• What to Submit

• Submission Details

• Eligibility

• Benefits to Entrants

• Judging Criteria

• Judges

Submit five (5) unbound copies of a well researched business plan that thoroughly covers the first principles of your business:

• What is your product or service and how will you bring it to market?

• Who will buy the product?

• What is the current market for your product or service?

• Who are your competitors and what is your competitive advantage?

• What factors are essential for your success?

The completed business plan of 20 pages or less should follow the outline below: 

• Executive Summary

• Company Description

• Market, Competition, Competitive Advantages

• Management team and organization

• Operations

• Financial Projections

The focus should be primarily on the product, the market and the competition.  Make a case for how you will make money and why investors should have confidence investing in your business.

Five (5) unbound copies of the business plan should be submitted to:

Greg Feldmann
Gryphon Capital Partners, L.L.C
10 South Jefferson Street, Suite 130
Roanoke, VA 24011
(540) 985-6609

Submit by: March 22, 2002

The deadline will be strictly adhered to.

Plans may be submitted electronically to Mr. Feldman at feldmann@gryphoncapital.com

The entree fee is $75.00.  Checks may be made payable to:

Treasurer, Virginia Tech and mailed with the business plan.

• Entrepreneurs

• Students, individually or as a team

• Existing businesses with annual  revenues under $5 million

Contestants must either reside in or attend colleges or universities located within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

• Highest judged plans eligible to participate in the Capital Connections Forum

• Winner and runner-up receive cash prizes

• Valuable feedback from judges

• Recognition at the NCTC TechNite Banquet on May 2, 2002

Judges will rank submissions foremost on the premise that a good plan can attract funding.  Further, the plans will be judged on their logic and clarity of thinking, and effectiveness of communicating the items described in “what to submit”.  The judges will be looking for evidence that the plan has been well researched to demonstrate the viability of the business.  Other key judging criteria will include:

• Potential to achieve rapid growth with target sales of at least $20 million within 5 years

• Innovative product or service

• Sustainable competitive advantages over competitors

• Large  market opportunity

• Clear value proposition to the target customer

• High ROI potential