NYC Small Business Resource Center Science, Industry and Business Library NYPL Lion
Home Events Videos Forum FAQ Services Directory Business manual Ask a question Site Map

First Annual New York StartUP!

Business Plan Competition
Win $15,000 To Start Your Own Business

Judging

The judges will evaluate each Business Plan based on its content, including the thoroughness and quality of the analysis, use of business information, and clear communication. The Business Plans can follow any model but must address core elements as described in the "Elements of a Business Plan."

Format

A total of TWO (2) 8 1/2" x 11" hard copies of your StartUP! Business Plan must be submitted and ONE (1) electronic copy on CD. Two hard copies, one bound and one unbound with no staples, tape or other fasteners. Your electronic copy, including the financials, should be saved as ONE (1) file in PDF format. The Business Plan should be no longer than 20 (one-sided) pages, (excluding financial statements) in Arial font no less than 10pt with 1-inch margins. NYPL will not reimburse entrants for any expenses related to the compilation or assembly of your Business Plan. Working models or prototypes will not be accepted. Copies of the Business Plan will not be returned and will be destroyed shortly after the competition has ended.

The Business Plan must contain the following:

  1. Cover Page with the name of the applicant, street address, telephone number, and email address of the individual entrant(s) and team leader.
  2. Team entries must include the names of all team members, and the street address, telephone number, and email address of one designated entrant.
  3. A Table of Contents
  4. One-page Executive Summary
  5. Page Numbers throughout the business plan.
  6. Elements of a Business Plan outlined in the Resources Section of this website.
  7. Financial Projections including 3-year summary balance sheet, income statement, and statements of cash flow. Additionally, the statements should include a monthly income statements for year 1 and 2 and a quarterly income statement for year 3. The financials should also include a description of sources & uses of funds, break-even analysis and notes to financials inclusive of financial assumptions.

Judges

SIBL will publicize the names and associations of all judges who participate in the New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition. Judges will be asked to remove themselves from judging a plan if they have a conflict of interest, such as a pre-existing family or business relationship with an entrant.

Review Process

In addition to the orientation sessions, entrants will be required to attend THREE (3) of FOUR (4) training workshops. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of your application. The Business Plans must be post-marked no later than midnight June 15, 2010. The panel of judges will review submitted business plans. Finalists will be notified and required to meet with the panel of judges in order to present their Business Plan
and respond to questions. The date, time and location of these meetings will be provided to those finalists whose plans are chosen. The winners will be announced in October 2010 at our StartUP! Awards Ceremony.