Awakening the entrepreneurial spirit in every Stellenbosch University student!
“... every time we create something new, we go from 0 to 1. The act of creation is singular, as is the moment of creation, and the result is something fresh and strange.” - Peter Thiel
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The Innovation Showdown is a competition where students can enter their existing businesses or business ideas to win cash, other prizes, bragging rights and a trophy for the most innovative and entrepreneurial student Cluster.
How it works
Entries closed at 23:59 on 9 August 2022.
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There are two categories for entry:
Innovative Business Idea
A business idea that has not been put into operation and thus is not generating revenue.
Students may enter multiple ideas or businesses in multiple categories but will only be able to take one idea or business through to the final.
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Selected participants will attend 3 workshops with SU LaunchLab to develop their entrepreneurial skills, help them grow their business and prepare for the Innovation Showdown:
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16 August - Design thinking and business model canvas
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18 August - Customer discovery and getting out of the building
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23 August - Pitching your idea or business
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The Showdown - finalists will pitch their businesses and ideas to a panel of judges in front of a live audience at a hybrid event on 30 August 2022 from 17:00 - 19:00 SAST. Each team will have 3 minutes to pitch their business or idea to the judging panel, followed by 3 minutes of questions from the judges.
Prizes
Each of the category winners gets:
R 7000 cash
1 hour business mentorship with SU LaunchLab
The Cluster that has the highest scoring entries in the final Showdown wins a trophy for Most Innovative Cluster, the bragging rights that go with it and R 3000!
Who can participate?
All persons entering the Innovative Business Idea category (either as individuals or in teams) must be registered Stellenbosch University students.
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Business entered under the three Existing Business categories must be owned 50% or more by registered Stellenbosch University students.
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All entrants must indicate which Cluster they represent. If a team is comprised of members that are from more than one Cluster, the team must select only one Cluster to represent in the competition.