Business Plan Competitions: Think Smart Earn Money

One of the greatest ways for a student entrepreneur to begin the launch process is to enter in a business plan competition. The experience forces you to think about all aspects of a business, including the ones typically ignored at the onset such as the competitive landscape, SWOT analysis, technological requirements, sales plan and financial viability. In addition, competitions give entrepreneurs the opportunity to practice presenting in front of highly esteemed investors and industry professionals, a skill necessary for anyone looking to build a business. Finally, many competitions offer cash prizes for top performances, which provide seed funding (with no cost of equity) to begin operations.

Here is a list of business plan competitions that span a variety of geographical locations. Stay on top of deadlines and enter in as many as you can!