The Public Tradeshow will be judged on the following criteria:
- Marketing and Promotional Techniques
- Founder(s) demonstrate a good knowledge of their target demographic and effectively apply that knowledge.
- They are able to promote their product/service to a wide array of potential customers, with prepared selling points and sales pitches.
- Interpersonal Communications
- Founder(s) are charismatic, and can capture the attention of audience members.
- Media/Visual Aid
- The Business has a captivating display booth that grabs the attention of passersby.
Public Tradeshow format:
- Entrepreneurs will be allowed time to set up their tradeshow booths. Booths must be finished and students ready to begin answering questions by the time judges begin their walkthrough.
- Judges will visit business booths for a total of 90-minutes. If entrepreneurs are not at their booth when judges visit, the business will be disqualified from the Tradeshow component.
- Judges will have a few minutes to listen to each business share the highlights of their business plan and high-level details of the product or service being offered.
- Entrepreneurs will be allowed to provide samples or handouts.
- Judges will be allowed to ask questions.
- Members of the public might also be invited to the tradeshow. Entrepreneurs should be at their booth, ready to network and share with all those in attendance.
Please review the Tradeshow Rubric for full judging criteria.