Entering the Competition

1. The Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition is limited to teams that include Seattle University students or alumni.
2. Non-student co-founders or business executives are allowed as team members, but there must be a Seattle University student or alum on the team who played a major role in developing the plan.
3. Working with outside entrepreneurs with existing businesses/business ideas is permissible but as noted in #2 above, the student/alumnus must play a material role in developing the plan and participating in the competition.
4. Annual company revenues (inclusive of sales, grants, and/or outside investment) may not exceed $500K.
5. In the Semi-Final (Trade Show) Round, no more than four team members, including both students/alumni and non-students, may present their business concept to the judges at their booth.
6. In the Semi-Final (Fast Pitch) Round, the two-minute fast pitch must be delivered by the student or alumni team member.
7. In the final presentation round of the competition, the student or alumni team member must materially participate in the presentation, as well as the development of the final business plan submission.
8. The Executive Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center reserves the right to make the final determination with respect to all aspects of eligibility, competition advancement, and appropriate participation. Prizes are awarded based on the quality of submissions in each round, including public presentations and written submissions, by panels of judges in each round, who may use their consensual discretion from professional experience and expert opinion in determining the final rankings of the competing teams.

Team Registration

• Register your team and members online. Team registration must be received before submitting your screening round entry.
• Submission includes team/business name, team member names, contact information, and a very brief description of your business idea.
• Team Registration Form

Team Coach Application

• Team coaches are assigned to all Semi-Finalist Teams. If you feel that you are ready for a team coach before they are assigned, you may email the IEC Director with a draft of your business plan summary to apply for a teach coach. You should not apply for a team coach until you have a very clear idea for the business you will submit and have a draft of your business plan summary.
• Coaches will help you refine your business plan, but they should NOT be asked to help you brainstorm business ideas, decide between two ideas, write the plan summary for you, work with you before you have started to draft your plan, or otherwise share their time if you are not prepared to use it respectfully.
• Coaches are all local volunteers. Many are entrepreneurs, investors, startup consultants, business leaders, and engaged professionals.
• You should plan to meet with your team coach every week or every other week (ideally in person, at a location convenient for them, but Zoom video calls may suffice) as long as you remain in the competition.

How many people should be on a team?

• There is no set number of participants per team, but we recommend teams of two to four people. Doing the competition as a team of one or as a team of more than four people is difficult to do, but not impossible.

Can I have non-students on my team?

• Yes! Each team only needs one member who is an SU student or alum. However, this student or alum much present the pitches in Rounds 2 and 3, and must be actively involved in developing the business plan.

Do I have to use the prize money for the business?

• No. You can use the prize money for anything your team decides—to launch the business, pay for tuition, go on vacation, or pay it forward for future teams. Whoever (individual) or whatever (business) accepts the prize money is obligated to pay any required taxes.