Business Plan Contest About UsThe MIT-CHIEF Business Plan Contest, held annually since 2011, is dedicated to contributing to a global entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Greater Boston area. We are dedicated to
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ProgramsAt the MIT-CHIEF Business Plan Contest, entrepreneurs will form a community, make industry connections, find mentors, receive financial and non-financial awards, and gain access to investors, all of which will enable their startups to reach the next level. To put it simply, at the MIT-CHIEF Business Plan Contest, talented entrepreneurs will transform great start-up ideas into viable businesses.The current MIT-CHIEF Business Plan Contest is composed of five major elements: Business Plan Contest, Co-Founder Day, MIT-CHIEF workshop, Demo Day, and Mentorship Program. Each program serves its distinct purpose for current and future entrepreneurs. While the MIT-CHIEF Workshop, Demo Day, and Co-Founder Day being open-registration are one-day events, the Mentorship Program is a prestigious and exclusive one-year program. Our Business Plan Contest is open to all entrepreneurs and start-ups whose business models and technologies are potentially applicable to China’s market. During the contest, contestants will enjoy participation through an open platform to address the challenges in energy, healthcare, products and services, information system, and social enterprise. Submitted business plans and presentations will receive feedback from our entrepreneurs in residence and partner investors from both the U.S. and China. Contestants will also have networking opportunities with invited guests of the MIT-CHIEF, including researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, and policy-makers. Winning teams will be rewarded with a $20,000 cash prize, as well as numerous awards such as multiple-mentors-one-mentee coaching, sponsored trips to China or Silicon Valley, accelerated advancement for partnered startup contests, and a free legal consultation. In the past, our finalists have successfully raised funds, gained media exposure, engaged with their potential customers, and developed their business models via the platform of the MIT-CHIEF. At Co-Founder Day, an animated and relaxed environment is created to help potential entrepreneurs to kick-start new ventures and find co-founders. A lightning speech from a distinguished speaker will kick off the event. Following that, participants will pitch their ideas and network with interested audiences. MIT-CHIEF Workshops are open to members of the MIT community and to others interested in entrepreneurship. Attendees will hear lawyers, successful entrepreneurs, investors and other industry experts sharing their experiences and thoughts about starting and running a business. MIT-CHIEF workshops also tailor the themes according to our Business Plan Contest timeline to better prepare contestants for their business proposal submissions in July and presentations in November. Past MIT-CHIEF workshops covered topics such as “Financing issues for early-stage start-ups”, “Perfecting your pitch”, “China’s start-up ecosystem”, and “Comparing market opportunities in China and the US”, and more. Demo Day, which made its début in April 6, 2013, is a one-day event providing startups a stage to present their companies to investors, entrepreneurs, and the general public. Five to ten start-ups are selected to present on the stage, each 10-20 minutes. In this relaxed, non-competitive environment entrepreneurs will be able to understand audiences, hone presentation skills, and get prepared for the Business Plan Contest. On each Demo Day, one to two teams will be voted as the audience’s most favorite startups, and will have the chance to enter into the Mentorship Program. Most voted teams will also receive non-financial awards that are chosen each year by our sponsors and partners. Past awards included an exclusive invitation to the nation’s most prestigious startup annual conference, networking events, and sponsored treks to visit top incubators and VCs. Many entrepreneurs face difficulties in finding the best resources and building connections in a foreign or unfamiliar market. At the early stage of start-ups, legal consultation may be too expensive, customers may be too hard to reach, and hands-on industry experience may be too limited. The Mentorship Program is an exclusive program created for our top selected application entrepreneurs who are ready to roll up their sleeves and kick-start their promising businesses. Each year, teams are selected to enroll in this one-year elite program and receive coaching from a pool of about 100 mentors, including seasoned investors, incubator executives, industry gurus, veteran entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship researchers, startup consultants, lawyers, finance professionals, and marketing experts. At the MIT-CHIEF, mentees build deep long-term relationships with their mentors. Our Mentorship Program team is dedicated to serving these ten teams, hand-picking mentors with matched background and needs, and actively expanding the mentorship pool at the demand of mentees to bring the best resources possible for our protégés. For questions and feedback, please contact bpc2015 [at] mitchief.org. |
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For more information please contact info at mitchief.org
For more information please contact info at mitchief.org