The Swinburne Venture Cup 2011
What is the Swinburne Venture Cup?
The Swinburne Venture Cup is a new venture planning competition for teams of Swinburne students at each section of the University: TAFE, Undergraduate and Postgraduate.
Why do we run it?
As an entrepreneurial university, Swinburne is committed to its students gaining experience in what it might be like to become an employer rather than an employee. The Swinburne Venture Cup aims to align the classroom experience with real-world, entrepreneurial experience.
It is not just about finding the best venture capital investment (although that would be nice), but it is to provide experience for our students, and to help them to identify practical entrepreneurial opportunities.
Who is eligible to enter?
Teams of 3-8 people, where at least 2/3 of the members are Swinburne students, enrolled for at least 1 semester in the current year.
What types of plans are appropriate?
There is no restriction on the type of new venture for entry in the competition – entries from social ventures right through to high technology start-ups have been category winners in the past. Ideally, plans should be based on students' formal coursework, so that it brings reality to classwork, and to minimise the extra work involved.
Prizes:
Chancellor's Prize Pool
$30,000 - $10,000 to each level of the University – TAFE, Undergraduate, & Postgraduate.
Sponsored Prizes
How do students enter?
Entry is free and simply requires registration at istart. Registrations are accepted throughout the year, right up to the deadline for submitting plans: 18th November 2011. However it is best to register by 30th September to take full advantage of feedback, mentoring sessions, and other SVC activities. The full guidelines are also on this website.
What are the seminars?
The following seminars are available on "Video-on-Demand":
Opportunity Evaluation : Sourcing ideas, and evaluating them
Marketing : practical approaches and tips on marketing
Business Planning : pulling the full plan together – what is important, and what is not.
How are the plans judged?
Plans are submitted by 4 pm 18th November; 4 finalist teams are selected in each section, and these teams present to a panel of judges on 6th December 2011.
To give all teams the opportunity to present, there is the option of making a 5-minute ‘Power Pitch' prior to the plan submission, on 10th November.
Judges include potential investors (or their representatives) and winners are selected on the basis of the panel's view of the likely success of the business (and the team). All teams are offered feedback on their plans and where practical, mentoring support to take worthwhile opportunities forward.
Outcomes of the Swinburne Venture Cup include:
- Further development of entrepreneurial students;
- Development of linkages for students across disciplines;
- Building upon class and project work towards practical, 'real world' outcomes;
- Start-up companies which may qualify for ongoing support.
For further information please contact:
Rebecca Brownie
Executive Officer
Swinburne Knowledge
Telephone: 9214 5744
rbrownie@swin.edu.au