July 31 to September 14
Welcome to ECC 2013! Taiwan Merchants Association (TMA) and Taiwanese American Professionals – New York (TAP-NY) are proud to launch our 2nd annual Entrepreneur Challenge & Competition (ECC). Last year we received over 40 submissions from Taiwanese American entrepreneurial teams, and we’re excited to engage with even more amazing entrepreneurs this year. Continuing our goals from ECC 2012, our aim is to create a platform for Taiwanese Americans to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and inspire the community. We have over $10,000 in unrestricted cash prizes for winner(s) at the final event- see below for more details for the competition. We look forward to engaging with you over the next few months!
COMPETITION OVERVIEW
Round 1: Contestants must submit written proposals to competition@tap-ny.org before July 31st, 2013. Proposals must be detailed, well-written, pleasingly formatted, and comprehensive enough for external stakeholders to understand the goals of the team and the plan to reach those goals. Proposals must be in English, sent in PDF format, and no longer than 15 pages in length.
Round 2: TAP-NY will invite the Top 16 teams to present their product/service in front of a panel of experienced business and industry leaders. Teams will be evaluated on their oral and visual (PPT) presentation.
Round 3: On the final competition day, the Top 8 will present in front of a distinguished group of judges. Each team will get 10 minutes to present with a 5 minute Q&A from the panel of judges. The judges will select two overall winners to win cash prizes- one in the for-profit category, one in the non-profit category. The audience will also select an “Audience Favorite”.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Throughout each round, proposals will be judged on the following criteria:
Goals
- Includes presentation of executive summary
- Clarity of goal and measures of success
Plan for reaching goals
- Clear growth strategy
- Anticipation of potential risks
Reason why attainable
- Market opportunity
- Possibility of long term success
- Ability to execute the plan
Presentation
- Written (Round 1), Visual and Oral (Rounds 2 & 3)
TAP & ECC Ideals
- How will prize money help you advance your goals?
- Innovation of product/service
- Product/service helps the Taiwanese American community or the world
- Team exhibits passion and enthusiasm
TEAM REQUIREMENTS
- At least 1 member of the core team is Taiwanese American or Taiwanese (and a U.S. resident); or, the product is directly beneficial to Taiwan
- The team cannot have raised more than $250,000 capital by July 31st for the product/service
- Age limit is 18 to 40 years old
IMPORTANT DATES
- JUNE 1: ECC launch- business plan submission open
- JULY 31: Plan submission deadline
- AUGUST 18: Top 16 announced
- AUGUST 24: Presentations to TAP-NY Panel (at Manhattan location)
- AUGUST 25: Top 8 announced
- SEPTEMBER 14: Competition Day (at Manhattan location)
DISCLAIMER
Rules and requirements are subject to changes as sponsors and organizers feel necessary and will be announced via the website http://competition.tap-ny.org/competition-overview/. Contestants must be present on Competition Day to receive the prize. More details on competition location will be released soon.