SCI, London, UK
Submission deadline: Sunday 18 February
Competition final: Thursday 8 March 2018
SCI is launching a new business planning competition, encouraging UK/ ROI university students to think about the process of starting their own business or launch a new product. Free business training will be offered to all entrants, which will provide an opportunity to develop skills in entrepreneurship and pitching.
Finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of high-profile judges, allowing them to raise their profile within the commercial scientific community, whilst competing for a chance to win a £1,000 cash prize!
Download the event poster here
How does it work?
- Form a team of 3-5 UK/ROI University students
- Develop a plausible scientific concept a with a societal benefit
- Register your interest here
- Join the Bright SCIdea Challenge Facebook group
- Watch exclusive business training materials
- Turn your concept into a compelling product or service
- Develop a business plan to commercialise your innovation
Following the business training, teams will be asked to submit a business plan by midnight on Sunday 18 February 2018.
Shortlisted teams will be invited to the final, which will take place in London on Thursday 8 March 2018 with funding for travel and accommodation organised by SCI.
Business Training
SCI will provide all competition entrants with access to exclusive business training videos, featuring Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne of Genius Gluten Free and Victor Christou of Cambridge Innovation Capital. Once registered, join the Bright SCIdea Challenge Facebook group to be notified when the videos are released in November 2017, find out more about the competition and ask questions.
Topics which will be covered in the training videos include:
- Identifying business opportunities
- Taking a product or service to market
- Basics of finance
- Basics of intellectual property
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- How to effectively pitch your product
Entrant Materials
- Entrant handbook (including Terms & Conditions)
- Business plan document
- Cashflow document template
- Video 1 Basics of Business 1: Defining the Market Need
- Video 2 Basics of Business 2: From Lab to Market
- Video 3 Basics of Business 3: Taking your Product to Market
- Video 4 Basics of Business 4: Managing the Money
- Video 5 Victor's Top Tips
- Video 6 Victor's Pitch
Prizes
A cash prize of £1,000 will be awarded to the winning team.
All participants who reach the final will be awarded one year free student membership of SCI. Travel and accommodation grants will be provided for all finalists.
Location
SCI
14-15 Belgrave Square
London
SW1X 8PS
Please click here for a location map.
For more information, or to register your interest in attending, please contact:
SCI Communications Team
T: +44 (0) 20 7598 1500
E: communications@soci.org
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