Sponsors & Prizes
The 2012 Business Plan Competition would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.
Learn about Business Plan Competition sponsorship opportunities.
Prizes
$25,000 WRF Capital GRAND PRIZE
$10,000 Herbert B. Jones Foundation SECOND PLACE PRIZE
$5,000 Herbert B. Jones Foundation FINALIST PRIZE
$5,000 Herbert B. Jones Foundation FINALIST PRIZE
$5,000 Herbert B. Jones Foundation FINALIST PRIZE
New Prize from the AARP Foundation
$3,000 for the team that addresses one or more of the following challenges:
- providing food to the nearly 6 million low-income seniors who today face the threat of hunger.
- providing adequate housing to the over 10 million low-income senior households who today cannot afford it.
- increasing the income of the over 33 million low-income seniors who do not have sufficient adequate financial resources to meet one or more of their basic needs.
- reducing the negative impact of isolation on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of low-income seniors.
Best Idea Prizes
The BEST IDEA prizes were created to reward student teams in the Business Plan Competition for their exceptional work in several distinct categories. The teams receiving these prizes are selected by a special group of judges during the Investment Round, and the winners are announced at the dinner and awards ceremony on May 24. Please note that no team can take more than one Best Idea prize.
DLA Piper BEST SERVICE/RETAIL Idea
Recognizes a venture that generates value through the delivery of goods and/or services.
UIEvolution BEST TECHNOLOGY Idea
Recognizes a business venture that works to commercialize a form of technology, such as a medical device, diagnostic test, new material or engineering process, software and hardware, telecommunications or electronic device.
Fenwick & West BEST CLEAN-TECH Idea
Recognizes a venture with products, services, or processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, dramatically reduce the use of natural resources, and cut or eliminate emissions and wastes.
Gist/RIM BEST CONSUMER PRODUCT Idea
Recognizes a venture that offers a compelling new consumer product, focusing on a well-defined market.
Sensors in Motion MOST SUSTAINABLE Idea
Recognizes a proactive approach to the long-term viability and integrity of a business by helping to manage resources, reduce environmental and social impacts, improve productivity and energy efficiency, manage risk and compliance, and develop/introduce innovative technologies/solutions without compromising product or service quality, competitiveness or profitability.
Perkins Coie BEST INNOVATION Idea
Recognizes a venture that has a new application for a current technology, a disruptive technology, or an idea that represents a substantial improvement in a product or process.
Herbert B. Jones Foundation Milestone Achievement Awards
We have $80,000 in Milestone Achievement Awards from the Herbert B. Jones Foundation for teams that are serious about going forward with their BPC start-up companies after the competition. Any Sweet 16 team from the 2012 UW Business Plan Competition can apply, regardless of home university or college. Teams must have students in key leadership roles and be 100% serious about starting their companies. Teams will meet monthly with the CIE director/entrepreneur-in-residence/JMAA committee from July-December 2012 to talk about progress and receive coaching and mentoring. Achievement awards are between $10k and $25k per team.
See past winners and success stories.