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Tradeshow

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Weight: 25%
Description: The tradeshow is a 90-minute event where you will have the opportunity to pitch your business or product to a panel of judges. The judges will visit each student or team to evaluate your business idea, display, and your ability to discuss your business idea and answer questions.
Guidelines & information: Competition Day Process
Tradeshow will be competing on Thursday, March 5th, from 4:30 pm to 8:30pm*.
*The time of the event is still under review and scheduled to change.
Round setup and schedule are still being determined.
Judges will have 4-6 minutes to listen to students share the highlights of their business plan and business or product idea, including time to provide samples or handouts, and ask questions.
Judges will visit students for 90-minutes. If you are not at your booth when the judges visit, you will be disqualified (unless you are presenting your elevator pitch at that time).
If you are competing in the Elevator Pitch, it is recommended to have either Tradeshow or Elevator Pitch judged first, in order to decrease the likelihood of missing an event.
Non-participating students and community members might also be invited to the tradeshow, and you should be at your booth, ready to network and share with all those in attendance.
There will be only one round for this event.
In case of a tie, a second round will be held to break the tie.

Guidelines
If a business is being represented by a team, there is no minimum or maximum number of members who can present their business for the tradeshow.
Entrepreneurs will be allowed 30 minutes before the event to set up their trade show booths. Booths must be finished and students ready to begin answering questions by the time judges begin their walkthrough.

Judging your Business
Business Overview
What is it, who occupies key roles (management/operations), what is your experience, what legal structure will you use, etc.
Business Description
What product or service will you provide, where will your business exist, when will it happen, what funds will you need, etc.
Marketing
Market research including target market, how will you reach your market, potential growth, who is your competition, what promotion and advertising will you use, how did you choose your pricing strategy, etc.
Financials
Project financial requirements, cash flow, projected income, etc.
Presentation
Poise, confidence, comprehension, ability to answer questions, proper attire, captures attention, timing, etc.
Booth Display
Creative, neat, easy-to-understand, relates to your business, engages judges, etc.
Judging deadline: Mar 5, 2026 7:00 PM CST

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