The LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards

“Prepare to Launch Your Dreams!”
The LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards 2012
   
Students!  Submit "Your Intent to Enter" on the Student Sign Up page on this site for 2012! 

Important Dates:  

- Competition commences October 17

- Complete your "intent to enter" as soon as possible (required by January 31)!

- Students your entry and submission deadline for your idea is March 7, 2012
 
- Winners will be selected at the LaunchTown event - April 16, 2012


2012 Competition Guidelines:  This year's competition is technology focused.

special attention this year to ideas in engineering, sciences, technology and advanced studies. In general, LaunchTown is open to ALL STUDENTS, of ANY MAJOR or course of study.  Essay entries and ideas are to be STUDENT initiated, STUDENT developed, and STUDENT owned, and the students  to be enrolled part-time or full-time at a recognized college or university, and for the 2012 Competition students first begin the process by completing the "Intent to Enter" form on this website for more information. 

The competition rules for 2012 include the following:

1. Open to STUDENTS enrolled in, and earning “units” or “credit hours” from colleges and universities and taking a course under the supervision of a recognized faculty member dutifully employed by the recognized college or university, including the following; The University of Akron, Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, Cleveland State University and Youngstown State University.
    
2. Essays and ideas for technology based products, services or businesses must have been initiated, developed, and owned by STUDENTS prior to the official deadline for submission, and preferably during the 2011-2012 academic year.  STUDENTS must register their "Intent to Enter" at the LaunchTown website before January 31, 2012, and final submission essays are due by midnight March 7, 2012.
    
3. Open to ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS of ANY MAJOR, and enrollment status, including: part-time/full-time.
    
4. A minimum of two (2) STUDENTS and maximum of five (5) STUDENTS will collaborate or team on any single entry.  Teams must consist of at least one graduate student leader, and at least one team member must be an undergraduate student.  The team must also have an identified faculty mentor watching the team's progress.  The essay submission entry format is industry-standard MS-Word.doc file, and to be the teams idea essay in 5-8 pages (brief appendices allowed, including any tables or charts or images). Entry essays should answer issues like the following: **What is your technology based product, service or business idea? **Why is it different and what makes it special? **How are you going to create it?  **What are you going to charge for it? **How are you going to sell it? **Who is going to buy it? **Who else does something like this?  **What are your advantages? … and any other relevant questions as to why the idea is a winner.  Judging will be based on the quality of the idea in terms of uniqueness, viability (likelihood of commercialization) and business impact to the region (50%).  In addition the idea will be judged on marketability, including identification and ownership/control of any intellectual property (25%), and also on quality of materials and presentation (25%). Filing of the Intent To Enter form is required prior to submission.  All team submissions must be received by LaunchTown no later than midnight March 7, 2012.
    
5. Open to ALL MAJORS and ALL STUDENTS. You do not have to be enrolled in a “Business School” or “Economics” or other “Business” program to enter.  For 2012 the emphasis is on technology based ideas.  The prize awards are for the BEST IDEAs presented.  Watch this site for updates.