撸短视频

What is the Kenneth A. Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition and how does it work?

The Competition is a competition for 撸短视频 students, with awards totaling up to $20,000.  Besides meeting the competition requirements/deadlines, there are no barriers to entry. All majors are encouraged to participate.

What are the rules for the competition?

1. Participants can be an individual or a team.
2. To participate in the competition, a 撸短视频 student must be at least a 50% owner of the company being pitched.
3. To participate in the final round, students must compete in and be selected in the semi-final round.
4. All funds awarded should be spent by the winner on the business that is presented.
5. Students may not participate on more than one team per year.
6. Grand prize winners from previous Freirich competitions are not eligible to participate in the competition.
7. W9 forms are required for all cash prizes.
8. What should be included in your presentation (in any order)

• General Description: What problem are you solving? What is your business model? Describe how your venture makes money and how your business model will assure long-term sustainability.
• Value Proposition: What are your company鈥檚 key, differentiated value propositions (e.g. lowest cost, highest reliability, best performance, etc.)? What is your venture鈥檚 right to win versus the competition?
• Structure: What is the structure of your organization? Do you have the team members that you need to start and grow? How will the structure change with growth?
• Product/Service: What is your product/service offering?
• Function and Benefit: How does your product/service work? Define and quantify key benefits (e.g. cost, performance, technical, etc.) for customers.
• Development Stage: Where is the product/service in its evolution (e.g. idea/conception, proof of concept, fully tested prototype, etc.)?
• Competitors: Who is your competition? What makes you better than other companies currently in the market?
• Target Market: What markets and market segments are you targeting? How big are these markets and how can you sustainably capture them?
• Customers: Who are the specific customers that you are pursuing or will pursue?
• Financials: Will the company make money and when?  You should have cash flow projections for five years.  These projections should be quarterly if your business is seasonal.  You will hand in the full statements, but your presentations should summarize the financial statements, although you should be prepared to discuss the full statements.  I suggest creating a graph that shows when you break-even and a summary of revenue, borrowing, proceeds from the sale of equity, expenses, net revenue and net cash.
• Can I use AI to create my pitch deck? Artificial Intelligence tools are evolving as we speak and I can鈥檛 keep up with everything that is happening, so if you use AI, you need to disclose that you used it and how you used it.  I assume the judges will have a different response if you use it to create a logo, than if you used it to create your entire presentation.  Please be judicial and smart in your use of AI.

What is the judging criteria?

Judges are asked to evaluate companies according to the following criteria:

• Market Opportunity: Clear market need and a plan to take advantage of the need.
• Competitive Advantage: The product or service is something unique that has a protectable competitive advantage in the proposed market.
• Management Capability: The team has the skills and experience to develop this venture and address the associated risks.
• Financial Understanding: The team has a solid understanding of the financial requirements of the venture.
• Roadmap/Growth Strategy: The team has engaged in short- and long-term planning and has considered strategies for growth.
• Sustainable Business Model: The team understands and can communicate their core business model. They are likely to develop a sustainable venture. Judges focus their deliberations on the long-term viability and sustainable competitive advantage of each venture.
• Did the student use AI in their presentation? Students may use AI in their product. Use of AI for brainstorming is encouraged. Use of AI to create the presentation or parts of the presentation is permitted, but not encouraged. Students must disclose if they used AI.

You should not attempt to contact judges prior to the competition. If you know a judge, please let Professor Dimopoulos know prior to the competition.

What is the schedule?

• December 4th 2026 by midnight, submit a two-minute video pitch.
• February 26th, 2027 by midnight, submit a business venture profile. 
• April 2, 2027, present in person to a panel of judges.

How does mentoring work?

Sign up for the competition or advance from the semi-final to final round and you will be assigned a mentor.  

What if I have additional questions?

Email any questions you have to Professor Carol Dimopoulos.