NAPEC Innovation Challenge 2014 (applications due 3/19)

The NAPEC Innovation Challenge brings together student entrepreneurs from top universities to compete for over $20K in cash prizes.​

​​1st prize: $10,000
2nd prize: $5,000
3rd prize: $2,500

Best App Idea: $1,500
Greenest Idea: $1,000

​Thinking outside the box moves markets and shapes future consumer demands. The competition is designed to help and reward students who want to pursue an innovative business idea, develop a technology into a marketable product, or have a new approach to a difficult problem or compelling opportunity. The finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas to entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists and receive valuable feedback on their ventures.

The objective of the challenge is for student teams to conceptualize an innovative product or service, and create a business plan for the product/service’s commercialization. Competition judges are entrepreneurs and investors who volunteer their time to meet with students who are interested in marketing their new innovative ideas.

Finalists to present at NAPEC Innovation Conference in NYC, April 12th 2014.

​Teams need to submit an executive summary (maximum 3 pages), due March 19th, 2014 23:59pm EST. Following the deadline, the judges will review the summaries and select 15 semi-finalists and from the semi-finalists, 6 finalists. The 6 selected finalist teams will need to submit their final business plans (25 page document, plus 10 pages of appendices) by March 26th, 2014.

Each semi-finalist team will be provided an exhibit booth to display a team poster during the NAPEC Innovation Conference in New York City, April 12th 2014. Each finalist team will give a 10 minutes presentation to the panel of judges and audience of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and investors during the conference. Following the presentation the judges will then have 5 minutes for Q&A. After the final presentations the teams will have opportunity to meet and network with the judges and receive additional feedback and guidance. The panel of judges will announce prizes at the end of Innovation Gala at the conference.

Application deadline is March 19th, 2014 23:59pm EST.

Jelisa Adair

I am the Civic Engagement Fellow for 2013-2014. While a student at Wesleyan I double majored in Psychology and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and completed a joint thesis during my senior year. I am interested in issues of social justice, mental health, media, and global welfare.