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Tradeshow

Weight
25%
Description
The Tradeshow is where businesses will have the opportunity to pitch their product or service to judges using a tradeshow booth as a visual and informational aid. Judges will visit each business to evaluate the business idea and display, and ask questions. This is the business's chance to really 'sell' their product or service to a potential customer.
Guidelines & information
  • 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 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.
Judging deadline

Rubric

Originality of Product/Service Offering - Has the business developed a new, creative, original, or innovative product or service to solve the market’s problem or meet demand? Or is the business offering a fairly typical product or service?
Market Opportunity - Has the business identified a problem or a need? Has research determined there is a sizeable market to support the business for success? Or are there already existing businesses that are meeting consumer needs?
Business Viability - Has the business demonstrated a realistic plan to grow a viable and profitable business? Is there a strong management team, reasonable financial assumptions, and a strong marketing strategy? Or does the plan seem unrealistic?
Booth Display - Is the booth creative, neat, easy-to-understand, relates to the business, and engages judges and customers? Or is the booth un-interesting, have spelling errors, and doesn’t present the product or service in a positive light?
Salesmanship - Did the team portray their business in a way to attract their target market and/or customers? Did the team demonstrate confidence in their product or service? Or did the team struggle with salesmanship?
Ranking – When first scoring, give all businesses a score of 1 (No Placement). Then after reviewing ALL businesses, determine your top 4 and adjust those scores according to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. Do NOT give more than one business the same placement.
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