Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Competition

The Competition Will Be Held March 1, 2013

Thank you to those who have applied, the application period is now over.  Please check back to read about our winners. 

This is not your average business plan competition.

Looking for a way to continue to run your business or commercialize your big idea and still earn your degree at a top ranked school?  With Clarkson University's Young Entrepreneur and Innovator programs you can do both.  

Prospective students that are selected into these programs at the Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Business Plan Competition will receive guidance and support from faculty and alumni mentors, office space in our incubator, and will attend Clarkson without payment of tuition for their four year undergraduate career through a combination of merit-based financial aid (after accounting for other aid for which the student may be eligible) and a purchase by Clarkson of 10% equity in their firm at fair market value. Current students are eligible to apply and if chosen, the award will be for the remainder of their four year undergraduate career.

To be considered for these programs, students with businesses or commercializable ideas must apply to the Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Business plan competition by the deadline. Up to ten finalists are selected to visit campus to present their business or patentable idea to a panel of expert innovators and entrepreneurs. 

During the competition, students will have 15 minutes to pitch and 15 minutes of questions from the panel.  The panel will rank order the finalists - up to five will be offered an opportunity to attend Clarkson University without payment of tuition for the remainder of their four-year undergraduate careers, through a combination of merit-based financial aid (after accounting for other aid for which the student may be eligible) and a purchase by Clarkson of 10% equity in their firm at fair market value.  These students will remain responsible for other costs incurred in connection with attendance, including expenses such as housing, meals, books and supplies. In addition, these students’ businesses will receive the services of the Reh and/or Shipley Centers, and will be offered space at no charge on the 3^rd floor of the Peyton Hall incubator. 

The remaining finalists, if enrolled at Clarkson, will also receive services from the Reh and/or Shipley Centers and will be offered space at no charge on the 3^rd floor of the Peyton Hall incubator. 

*The terms for the aid, equity purchase and use of Clarkson resources described above will be subject to the terms of agreements between Clarkson and the students. 

Entering the Competition
Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs and Young Innovators will submit an application which includes their completed business plan, a 90 second or less video that answers the question "Who am I, outside of my business?", and a brief description of their business. Entrants will be reviewed by the staff of the Reh and Shipley Centers and/or faculty with expertise related to the specific technology as needed and up to ten students will be selected to compete for up to five prizes offered annually (as described above). 

Want to learn more? Meet a young entrepreneur or check out the Money Magazine article!