WHATStartup businesses are pervasive in every industry these days. Some succeed. Others fail. Some of the most promising startups can be found at the UC Berkeley Startup Competition, organized by Berkeley MBA students with support from the Haas School’s Lester Center for Entrepreneurship, where the winners will receive generous prizes to grow and expand their projects.
Eight finalists will present their ideas and vie for the $20,000 grand prize at the finals of the 14th annual UC Berkeley Startup Competition. Audience members will be invited to participate in the selection of the People's Choice Award and the Elevator Pitch Award, which carry a $5,000 and $1,000 prize, respectively.
The finalists are whittled down in two rounds from an initial pool of more than 150 entrants. This year’s competitors include technologies, products and services to:• Help music lovers discover live music offerings such as concert• Advance high-throughput proteomics for biomarker validation and diagnostics • Integrate high efficiency solar and battery technologies into man-portable energy harvesting and storage devices for the US military• Re-evaluate the needs of public transit users to provide better transportation using smartphones WHENThursday, April 26, 2012 - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
WHEREAndersen Auditorium, University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/haas/maps.html
WHOTeams must have at least one UC Berkeley and UCSF students, faculty, staff, or alumnus/a.
The Competition’s judges include some of the most successful and experienced venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and advisors in Silicon Valley.
More at http://bplan.berkeley.edu/
Background:Since its launch in 1999, the UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition has played a critical role in furthering entrepreneurship in the UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco communities. This year’s Competition was renamed to more accurately reflect the goals and purpose of the Competition.
The evolving entrepreneurship environment is moving away from the requirements of a multi-page business plan and directing teams to focus on cutting-edge entrepreneurial challenges, such as iterating on their business models, developing customer insights, and developing a prototype for their pitch.
Sponsors include Claremont Creek Ventures, DCM, Universal-McCann, Javelin Venture Partners, Lowenstein Sandler, Mintz Levin, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Morgan Stanley, Morrison Foerster, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
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