Eligibility
Participants must have an optics or photonics technology or application that they wish to publicly present as the basis for a viable new business. Established companies must be pre-revenue at the time of the written application. Pre-revenue in this case means revenue generated from products sold, not funding acquired through investors, grants, or other support. The focus is on new businesses and potential startups. Therefore, companies that have already sold products are ineligible to enter the competition. Students, post-docs, professors and other first-time business starters are encouraged to apply. The Startup Challenge accepts applications from the worldwide community of entrepreneurs.
Training
The Startup Challenge is more than a simple pitch competition, but an entry point into the community of photonics business development. Numerous experts and mentors attend the competition training to volunteer their time in support of new business ventures. Semi-Finalists in the Startup Challenge will be invited to attend a full day of training on Monday, 9 February 2015 at Photonics West. This training will include 1) business plans: from beginnings to exits 2) pitching and 3) customer interviews. A networking lunch and additional industry programming will serve to introduce you to the right people to help solve your business formation questions. Representatives from IP Law, finance, marketing, partnerships, and capital funding are looking forward to learning about your plan and answering your questions about creating a successful venture.
Structure of the Competition
All applicants will have their written application evaluated by a team of expert judges. Judges will select approximately 20 semi-final pitches that will enter the live pitch round of the competition from the initial pool of applicants.
The semi-final round will take place at Photonics West on Tuesday afternoon (10 February, 2015) and is structured exactly like the final round, but will not have a large audience. A panel of judges, different from the initial pool, will select the top 6 presenters from Tuesday who will go on to the final competition on Wednesday afternoon (11 February).
The final round will occur in public, with judges deciding the top 3 pitches and announcing the winners shortly after the last presenter has finished. The decisions of the judges are final.
Prices
Winner: $10,000 from JENOPTIK + $5,000 in products from Edmund Optics
2nd Place: $5,000
3rd Place: $2,500
Rules for the Pitch
Oral pitches for both rounds of the Startup Challenge can be no longer than THREE (3) MINUTES each. You may use a maximum of TWO (2) SLIDES. Extra time and additional materials are not allowed. Pitches must be made live and in person at Photonics West by the applicant or a team member named in the application.
Participation in the competition means that you agree to have your startup presentation evaluated publicly. Furthermore you allow SPIE to use your name, likeness, and the information provided in the Startup pitch to promote your product and this competition, in print and electronic communication means.
Application Fee
There is no fee to enter the competition. However, applicants selected as semi-finalists will need to pitch in person at Photonics West. You will need to register for the conference - a free "Exhibit-only" badge is sufficient - and make arrangements to travel to San Francisco.
Travel
The Startup Challenge does not provide travel support to attend Photonics West
A note on disclosure
The written application to participate in the Startup Challenge will be read by a team of evaluators who have been asked to keep the contents of the application confidential, however, no formal guarantee of confidentiality will be provided or implied. The oral presentations required in February 2015 to participate in the Startup Challenge do constitute disclosure.
Contact
If you have questions about eligibility, participation, expectations, sponsorship, or anything related to the Startup Challenge, please contact the program administrator:
Dirk FabianPhone: +1 360 685 5474
dirkf(at)spie.org
this is a US West Coast timezone
