History The Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition (BPC) is in its 10th year fostering entrepreneurship among Georgia Tech students and alumni. The purpose of the program is three-fold: Create an integrated learning experience that promotes "academic" excellence in the development of entrepreneurial concepts and business plans Encourage the founding of high-value, leading-edge enterprises and support student teams choosing to move forward with the startup of their businesses. to continue to contribute to and expand the entrepreneurial community internally within Georgia Tech and externally within the local, regional, national, and international entrepreneurial communities. To inspire students to consider entreprneurship as a career choice Since its inception in 2001, over 550 students and alumni have participated in this annual competition; and in total over $500,000 has been awarded in cash and services. And although the principle mission of the competition is to help inspire entrepreneurial spirit and to develop skills, each year several teams launch companies to take their product concepts to the market. In 2010, a total of $67,000 will be awarded as prizes as students and alumni compete for the best business plans, the most fundable, and most innovation intellectual property. Other specialty categories and awards include the best undergraduate plan, the best elevator pitch, the best trade show demonstration, and the best plan in terms of sustaining the environment.

Related Links Technological Innovation: Generating Economic Results  Institute for Sustainable Technology and Development   Advanced Technology Development Center VentureLab   Spring 2010 Related Courses

The 2010 Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition begins in the Fall 2009 semester with entrepreneurship curriculum courses and workshops designed to help students establish teams, refine their venture ideas, and develop business plans. The actual competition is a series of events beginning in early March and includes a preliminary competition round, an "Elevator Pitch" competition, a "Trade Show" competition, an innovation award, a final competition round, and an awards presentation. In addition to beginning eligible for those awards, the best undergraduate team is also recognized.

Students (but not Alumni) who have product or service idea that specifically address a social issue or concern and/or is focused on environmental sustainability -- but who are not ready to develop a full business plan, as required by the BPC, may consider entering the Georgia Tech I2SERVE or the InVenture Prize at Georgia Tech competition. Both the I2SERVE and InVenture Prize are idea competitions and both started in 2009. Alumni however are not eligible for either and the princple focus of both is on product concept and design. Please visit the I2S website for more details.

Academics
As indicated earlier since its inception in 2001, the competition has included almost 550 students and alumni. These students  represent 9+ programs and over 100 different business concepts. In recent years, the BPC has worked closely with other Georgia Tech programs to develop viable teams.

Although the competition's goals are primarily educational, about 15% of the teams that have participated have fostered companies -- 6 of which had been accepted into ATDC. The companies fostered by the Business Plan Competition have had significant progress in their ventures, including:

• Over $5.0 million in funding in grants and equity
• Three patents issued and 11 patents pending
• One exit/liquidity event

Community Building
The Business Plan Competition is an important contributor to the expansion of entrepreneurship locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Each year, the competition draws from 60 to 70 leading venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and business people to participate as judges and workshop presenters.