IMSAIMSABusiness&Entrepreneurship

ABOUT

IMSAPowerPitchisaSTEMBusinessIdeaPitchCompetitionforstudentsingrades6through12heldonApril6,2019.ThecompetitionishostedbytheStevenandJamieChenCenterforInnovation&Inquiry(IN2)attheIllinoisMathematicsandScienceAcademy(IMSA)inAurora,Illinois.

Ideasdonotneedtobebusinessesthathavelaunched,butmustincludeavalueproposition(whywouldanyonewantit?)forasignificantpopulation(whowouldwantit?),addressoneormoreoftheUNSustainabilityGoalsand,asapotentialbusiness,showinnovationandfeasibility.

APPLY

RegisteryourideaonlinebetweennowandFebruary4th2019.Youmayregisterasanindividualorteam.Followthelinktoregister:https://goo.gl/forms/1sZWotlrbVSeRtPt1

PREPARE

WeinviteallapplicantstoparticipateinIMSAMondaynightINC.Café.FromJanuarytoApril2019.ApplicantswillalsobegivenaccesstotheIMSAPowerPitchmaterialstohelpyouprepare.TheIMSATALENTYouthBoardandthestaffintheSteveandJamieChenCenterofInnovation&Inquiry(IN2)willbeavailabletohelpyoueveryMondayfrom6to8pm.

TOPTWENTY

Thetoptwenty(20)applicantswillqualifytoparticipateintheIMSAPowerPitchCompetitiononthebasisofattendanceatMondayNightINC.Cafépreparationandpitchpracticesessions.QualifierswillbeannouncedMarch18,2019.

Practicepitchesmaybedoneinpersonorvideotaped.Nopitchmaybelongerthanfiveminutes.Practicepitcheswillbereviewedandscoredbyapanelofpotentialinvestors.Everypitchmust:

• Identifytheproblemormarketopportunityandtheinnovativesolution

• Describethecustomersegment(s)orpopulationforwhomthisisintended

• Demonstrateafeasibleplanforgoingtomarketandbeingsustainable(e.g.,asaninitiativeorbusiness).

FINALISTS&PRIZES

ThetwentyqualifierseachpitchaminimumoftwotimestoinvestorsonApril6,2019.Basedoninvestorscores,sixfinalistspitchathirdtimeforcashprizes.Threeprizeswillbeawarded:$1,500,$1,000and$500.

CONTACT

Formoreinformationcontact:Dr.KellyPage,ChiefInnovationOfficer(CIO)viakpage@imsa.edu

PowerPitchCompetition2019

BUSINESS&ENTREPRENEURSHIP

IMSAIMSABusiness&Entrepreneurship

Weturnideasintoimpact.

The Steven and Jamie Chen Center for Innovation and Inquiry is a leading center for innovative andentrepreneurialthinkingandappliedSTEMlearningforyouthandadultdevelopment.Weturnideasintoimpact.

Locatedat the IllinoisMathematicsandScienceAcademy®(IMSA) thecenterprovidesaward-winningprograms,experiences,andmentoringforyouthandadultprojectsinappliedSTEMfields.Thecentersmissionistoempoweryouthandadultsthroughworld leadingapplied,collaborative,andculturallyresponsiveexperiencesthat inspireinnovativeandentrepreneurialthinking;andthelaunchofbreakthroughprojectsintotheworld.Thecenteroffersprograms in the areas of design thinking, business and entrepreneurship,maker andmakerspace design, STEMpathways,robotics,andsoftwareengineeringamongstothers.

Connect to the IMSA Innovation Community today, and join a vibrant network of innovators, designers, andentrepreneurswhoaresharingideas,takingrisks,launchingbusinessesandalongtheway,areturningideasintoimpact.