BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION SPONSORSHIP
Crimson Sponsor
Opportunities for Partnership
The Business Plan Competition would not be
possible without the generous support of our
sponsors. As a sponsor of the WSU Business Plan
Competition you will be impacting student lives by
contributing to an exceptional hands-on learning
experience for WSU students. Sponsor company
representatives are invited as judges for the
Presentation and/or Final Round of the competition.
Sponsors also are recognized at competition events,
in competition materials and can host banners,
tables, or giveaways.
Program Vision
The WSU Carson College of Business, Business
Plan Competition was developed to give student
entrepreneurs and future business owners the
opportunity to practice business in a real-world
setting, showcase their business acumen and
network with industry professionals. The Business
Plan Competition is key to rounding out academic
and outreach efforts—bridging theory and
application for students who participate.
WSU has taken this competition beyond the
Pullman campus and has included international
competitors. WSU students have the opportunity
to exchange ideas face to face with some of the
brightest and most creative students from other
countries. It is a great preparation for the global
business world that awaits them.
“The Center for Entrepreneurial
Studies is excited to be hosting
its 13th annual Business Plan
Competition on April 24-25, 2015.
Please join us in supporting our
emerging business leaders. We
look forward to seeing you at the
competition.”
Marie Mayes, MBA
Director, Center for
Entrepreneurial Studies
Clinical Assistant Professor, MISE
Levels of Sponsorship
$10,000 and above
• Company logo featured on all program materials, email
communications etc. as Crimson Sponsor. Link to the
company’s web site from the Business Plan Competition
website.
• Name a student league
• Recognition of the sponsor from the podium during the Kick-
off Luncheon, Dinner and Final Awards Luncheon.
• Company logo and/or name displayed at all events.
• Company representative (3) invited as judges at Presentation
(April 24) and/or Final Rounds (April 25)
• Two (2) tickets to the Power Breakfast
Silver Sponsor
$5,000 to $9,999
• Company logo featured on all program materials, email
communications etc. as Crimson Sponsor. Link to the
company’s web site from the Business Plan Competition
website.
• Name a student league
• Recognition of the sponsor from the podium during the Kick-
off Luncheon, Dinner and Final Awards Luncheon.
• Company representative (2) invited as judges at Presentation
(April 24) and/or Final Rounds (April 25)
Angel Sponsor
$2,500 to $4,999
• Company logo featured on all program materials, email
communications etc. as Crimson Sponsor. Link to the
company’s web site from the Business Plan Competition
website.
• Name a student league
• Recognition of the sponsor from the podium during the Kick-
off Luncheon, Dinner and Final Awards Luncheon.
• Company representative (2) invited as judges at Presentation
(April 24) and/or Final Rounds (April 25)
Investor Sponsor
$500 to $2,499
• Sponsorship level recognized on website
• Company representative (1) invited as judges at Presentation
Round (April 25)
Mission
Since its inception in 1995, the Center for
Entrepreneurial Studies has provided education and
training in the critical skills essential for business
creation, innovation, and leadership.
 Organization of the Competition
Preparation for the Competition begins in earnest in
January and concludes April 24th and 25th.
• Specific courses are available in the spring semester to
complement business plan development.
• Students will submit an intent to submit starting
January 29 until March 12
• We will introduce six (6) optional coaching nights in
the months prior to the competition. Students will
have more opportunity than ever to get the training
and resources they need from business professionals.
• March 26: Students will submit a 4-5 page written
Summary of their Business Plan
• Judges will review all submissions in the Screening
Round
• April 6: 24 teams will advance to six (6) leagues in the
Presentation Round.
• Teams in the Presentation Round submit a 12-15 page
written business plan (April 15, 8 a.m.) and give a 15
minute presentation to judges (April 24). Judges for the
competition are experienced executives, entrepreneurs,
bankers, and venture capitalists who provide feedback
to the teams.
• An awards ceremony to celebrate the college’s
entrepreneurial spirit is held after the first day of the
competition. Those who are moving on to the second
day of the competition will be notified at that time.
• In the Final Round, the top six (6) teams give their
presentations to the judges who then choose the
winning teams.
• The top winners earn recognition, prize money,
and opportunities to represent WSU at regional and
national competitions.
“The international Business Plan
Competition at WSU is rated by
students as one of their best experiences
for helping ready them to launch their
post graduate careers. This project
challenges the teams in multiple
business disciplines to develop real world
innovative ideas into viable businesses.
Students receive immediate feedback
from industry professionals who serve
as mentors and judges, and have a
passion for the Carson College of
Business and student success.”
Mike Tompkins
Director, Business Development,
Hitachi Consulting
Entrepreneurship Advisory Board
For more information please contact:
Jeff Pilcher Marie Mayes, MBA
Assistant Director of Development Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Carson College of Business Clinical Assistant Professor, MISE
486-20141002
509-335-8906 509-335-5628
jeff.pilcher@wsu.edu mmayes@wsu.edu
business.wsu.edu/development business.wsu.edu/eis
Commitment to Quality Education
Innovation and business creation are essential for
global competitiveness in the 21st century. All
premier entrepreneurial education programs feature a
business plan competition, but most are regional and
primarily at the graduate level. The Carson College
of Business at Washington State University believes
a business plan competition is critical for developing
the skills and experience necessary for our world-class
entrepreneurial program.
In 2014 the competition celebrated its 12th
anniversary. Dan Castles, CEO of Telestream Inc.
delivered an inspiring keynote address, “The
Entrepreneurship Experience: Is It For You?”
Dan focused on the value of persistence and
accountability. He also shared tips on how to build
a good team. Twenty-four (24) college teams and
four (4) high school teams presented their plans to
a panel of industry expert judges, with the winning
teams sharing prizes totaling more than $50,000. A
gala awards ceremony concludes the first day of the
competition and celebrates the winning high school
teams.
The competition is open to all WSU students in any
major. Interdisciplinary teams from across campus
come together in a unique forum to showcase their
creativity and hard work. The competition includes a
high school league to encourage younger participants
and international teams from our campuses at the
Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
(SWUFE) in Chengdu, China, The Nelson Mandela
African Institute of Science and Technology in Arusha,
Tanzania, and at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, in
Brig, Switzerland.
As we continue to build internal and external
relationships, we are fostering economic impact,
where outcomes can include intellectual property
agreements, new patents, and venture funding.
Summer Fall Spring Spring/
Work with Teams brainstorm Business plan Summer
internal and and choose ideas; development; Launching new
external partners conduct feasibility prototype/ ventures—
to create analysis models; Business funding,
inventory of Plan Competition coaching,
good ideas networking