service to the program’s audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs, early adopters, business educators, and service providers.

Moreover, anyone attending will be able to network one-on-one with the audience members. There is free registration to all Inventures programming, access to professional coaching and on-site mentoring opportunities, and a chance to win $10,000 in funding.

  • Location: Telus Convention Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • Date: May 29-31 2024 (Deadline for pitches March 15)
  • Cost: There is no fee to apply when attending the program. Tickets for visitors are $749
  • Industry focus: Any ALPHA and BETA startup in food tech, earth, tech, Quantum, AI, or IoT
  • Amount you can win: $10,000 in funding, along with coaching and mentoring opportunities

15. Elevator Pitch Competition 2024

EPIC-2024

EPiC 2024 is a unique, worldwide competition for global startups to expand their footprints into Asia, giving both global and local mid-late-stage startups a chance to expand further, accelerate faster, and make a mark in Hong Kong and beyond.

Join EPiC 2024, challenge yourself with a 60-second pitch, and see how far you can reach!

Through the event, you get access to 1,000 potential investors and 350+ corporate partners.

  • Location: Hong Kong Science Park
  • Date: April 26, 2024
  • Cost: There is no fee to apply when attending the program; they also offer sponsored air and accommodation to Hong Kong
  • Industry focus: FinTech and PropTech
  • Amount you can win: Up to $5,000,000.00 in investment and cash prizes worth a total of $240,000.00

16. Green Alley Award

Green-Alley-Award

The Green Alley Award is the first startup prize for the circular economy and, in 2024, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. With 1,600 applications from more than 30 countries till today, the Green Alley Award’s purpose is to help realize ideas that make the most efficient use of resources and reduce waste drastically – from products to services and technologies.

Six startups will make it to the Grand Finale in Berlin, 5 selected by the judges and 1 by a public vote.

Applications to be in the 2024 Grande Finale are now closed.

  • Location: Berlin, Germany
  • Date: April 2024
  • Cost: There is no fee to apply when attending the program
  • Industry focus: Circular Economy – you need to have a product that focuses on recycling, waste prevention and digital solutions
  • Amount you can win: 25,000€

17. Global Startups Awards

Global-Startup-Awards

The Global Startups Awards has been running for 12 years in over 120 countries. The awards have produced 12 unicorns worth more than $47 Billion.

You first need to apply on a regional level; if you succeed you can make it to the global final. You need to apply in your region before 31st December 2023.

Even if you don’t make it into the competition, the GSA has a vast global network, and they can help introduce you to potential investors or help you get investment-ready.

  • Location: Worldwide
  • Date: Announcements for the finale will be made after regional events take place
  • Cost: Free to enter, you need to buy tickets to attend the finale event
  • Amount you can win: Undisclosed

Podim

Based in Slovenia, Podim has become the most influential startup event for businesses in the CEE region.

Get the chance to learn from world-class entrepreneurs, mingle with investors, and get inspired by other innovators. The conference also isn’t super-sized, which makes networking and connecting with relevant people much easier.

If you want to pitch your startup, you need to apply by March 15th, 2024; the Demo day is on May 7th, followed by the summit event in mid-May.

  • Location: Maribor, Slovenia
  • Date: 13-15th May 2024
  • Cost: Between €145 – €590 depending on the level of access
  • Amount you can win: The main prize is a 3-day accelerator event in London organized by Fundraising Bootcamp

19. Tech Chill Fifty Founders Battle

Tech-chill

Fifty of the most promising startups from across Central and Western Europe, the Nordics, and the Baltics battle it out on the Tech Chill stage to impress the 200 investors in attendance at the event.

You can only apply if your startup hasn’t received more than €300,00k in equity investments.

Attending the event gives you media exposure and the chance to impress potential investors if you make it to the final pitch.

  • Location: Riga, Latvia
  • Date: April 19, 2024
  • Cost: Between €79 – €259 (€700 if you want an expo package)
  • Industry focus: Broad: you will be split into categories based on industry
  • Amount you can win: €10,000 no-strings investment

20. Hello Tomorrow

Helo-tomorrow

With over 3,000 attendees and €150k given in past prizes, this competition is a great opportunity for emerging startups in the deep tech sector to get visibility.

This event is for you if you want to connect with relevant industry professionals, showcase your technology, and secure 1-1 meetings with potential VCs.

Finalists pitch in front of an audience of 400 and a jury of deep tech experts.

  • Location: Paris, France
  • Date: March 21-22 2024
  • Cost: Between €370- €1,290
  • Industry focus: Broad, but you need to be an early-stage deep-tech startup to compete
  • Amount you can win: €100K Grand Prize, €30K 2nd prize and €20K 3rd prize – all equity-free, no strings attached

TNW

The Next Web is one of Europe’s biggest tech conferences, with attendees from the world’s biggest companies and investment funds.

If you’re actively looking to scale your business, being part of this event can help elevate your visibility.

Joining the TNW for Startups program gives you the opportunity to compete in the Pitch Battle Competition. Your deck will get reviewed by a jury of sponsors and investors, and if they like your idea, you’ll be able to pitch on stage in front of media, industry experts, and investors.

To be eligible, your company needs to be founded between 2016-2024, build or market software or hardware products and employ under 100 people.

  • Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Date: June 20-21, 2024
  • Amount you can win: No cash prize, but you get free press, free tickets, and a booth at the next TNW conference

22. EU Startups Summit

Eu-Startups-Summit

A gathering of more than 2,000 founders, angel investors, VCs, and media gather for two days of showcases, talks, and a pitch competition.

The 15 finalists (selected from over 1,500 applicants) get the opportunity to give a 3-minute pitch in front of a panel of judges and the event attendees. The winning team gains international visibility, new investor connections, and a prize package.

  • Location: Valletta, Malta
  • Date: May 9-10, 2024
  • Cost: Between €169 – €600
  • Amount you can win: Not disclosed

23. START Summit

START-Summit

A student-powered conference where future founders and leaders can connect with industry titans.

With over 6,000 participants and 160+ speakers, you can meet potential collaborators, and investors, and find opportunities in whatever industry you’re interested in.

Thirty early-stage startups (founded no later than 2021) can virtually present their venture to renowned VCs and industry leaders. The startups who make it to the final four will pitch in real life at the event in March.

  • Location: Gallen, Switzerland
  • Date: March 21-22, 2024
  • Cost: Tickets go on sale December 5, 2023
  • Amount you can win: 10,000 CHF

24. Venture Z

Venture-Z

An exciting startup competition for Gen-Z entrepreneurs, this competition offers a platform for young founders to present their business ideas to a panel of expert judges.

Organized as part of the International Conference on Sustainability, this competition is for founders who want to build a lasting impact on society through a sustainable future.

If you are successful at getting into the program, you will get the opportunity to be part of the mentorship scheme.

  • Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Date: February 18-22, 2024
  • Cost: Free to enter
  • Industry focus: Sustainable businesses
  • Amount you can win: First prize wins 30,000 SAR, second place 20,000 SAR, third place 10,000 SAR

25. Startup Day

Startup-Day

If you’re looking for funding and already have traction and a scalable business model, you can compete for up to €200k in investment.

The final 40 startups will receive pitching training, showcase their product on the main stage, and potentially receive equity-free cash.

Dozens of workshops will help you fill your skills gaps and meet potential collaborators. Get involved in the matchmaking service and attend networking events.

  • Location: Tartu, Estonia
  • Date: January 26, 2024
  • Amount you can win: Up to €200k syndicate investment

Think you can win a startup competition?

Now that you know which startup pitch competitions are worth your time, here are a few tips on how to prepare for your startup pitch.

But if you need more 1:1 help, a mentor can help.

Talking to startup mentors that have “been there done that” and successfully raised funding from investors is a great way to soundboard your pitch and increase your confidence.

Get help with your pitch

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  • Business plan guide

What is a business plan and why do I need one?

A business plan is a written document that describes your business, its objectives and strategies, the market you are targeting and your financial forecast. It is important to have a business plan because it helps you set realistic goals, secure external funding, measure your success, clarify operational requirements and establish reasonable financial forecasts. Preparing your plan will also help you focus on how to operate your new business and give it the best chance for success.

Securing financial assistance to start your new business will be directly related to the strength of your business plan. To be considered a viable candidate to receive funds from a financial institution or investors, you must demonstrate that you understand every aspect of your business and its ability to generate profit.

A business plan is more than just something to show lenders and investors, it is also necessary to help you plan for the growth and progress of your business. Your business’s success can depend on your plans for the future.

Listed below are examples of questions to ask yourself when writing your business plan:

  • How will I generate a profit?
  • How will I run the business if sales are low or if profits are down?
  • Who is my competition, and how will we coexist?
  • Who is my target market?

What should be included in a business plan?

Although business plans can vary in length and scope, all successful business plans contain common elements. The following points should be included in any business plan:

  • Executive summary (business description)

Identifying your business opportunity

Marketing and sales strategy of a business plan, financial forecasts of a business plan, other useful documentation, the executive summary (business description).

The executive summary is an overview of the main points in your business plan and is often considered the most important section. It is positioned at the front of the plan and is usually the first section that a potential investor or lender will read. The summary should:

  • Include the main points from each of the other sections to explain the basics of your business
  • Be sufficiently interesting to motivate the reader to continue reading the rest of your business plan
  • Be brief and concise – no more than two pages long

Although the executive summary is the first section of the plan, it is a good idea to write it last – after the other parts of the plan have been finalized.

In this section of your business plan, you will describe what your business is about – its products and/or services – and your plans for the business. This section usually includes:

  • Who you are
  • What you do
  • What you have to offer
  • What market you want to target

Remember that the person reading the plan may not understand your business and its products and services as well as you do, so try to avoid using complicated terms. It is also a good idea to get someone who is not involved in the business to read this section of your plan to make sure that anyone can understand it.

Some of the things you should explain in your plan include:

  • Whether it is a new business venture, a purchase of an existing business or the expansion of an existing business
  • The industry sector your business is in
  • The uniqueness of your product or service
  • The advantages that your business has over your competition
  • The main objectives of your business
  • Your legal business structure (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)

You can also include the date the business was registered/incorporated, the name of the business, its address and all contact information.

A strong business plan will include a section that describes specific activities that you will use to promote and sell your products or services. A strong sales and marketing section demonstrates that you have a clear idea of how you will get your product or service into market and can answer the following questions for the reader:

  • Who are your customers? Do some research and include details of the types of customers who have shown an interest in your product or service. You can describe how you are going to promote yourself to potential customers.  
  • How are you going to reach your customers? You should know your customers and the best methods to reach them. Research will help you identify the most effective way to connect with your selected audience, whether it is through the Internet, over the telephone or by in-person contact.  
  • Who is your competition? Once you understand this, you need to research their strengths and weaknesses and use this information to assess potential opportunities and threats to your business.  
  • How are you going to position your product or service? Describe what makes your product or service unique to the market you are trying to target.  
  • How are you going to price your product or service? This information will outline your pricing strategy, including incentives, bulk pricing and/or group sales.

Don't underestimate the importance of this part of your plan. Investors need to know that you and your staff have the necessary balance of skills, motivation and experience to succeed. This section describes the people working in your business and how you plan to manage your activities. Information in this section can include:

  • A brief organizational layout or chart of the business
  • Biographies of the managers (including yourself)
  • Who does what, with a brief job description of each position
  • The needed skills of each position
  • Any other relevant information related to personnel

It is also a good idea to outline any recruitment or training plans, including the cost and the amount of time required.

The operations section of your business plan will outline your daily operational requirements, facility requirements, management information systems, information technology requirements and any improvements you may have planned. This section usually includes information like:

  • Daily operations – descriptions of hours of operation, seasonality of business, suppliers and their credit terms, etc.  
  • Facility requirements – this includes things like size and location, information on lease agreements, supplier quotations and any licensing documentation    
  • Management information systems – inventory control, management of accounts, quality control and customer tracking  
  • Information technology (IT) requirements – your IT systems, any consultants or support service and an outline of any planned IT developments

Your financial forecast turns your plan into numbers. As part of any good business plan, you need to include financial projections for the business that provide a forecast for the next three to five years. The first 12 months of forecasts will have the most details about costs and revenues, so investors can understand your strategy.

Your financial forecasts should include:

  • Cash flow statements – cash balance and the cash flow pattern for the first 12-18 months, including working capital, salaries and sales
  • Profit and loss forecast – projected level of profit based on your projected sales, the costs of providing goods and services and your overhead costs
  • Sales forecast – the money you expect to make from sales of your product or service

Some other things to consider include:

  • How much capital do you need (if you are seeking external funding)?
  • What security can you offer to lenders?
  • How do you plan to repay your debts?
  • What are your sources of revenue and income?
  • Forecasts should be covering a range of scenarios
  • Reviewing risks and developing contingency plans to offset the risks
  • Reviewing industry benchmarks/averages for your type of business

It is important to do your research to find out how your business compares to other small businesses in your industry.

The following sections are not always required, but can enhance any business plan:

  • Implementation plan – this section lists estimated dates of completion for different aspects of your business plan, targets for your business and accomplishments. Appendices – these should include supporting material, such as licences and permits, agreements, contracts and other documentation that support your business plan.

Who should write my business plan?

Your business plan should be prepared by you, the entrepreneur. It is your business and your plan, but do not hesitate to ask for help from your management team, consultants, accountants, bookkeepers, copy editors or other experienced people.  

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Stu Clark Investment Competition

Winnipeg, Manitoba March 13-14, 2020 Application Deadline: January 23, 2020

The 2020 Stu Clark Investment Competition taking place in Winnipeg, MB, Canada March 13-14, 2020. This competition is open to graduate students worldwide and offers a substantial prize purse (over CAD $60,000). Additionally, the University of Manitoba guarantees a CAD $1,000 minimum per participating team.

Rice Business Plan Competition

Houston, Texas - USA March 26-28, 2020 Application Deadline: January 27, 2020

Compete to join the world's biggest business plan competition, where collegiate entrepreneurs get real-world experience in how to pitch their startups to investors, integrate with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, enhance their startup strategy, connect with mentors, and learn what it takes to launch a successful business. The competition offers more than $1.5 million in prizes, in the form of investment, cash, and in-kind.

New Venture Championship

Portland, Oregon - USA April 16-18, 2020 Application Deadline: February 12, 2020

Presented by the University of Oregon's Lundquist College of Business, the New Venture Championship (NVC) is a six-round business competition that inspires young entrepreneurs to develop their business dreams into a reality. Teams of graduate and undergraduate students from around the world come to Portland, Oregon every year to pitch their business plans and compete for $50,000 in total cash awards.

Brown-Forman Cardinal Challenge

Louisville, Kentucky - USA February 28-29, 2020 Application Deadline - January 15, 2020

The Brown-Forman Cardinal Challenge represents a prestigious, global academic competition with real-world opportunities and experiences designed to stimulate and reward innovative thinking and entrepreneurial persistence. The University of Louisville Brown-Forman Cardinal Challenge showcases new business concepts presented by MBA and graduate students from 12 of the world’s leading university entrepreneurship programs, including UofL.

Heartland Challenge

Bentonville, Arkansas - USA April 20-21, 2020 Application Deadline - February 16, 2020

The University of Arkansas' Sam M. Walton College of Business invites graduate student entrepreneurs from around the world to Northwest Arkansas on April 20-21, 2020, to compete for a cash prize pool of $135,000. Made possible by generous support from the Walton Family Foundation, the Heartland Challenge is the first global student startup competition held in the state of Arkansas.

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Educating Entrepreneurs: Students Vie With Business Plans At Virtual Show Held At Long Island University

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At a recent trade show and business plan presentation competition held at Long Island University Post’s Brookville campus, a business group unveiled a product that could attract investor and consumer attention. 

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DogGo, with its slogan “Go FURther,” offered dog collars and harnesses with fitness and security features, such as GPS, vitals trackers, and step counters. High-tech pet health was definitely here, or almost.

But don’t look for that product or company — at least not yet. This was an entry from students at Smithtown High School East at a business plan and trade show booth competition held primarily for Long Island schools.It was all part of the Virtual Enterprises Long Island Regional Business Plan Competition and Trade Show. hosted by Long Island University at its Post campus on Jan. 9-10. 

About 3,000 students, 150 teams, around 80 middle and high schools, primarily on Long Island, and nearly 100 judges including LIU faculty and deans, joined for this example of entrepreneurial education. 

“They were professional, knowledgeable about what their companies developed, and most of all they were proud of their accomplishments,” Matthew Griffith, who teaches the VE course at Riverhead High School, said of the students.

Virtual Enterprises International is a national nonprofit that runs an educational program where students learn about business by running a business in the classroom.

Since 1996, VEI has served more than 250,000 students in classrooms and through competitions, such as the recent one at Long Island University, which serves more than 15,000 students at its Long Island and Brooklyn campuses. 

“There are Virtual Enterprises classrooms across the country,” Shari Linker, VEI’s director of marketing and communications, said of about 400 schools. “They’re not selling real goods, but the process is real.”

The Virtual Enterprises program is part of each school’s curriculum, designed to simulate “all aspects of starting and running a business, including a virtual banking system,” Linker said. 

The Long Island Virtual Enterprises program is one of the largest communities within the VE system.

“An entrepreneurship class focuses more on the individual,” Linker said. “This is an entire company. We’re teaching them presentation, collaboration with other students, different roles.”

Classes function as companies, not simply as students sitting and learning from teachers.

“ The classroom literally decides on a service or product. They come up with an idea,” Linker said. “They each have roles. Someone is CEO, CFO, marketing, human resources, employees.”

They come up with an idea for goods or a service. Virtual Enterprises provides virtual dollars to spend and make sales.

“Competitions and trade shows like this allow high school and middle school VE students to meet each other, exchange business ideas and even sell to each other,” VEI President Ali Shama said.

Michael Berthel, Long Island University’s vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, said the school’s participation is part of its “commitment to experiential learning.”

“These high school students receive valuable and lifelong lessons in innovating, developing and running a business,” Berthel added.

Students from Easthampton to Westchester showed off their creativity in front of judges.

“What an amazing opportunity to serve as a judge for the VE competition,” said Phil DePaul, who leads various companies. “‘High school me’ is so jealous of the opportunity these students have.”

Virtual companies ranged from customizable hair products (Hairvana, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School) to high-tech dog collars (DogGo, Smithtown High School East). 

There also was Pack A Party from a New Hyde Park Memorial High School team, and Smart Scents Esscentials Aromatherapy, and Dried Delights, all from Syosset High School.

At Your Service came out of West Hempstead High School; Café Fusion from William Floyd High School, and Continental Cuisine from Bridgehampton High School .

“You want them to come to your booth and take an order on site,” Linker said of booths offering mock products, mascots, marketing and brochures.

Booth Design Gold Awards went to Fits4Fans, Memory Lane Toy Co., and AI AID, all from Miller Place High School; H2Grow, Jericho Senior High School; Elite Events, Centereach High School; and Cloud Co., Patchogue-Medford High School; R & R Solutions and SpiritBoost Smithtown High School West; Supercharged, Deer Park High School and smooVE, was born at Connetquot High School.

“It’s not a real product,” Linker said. “But everything else is real.”

The LIU event is one of various regionals leading up to the Youth Business Summit in April at Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Winners receive recognition but not remuneration for business plan pitches, marketing, human resources and other tracks. 

The creativity clearly was real and in some cases, real products paralleled what was shown. Smart dog collars exist, including PetPace. If you like DogGo’s idea and presentation, you might be able to get a product for your pet.

As to DogGo, which had a strong showing from product to presentation, keep your eyes peeled not just for the company, but for these and other entrepreneurs. The experience, if not the companies, are real.

“VE gives all students a chance to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life scenarios,” said Susan Hanlon, VE coordinator at the G.W. Hewlett High School’s Business Education Department. “It’s exciting to see students shine when they are presenting their business plan and they realize that they’re capable of sharing such intricate business knowledge in such a professional manner.”

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South African State Climate Body Slams National Energy Plan

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South African State Climate Body Slams National Energy Plan Back to video

South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission said the energy ministry has an inadequate plan to tackle the country’s power supply crisis and its lack of attention to air quality and climate change puts it in conflict with the law and international agreements.

The so-called Integrated Resource Plan, developed by the energy ministry, is currently open for public comments and amendments may be made before it’s finalized in May. 

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The scathing criticism by the body established to advise President Cyril Ramaphosa on climate issues highlights the schism in government caused by a reliance on coal for power generation. Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has expressed a reluctance to move away from the use of the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel, saying its necessary for electricity supply and employment, while the presidential climate body has been advocating for a green transition. 

Tensions around the dispute have been deepened by a power supply crisis that’s crippling the economy as the coal-fired power plants that supply more than 80% of South Africa’s electricity repeatedly break down.

“The IRP does not address its primary energy security objective and does not provide any analysis to show how this might be achieved in the short term,” the commission said in a presentation released after a Feb. 16 meeting. “The IRP does not effectively address the issues of climate change and air quality.”

South Africa is the world’s 15th-biggest producer of climate-warming greenhouse gases and has one of the world’s most carbon-intensive economies. Air pollution to the east and south of its biggest city, Johannesburg, is among the world’s worst due to a concentration of coal-fired power plants, petrochemical complexes and other heavy industry.

The criticism from the government body adds to concern from renewable energy advocates that a plan to build more than 100 gigawatts of power generation capacity by 2050 from a variety of sources isn’t ambitious enough. 

The master plan also does little to address access to energy concerns, doesn’t propose using the cheapest power-generation technologies and could heighten inequality, the climate commission said. 

“At the very least a scenario to 2030 that more aggressively addresses load shedding is needed,” the commission said, using a local term for power cuts. “A detailed review of air quality and its impacts on technology choices is needed. This is a legal requirement.”

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Date night strike: Thousands of US, UK delivery, ride-hailing drivers stop work on Valentine’s Day

Dozens of ride-hailing workers participated in a strike on Valentine’s Day at O’Hare Airport, calling for higher pay and better working conditions. (Feb. 14)

People protest ride-hailing companies like Uber, Lyft and others in the Transportation Network Provider parking lot at O'Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

People protest ride-hailing companies like Uber, Lyft and others in the Transportation Network Provider parking lot at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

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Ride-share drivers protest near Orlando International Airport at Airport Lakes Park, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine’s Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

People wait in the ride-hailing pickup area at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. Ride-hailing workers were protesting companies like Uber and Lyft across the country Wednesday, demanding better wages and safer working conditions. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

People wait in the ride-hailing pickup area at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. ride-hailing and delivery workers were protesting companies like Uber and Lyft across the country Wednesday, demanding better wages and safer working conditions. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Carmen Peralta joins other ride-hailing and delivery workers in protest of Uber, Lyft and other companies in the Transportation Network Provider parking lot at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

An authorization sticker is displayed on a vehicle in the Transportation Network Provider parking lot at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. Ride-hailing and delivery workers were protesting companies like Uber and Lyft across the country Wednesday, demanding better wages and safer working conditions. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Rideshare vehicles are parked in the Transportation Network Provider parking lot at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine’s Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

People wait in the rideshare pickup area at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine’s Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Blossom Boston joins other ride-hailing and delivery workers in protest of Uber, Lyft and other companies in the Transportation Network Provider parking lot at O’Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Uber and Lyft driver Marcus Cruz, center, joins other rideshare drivers at a rally for batter pay and working conditions at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2024. Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine’s Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2021 file photo, a passer-by walks past a sign offering directions to an Uber and Lyft ride pickup location at Logan International Airport, in Boston. Thousands of U.S. ride-hailing workers plan to park their cars and picket at major U.S. airports Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in what organizers say is their largest strike yet in a drive for better pay and benefits. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, a ride share car displays Lyft and Uber stickers on its front windshield in downtown Los Angeles. Thousands of U.S. ride-hailing workers plan to park their cars and picket at major U.S. airports Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in what organizers say is their largest strike yet in a drive for better pay and benefits. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine’s Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions.

In the U.S., Uber and Lyft drivers planned daylong strikes in Chicago; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Miami; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Providence, Rhode Island. Drivers were also holding midday demonstrations at airports in those cities, according to Justice for App Workers, the group organizing the effort.

Meanwhile, U.K. delivery drivers for Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Stuart said they would turn off their apps and refuse deliveries between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The group Delivery Job U.K., which called for the walkout, said on Instagram that the strike was “a crucial opportunity to be seen and heard by society.”

Of eight delivery drivers who spoke with The Associated Press on the streets of London Wednesday, all but one said they planned to halt work at 5 p.m. Several, however, questioned whether the strike was long enough to make enough of a financial dent in the businesses.

FILE - An Uber sign is displayed inside a car, May 15, 2020, in Chicago. The Biden administration will enact a new labor rule Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, that aims to prevent the misclassification of workers as “independent contractors,” a step that could bolster both legal protections and compensation for many in the U.S. workforce. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

“One day is not effective,” said Evadur Rahman. “If we strike more than one day — two, three, four days — they’re gonna be affected.”

Rahman, a Deliveroo driver who planned to participate in the strike, said his daily pay dropped in recent months from about 140 pounds ($175) for eight hours of work to around 100 pounds ($126). He said he wanted the company to raise the minimum rate it pays per order from 2.90 pounds ($3.64) to closer to 5 pounds ($6.28).

“They must improve the minimum pay,” Rahman said. “It’s not enough for survival in this country.”

Justice for App Workers estimated that thousands of drivers stopped working Wednesday, and said that workers in 12 or more cities beyond the original 10 had held impromptu demonstrations. Delivery Job U.K. had expected 3,000 people to strike.

Jocilyn Floyd, who has been driving for Uber for nearly a decade, joined the picket line Wednesday at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

“Uber has proven time and time again that they’re putting profits over people. In shareholder meetings they discuss profits; there’s no question about safety, protection from deactivation or compensation,” Floyd said.

Uber said Wednesday that the strike wasn’t hurting driver availability or customer demand.

“Despite the headlines, we’ve seen no impact to our operations or reliability for riders. In fact, in most markets there are more drivers on the road today than there were during the same period last week,” an Uber spokesperson said.

Uber and other companies that rely on self-employed gig workers say those workers appreciate the flexibility of the job. But many gig workers are pushing to unionize, saying that would give them the ability to bargain over compensation, safety measures and other benefits.

In November, that unionization effort saw a setback in the U.K. , when Britain’s top court ruled that Deliveroo couriers don’t have collective bargaining rights because they aren’t considered employees.

Deliveroo said Wednesday that it has a voluntary partnership with a union that includes annual discussions on pay and it also provides couriers with free insurance and sick pay.

“Rider retention rates are high and the overwhelming majority of riders tell us that they are satisfied working with us,” the company said in a statement.

Rachel Gumpert, the spokesperson for Justice for App Workers, described ride-hailing as a “mobile sweatshop,” with some workers routinely putting in 60 to 80 hours per week. Justice for App Workers, which says it represents 130,000 ride-hailing and delivery workers, is seeking higher wages, access to health care and an appeals process so companies can’t deactivate drivers without warning.

But ride-hailing companies say they already pay a fair wage and have an appeals process in place for deactivations.

Earlier this month, Lyft said it began guaranteeing that drivers will make at least 70% of their fares each week, and it lays out its fees more clearly for drivers in a new earnings statement. Lyft also unveiled a new in-app button that lets drivers appeal deactivation decisions.

“We are constantly working to improve the driver experience,” Lyft said in a statement. Its U.S. drivers make an average of $30.68 per hour, or $23.46 per hour after expenses, Lyft said.

Uber said its U.S. drivers make an average of $33 per hour. The company also said it allows drivers to dispute deactivations.

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless and Brian Melley reported from London. Associated Press Video Journalist Melissa Perez Winder reported from Chicago.

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COMMENTS

  1. Ivey MBA Business Plan Competition

    As Canada's premier graduate business plan event, the Ivey MBA Business Plan Competition draws entrepreneurial teams from universities throughout North America to compete for $15,000.

  2. Recommended Business Competitions

    Sponsored by key external organizations Companies run their own competitions that are open to students. For a listing of Industry Run Competitions see below. See below for a listing of Additional Competitions. Selected Competitions (Eligible for three Lang branded items) Industry Run Competitions (Eligible for two Lang branded items)

  3. Apex Business Plan Competition

    International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre. Faculty of Management. University of New Brunswick. 9 Macaulay Lane, Tilley Hall. Email [email protected]. The Apex Business Plan Competition gives students a chance to develop, direct, organize and present a business plan to a panel of judges. Cash prizes for the best business plans and ventures.

  4. 2021 Ivey Business Plan Competitions

    Jan 25, 2021. Judges deliberate on the competition winner in a Zoom breakout room. Western University scored double-wins at the graduate and undergraduate editions of the 2021 Ivey Business Plan Competition, which took place virtually on January 22, 2021. Eighteen teams from across Canada, and the United States gathered via Zoom for the 23rd ...

  5. Case Competitions

    Below are the case competitions that we plan to participate in during the 2023-24 academic year. International Case Competition @ Maastricht (May 7-12, 2023) Chulalongkorn International Business Case Competition (May 23-27, 2023) Rotterdam/Carleton International Case Competition (Oct. 22-27, 2023)

  6. The 20 Best Business Plan Competitions [Updated 2024]

    A business plan competition is a contest between startup, early-stage, and/or growing businesses. The goal of the business plan competition is for participants to develop and submit an original idea or complete their existing business plan based on specific guidelines provided by the organization running the contest.

  7. Results from the Largest Business Plan Competition in Canada

    In the early 2000's, the Faculty of Management moved the competition out of the classroom to create an Atlantic competition, and in the past ten years since BMO Financial Group began sponsoring, it has attracted student teams from one side of Canada to the other. This year the BMO Financial Group APEX Business Plan Competition broke a new ...

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    By the business model definition, it is proved that the Canada business model competition is much more effective than a regular business plan competition because it includes a break-down of the idea, customer development, testing the assumptions and addressing the real competition in Canada.

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    Baylor 2021 New Venture Competition. Baylor University - Waco, Texas. Date: March 25-27, 2021. Applications open September 1, 2020. The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise will host the tenth annual Baylor New Venture Competition on March 25-27, 2021 at Baylor University's Foster Campus for Business and Innovation.

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    Welcome to our Canadian business blog where we'll be exploring the ins and outs of business planning and how to overcome the competition in Canada. In this first entry, we'll be discussing the importance of having a solid approach in business planning, as well as providing you with practical tips and insights that will help you stand out in the ...Read Full Article

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  12. How to write a business plan

    4. Financials. Include a cash flow forecast, usually broken down on a monthly basis and presented as a spreadsheet. Also add your financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement and statement of retained earnings). And if you're a new business, list start-up costs.

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    Business Plan Competition Resources. General Resources. Event Guide. Rating Sheet. External Resources. Sample Deliverables. 24-Minute Gym Business Plan. 2017 FBLA Business Plan 1st Place. 2018 FBLA Business Plan 1st Place. 2017 Business Plan. Sample Presentations. Presentation Example 1. ... 2023-24 Canada FBLA ...

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    What are Business Competitions? Benefits of Participating in Business Competitions Best Business Competitions for Ontario Entrepreneurs: Top Ten 1. TiE Global - TiEQuest 2. Startup Canada - Startup Global 3. Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC) (Georgian College) - Further Faster and the Grand Pitch Competition 4.

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    Rewards. A grand prize worth $15000 and a Runner Up prize worth $7500. 6. MIT 100k Business Plan and Expo. MIT organizes this competition to promote innovation in the university as well as the world. It consists of 3 competitions throughout the year namely Pitch, Accelerate, and Launch.

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    This statewide business model competition is an excellent opportunity for students at one of Utah's universities to compete for a cash prize — and also get valuable feedback and coaching. ... Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Date: May 29-31 2024 (Deadline for pitches March 15) Cost: There is no fee to apply when attending the program. Tickets for ...

  17. Planning for success: your guide to preparing a business and marketing plan

    If you still need help preparing your business plan, call 1-888-576-4444 to contact the Business Information Services centre of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. ACOA's Business Information Services also offers a series of business plan templates. Click here to view adresses and contact information for the ACOA office nearest you.

  18. Business plan guide

    It is important to have a business plan because it helps you set realistic goals, secure external funding, measure your success, clarify operational requirements and establish reasonable financial forecasts. Preparing your plan will also help you focus on how to operate your new business and give it the best chance for success.

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    The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. Competition drives lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth. Follow: Latest Learn how compliance can help your business

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    Business Competition; Transform your 'idea' into a profitable business. ... Learn how you can get funding for your small business in Canada. It takes 30 seconds. Recommended. ... "Perfect your business plan as it's in my option the number one thing small businesses need in order to attract and impress a funding agency." - ...

  21. Graduate Business Plan Competitions 2020

    The 2020 Stu Clark Investment Competition taking place in Winnipeg, MB, Canada March 13-14, 2020. This competition is open to graduate students worldwide and offers a substantial prize purse (over CAD $60,000). Additionally, the University of Manitoba guarantees a CAD $1,000 minimum per participating team. Rice Business Plan Competition

  22. Planning a business

    Find out how to write a business plan and access templates, sample business plans, market research information and statistics. ... Canada.ca; Business and industry; Starting a business; Planning a business. Planning a business. Assessing your readiness, choosing a business structure, market research and writing a business plan. ...

  23. Educating Entrepreneurs: Students Vie With Business Plans At Virtual

    This was an entry from students at Smithtown High School East at a business plan and trade show booth competition held primarily for Long Island schools.It was all part of the Virtual Enterprises ...

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    Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication. Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

  25. 50 Profitable Business Ideas to Start in Canada in 2024

    32. Open a Food Truck. Operating a food truck in Canada is a profitable business idea, especially as the market size of street vendors is expected to reach $234.9 million in 2023. Costs to start a food truck can range from $40,000 to $200,000, lower than you would pay to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

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    Lloyds Pharmacy has resubmitted a new application to the competition regulator for approval of its proposed takeover of the McCabes Pharmacy Group.

  27. Appliance Parts Maker Robertshaw Files for Bankruptcy to Cut Debt

    Robertshaw U.S. Holding has filed for bankruptcy as the century-old appliance parts maker seeks to cut debt and resolve lender litigation. The Itasca, Ill.-based company, owned by private-equity ...

  28. Forvia to shed jobs in Europe amid Chinese competition

    French automotive supplier Forvia said it plans to cut up to 10,000 jobs in Europe over the next five years as part of a plan to boost profits in the face of Chinese competition.

  29. Uber and Lyft drivers plan Valentine's Day strikes

    In the U.S., Uber and Lyft drivers plan daylong strikes in Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Miami and other cities. ... unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day. The Associated Press.