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FAQ'S
Up one levelFAQ overview
- How many people comprise a team?
- Do all team members need to be Baruch students?
- Which are the invited schools?
- Do I have to have a complete team for round one?
- What is a qualified team?
- Can I submit more than one concept paper?
- Can I be on more than one team?
- What does Round One require
- What is a concept paper?
- What types of business concepts qualify?
- How do I submit the concept paper?
- When should I submit the concept paper?
- How do I know if my team qualifies for Round 2?
- What does Round Two require?
- How complete does the draft business plan have to be?
- How do we submit our draft business plan?
- How do I know if my team qualifies for Round 3?
- What does Round Three require?
- How do we submit our final plan?
- How do I find out who wins?
- Who were the past winners?
- How can my team and I get help?
- Where can I get more detailed information about the competition?
- Where can I get information if what I need to know is not on the web?
How many people comprise a team?
At least two, though it is likely that more than two will be needed to provide the variety of skills and talents needed and to carry out the work involved.
Do all team members need to be Baruch students?
No. At least half the team's members must be eligible students - those who are in good academic standing at the junior through doctoral level at Baruch College, or one of the invited colleges, or any combination of colleges. Other persons may be team members as well, as long as the 'at least half' criterion is met. The team's leader/contact person must be an eligible student.
Which are the invited schools?
Invited schools for this year's competition:
All CUNY senior colleges, Columbia University, Cooper Union, Fashion Institute of Technology, Fordham University, Manhattan College, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, New York Institute of Technology, New York University, Pace University, Parsons The New School for Design, School of Visual Arts, Yeshiva University.
Do I have to have a complete team for round one?
No. You do not need a complete team at the concept paper stage, but only eligible students can submit concept papers. You also must have registered for the competition. Should your paper be passed by the judges, you will have to create a qualifying team within two weeks.
What is a qualified team?
To be a qualified team, at least half its members, including the team leader/contact person, must be eligible students. Teams can change membership as the competition proceeds, but must remain qualified throughout to stay in the competition.
Note that any changes in membership must be reported promptly to the team's mentors and Professor Dumas, barry.dumas@baruch.cuny.edu. Late or non-reporting of changes are grounds for disqualification.
Can I submit more than one concept paper?
No. One concept paper per team.
Can I be on more than one team?
No. However, you can merge your team with another, although a team, merged or otherwise, can submit only one business plan. If your team is disqualified at some point, you may join another team. Similarly, your team may take on members from a disqualified team.
What does Round One require
Round One requires a concept paper; the judges will evaluate the business concept with an eye towards deciding if the concept is promising -- that is, if there is potential to develop the idea into a feasible business.
What is a concept paper?
A concept paper is a concise proposal outlining the products or services to be offered, the market to be served, the competitive potential of that offering in the market, and an exposition of the team's skills as related to carrying out the proposal. Papers exceeding two pages will not be accepted.
What types of business concepts qualify?
You need a realistic, marketable idea , either for a profit-making business venture or a socially conscious enterprise (non-profit, earned income, or eleemosynary), that fills a need that currently is either unmet or not well satisfied. Therefore, the business must be an original idea or one that significantly improves upon similar existing ventures. Your business must not already be in existence, or an expansion of an existing business, or be sponsored by or be under the aegis of an existing business. Exception: for the social track, ventures that start under the sponsorship of, or as divisions of, existing organizations, a common practice for social enterprises, are permitted. However, the business plan for such ventures must incorporate means for the enterprise to become its own independent entity within a reasonable time frame.
How do I submit the concept paper?
When should I submit the concept paper?
See Due Dates.
How do I know if my team qualifies for Round 2?
The team leader/contact person will be notified of the Round 1 results by email. Be patient - the judges have a lot of concepts to read and evaluate. Do not send emails inquiring about results. You will be notified in due time.
What does Round Two require?
Each team develops a detailed draft business plan. During this round, teams must show that plan development is proceeding at an appropriate pace, as assessed by the team's mentors via milestones among other means. Teams not proceeding apace will be disqualified.
Round 2 teams must be qualified and remain so throughout. If you have passed the concept stage but do not have a qualified team, you will have two weeks from notification of passing to form one. Non-qualified teams cannot continue in the competition.
At the end of Round 2, draft plans are submitted for evaluation by the judges.
How complete does the draft business plan have to be?
The draft business plan should be complete except for polishing and minor omissions.
How do we submit our draft business plan?
How do I know if my team qualifies for Round 3?
The team leader/contact person will be notified of the Round 2 results by email.
Be patient. The judges have many plans to read and evaluate. Do not send emails inquiring about the results. You will be notified in due time.
Teams that pass proceed to Round 3. Teams not passing are eligible to continue developing their plans with assistance from the Field Center.
What does Round Three require?
Teams submit fully developed business plans and make two minute pitches to the judges.
The final business plan is expected to have filled in any items missing from the draft plan and to be a polished professional piece of work.
How do we submit our final plan?
How do I find out who wins?
The team leaders/contact persons are notified of the Round 3 results by email.
Be patient. The judges have much deliberating to do. Do not send emails inquiring about results. You will be notified in due time.
Who were the past winners?
The winners of past competitions are posted on the competition web site.
How can my team and I get help?
Mentors are assigned to teams that pass the concept stage. Your mentors may utilize other professionals, at their discretion, to help with specific issues.
Bear in mind that mentors are guides and coaches - no mentor will do the work for you. See The Role of the Mentors.
Where can I get more detailed information about the competition?
Much information is posted on this Web site. Many of the links have detailed information.
Check the various pages often - information may change from time to time.
Where can I get information if what I need to know is not on the web?
First, check all parts of this Web site -- information does change. Then if you don't find what you need, send an email to Professor Dumas (barry.dumas@baruch.cuny.edu) with your query.
For the subject line, use only
bcec, your name, and your team name (if you are on a team).
This is to avoid confusion between email names and actual names, and to relate you to your team.
Also make sure your name and your team name (if you are on a team) are in the body of the email.
NOTE: Emails related to a team must come from the team leader/contact person only.
Note also: Your email should be coming from the same email address you noted when you registered for the competition.