A sustainable venture, for purposes of the award, will be one that provides products, services or processes that address significant social and/or environmental problems. Examples of such problems might include but not be limited to environmental impacts, resource scarcity, global health issues, poverty and social equity.

All teams submitting plans to the BPC by the competition due date will be eligible for the award. To compete for the award teams must submit a 250 word executive summary detailing the social and/or environmental sustainability aspects of their venture along with their written plan. Judging for the award will be conducted by a select panel of social and environmental entrepreneurs. The award will be announced during the BPC Reception on February 19,2009 and presented to the winning team during the awards ceremony of the BPC.

Some examples of past BPC teams with strong sustainability attributes include the following:

• BioFueltration (2009 BPC Finalist). Company developed a novel filtration fiber that is significantly more energy efficient and can handle higher throughput than currently used distillation technology. The company believes this technology, based on Georgia Tech research, will become the new standard in biofuel processing.
• JatBiodeisel (2008 BPC Team and Sustainability Winner). For profit organization that encourages the agriculture of Jatropa plants in the South and Southwest United States and the refining the the jatropha plant into a diesel fuel supplement.
• Sustainable Refrigeration (2007 BPC Team and Sustainability Winner). Nonprofit organization that will develop the technology for a low cost, environmentally friendly refrigerator for both domestic and medical use, The group aims to microfinance the manufacture and distribution of the model in developing nations.
• SolarLinks Inc. (2007 BPC Team) Provides solar power conversion kits for golf carts. The company will capture value by designing, marketing and selling their flagship product to golf courses, institutions, and the retail consumer segment.
• PolyDerm (2006 BPC Team). The PolyDerm venture commercialized a new drug delivery technology using polymer microneedles. With the technology, five times as many people can be immunized while reducing medical waste, eliminating infection risk, and eliminating the need for trained medical personnel to administer the vaccine.
• VirtualBlue (2004 BPC Team). The VirtualBlue venture focused on the development of a digital replacement for blueprints in the building and construction industry. The plan provided for a significant reduction in the use of paper products and the subsequent creation of waste.
• PolyTorx (2003 BPC Team). The PolyTorx venture developed and commercialized a unique steel fiber that when added to concrete in the construction process dramatically increased the strength and flexibility of the product. Scrap steel wire from the tire industry was utilized as the primary source of raw materials addressing a significant waste product problem.
• Radatec (2001 BPC Team). The Radatec venture commercialized a proprietary sensor technology primarily targeted for the power generation and jet engine industries. The key value proposition for the venture was the ability for technology adopters to dramatically improve fuel efficiency through the use of the Radatec sensor technology.

Elevator Pitch and Show Stopper Competitions. In the "real world", there are many opportunities to present new ventures and seek funding. To create similar situations, the Business Plan Competition includes "Elevator Pitch" and "Show Stopper" competitions. Imagine a scenario for an "Elevator Pitch." You have a chance meeting with a potential influential investor and an opportunity to make a pitch. This one-time shot at telling your story could convince the investor to spend additional time in finding out more about your plan.

Imagine an opportunity during a trade show to be a "Show Stopper." You have just setup your first booth on the exhibit floor of a major conference and trade show. It is a prime opportunity to catch the attention of a potential investor or a key customer. There is a lot of activity on the trade show floor and you have limited time to catch this person's interest.

All teams submitting plans to the competition who pass the initial screening process and compete in the preliminary round are eligible to compete in one or both of these competitions.

The competitions will be held during the competition reception on the evening of Thursday, February 19, 2009. Please note that these two competitions are open to all competing teams, whether or not they have been selected for the final round.

In order to compete in either one or both competitions, each team must notify the competition director of their intent to compete. The teams must specify which competition(s) (Elevator Pitch and/or Show Stopper) in which they will be competing.

For teams selected to compete in the finals this will be a great "warm up" event preceding the finals the next day.

For teams not selected to compete in the finals, this is a second path through which the team can "pitch" its venture idea to a distinguished panel of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists and a second path to a cash award. None of the elevator pitch or show stopper judges will have read your plan in the preliminary judging for the competition.

Undergraduate Award
As part of its commitment to the entrepreneurial learning process, the 2009 Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition includes an Undergraduate competition track. The new track is designed to encourage undergraduate students to begin their entrepreneurship learning early in their Georgia Tech experience by participating in the BPC and its activities.

The undergraduate track will operate within the overall guidelines of the competition (i.e. focus on technology, creation of teams, development of a full business plan). The BPC Undergraduate Venture Award is a cash award presented to the undergraduate team that has the best business plan.

All undergraduate teams submitting plans to the BPC by the competition due date will be eligible for the award. Judging for the award will be done by a combination of the competition's external judge panels and a Georgia Tech faculty panel. The award will be presented to the winning team during the awards ceremony of the BPC.