Additional Extra Credit Opportunity - Idea Pitch Final

The BPC Idea Pitch Final is tomorrow, Nov. 20th @ 2:00pm in 151 TNRB. Prof. Richards is offering 20 points extra credit for those who attend and submit a 1-page paper on "Which Idea I Thought Should Have Won and Why Compared to the Other Competitors."

From the BPC staff: "Students are invited to come watch the Top 3 finalists of the Idea Pitch Competition compete for $3,500 on Friday Nov. 20th at 2:00pm in 151 TNRB. Not only will the students in the audience be able to learn from the students presenting their business ideas, but they'll also have an opportunity to win a drawing for ski passes and restaurant gift certificates! Please come and support the Final Event of the Idea Pitch Competition, presented by BYU's Business Plan Competition."

Prof. Richards said, "Students, I have been involved in the filtering of the best ideas in this competition. I am so impress by the ideas this year, that I am making it extra credit to attend this finale. In fact, there is a team from my classes in the Final Four!!!"

Recap:
- 20 pts extra credit for attending and writing 1-page paper
- Tomorrow (Friday), Nov. 20 @ 2pm in 151 TNRB
- Email your papers to mfg479@gmail.com with subject "Idea Pitch Extra Credit"

Presentation Schedule Posted

The presentation schedule has been posted in Blackboard under Course Documents. Please check to see when your group is presenting and email any concerns to mfg479@gmail.com.

Presentation Day Signups

MFG479 Students,

Thank you for the quick responses clarifying your teams. Now that we know how exactly how many teams there are we can start the signups for presentation times.

As Prof. Richards previously announced, there will be no presentations Nov. 18th, however, the rest of the presentation days will go on as planned:

Day 1--Nov. 23
Day 2--Nov. 30
Day 3--Dec. 2
Day 4--Dec. 7
Day 5--Dec. 9

Each presentation day will have three teams presenting at the following times: 2:00pm, 2:25pm, and 2:50pm.


In order to be fair, signups will be done draft style, with each team receiving a random spot in the draft selection. For example:

If Team A receives the #2 pick, while Team B receives the #1 pick, then Team B will choose what day and time they would like to present first, followed by Team A.

Pick #1 -- Team B's preference will be filled first
Pick #2 -- Team A's preference will be filled second


Each team needs to send in their Top 3 day and time slot preferences and I will use these preferences when in it is that team's turn in the order. An example list of preferences would be:

Preference 1: Day 1--Nov. 23, 2:00pm
Preference 2: Day 2--Nov. 30, 2:25pm
Preference 3: Day 5--Dec. 9, 2:00pm


Of course, there will be teams that have had their choices previously selected by teams higher in the draft. In this case they will be put into a day and time that was closest to their 1st choice. However, if your choices were all on Day 1, and you are 15th in the order, do not be surprised if you are nowhere near Day 1.


Hopefully this made sense. To recap, each team (as in one per team) needs to send an email to mfg479@gmail.com including:

- "PresentationSignups" as the subject of the email
- Your team/business name & list of team members (some did not include team name previously)
- Your Top 3 preferences for presentation times



Please have this email sent by 5:00pm on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. If your team's email is not received by that time, then your team will be assigned to whatever time slot is left.

Questions? Email me at mfg479@gmail.com. Thanks!

- John Jr, TA

URGENT -- Team Composition Clarification

MFG479 Students,

It is time to start signing up for presentation times for your final business plan, however there are still some students who have not reported their team compositions. Dr. Strong and Prof. Richards need to know exactly how many teams there are before they can assign slots and times. I know there have been a few switches and splits amongst teams since the team composition was due, so this is what each team needs to do:


- Send an updated copy of your team's composition to the mfg479@gmail.com address ASAP.
- Only one per team is needed.

Please send this email by Noon Tomorrow (Nov. 10th) so that we can have every team scheduled for a time by this week. If you are past this deadline and are just reading this email, please respond immediately.

Thanks.

Idea Pitch Submission Deadline

Student Entrepreneurs,

The first stage of the Business Plan Competition (BPC) is just around the corner. We are excited about the amount of interest we have seen in the Idea Pitch Competition thus far! As a reminder, if you wish to compete in the Idea Pitch Competition, 4 hard copies of your idea pitch summary must be submitted to the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (470 TNRB) no later than 2:00 PM on Thursday, November 5, 2009. A document containing the complete guidelines for the idea pitch submission is attached to this email.

Remember, there is no limit to the number of ideas you may submit, so bring them all! The Idea Pitch Competition is a crucial first step for those interested in getting good feedback to further develop those ideas for entry in the Business Plan Competition next spring. The top 30 ideas as determined by the BPC judges will receive further mentoring mid-November, after which semi-finalists will be announced and compete to become one of three finalists. Idea Pitch awards this year have been generously provided by the CET and amount to $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place.

If you have additional questions about the Idea Pitch Competition, review the attached guidelines, visit bpc.byu.edu, or stop by the CET (470 TNRB). Submit your idea, and maybe your idea will Be The Next Big Thing!

Good luck!

BPC Committee

MFG 479 Students,

For those that are planning on entering the Business Plan Competition, they are holding a workshop to help generate ideas for a business or refine your current idea.

Thursday @ 7pm
W310 TNRB

See bpc.byu.edu for more info.

Fundraising Panel Monday Oct. 26

MFG479 Students,

We have a tremendous fundraising panel for next Monday's class! Here is who is coming - look them up on Google and be ready with your questions:

Entrepreneur currently seeking financing for the first time - Alan Martin, CampusBookRentals.com (confirmed)

• Entrepreneur who has successfully raised money - Ryan Caldwell, EnticeLabs (confirmed)
  
Angel Investor - Kyle Love, UtahAngels (confirmed)
Venture Debt Investor - Damon Kirschmeier, Innoventures (confirmed)
Venture Capitalist - Greg Warnock, venture capital/private equity (confirmed)

The format will be that each panelist will have 3-5 minutes to share a little bit about their role in the venture ecosystem. After each panelist gives a quick rundown, then we will open it up for Q&A.

- Prof Richards