FAQ

Who can apply for the competition?

Almost anyone. Our rules state that at least one member must be a full-time student at an accredited university (students who have graduated within 6 months of April 16th, 2010 are also eligible). You’ll also need a faculty contact at that university to act as an advisor. If you’d like information on how to get paired with students to act as interns, email Matt Dearmon at: jdearmon@tulane.edu.

How many rounds are there?

Three. The preliminary round requires a 6-page summary. From all submissions we select no more than 20 to pass onto the second round. The second round requires a full business plan. From these 3 are selected to go to the final live round at Tulane University.

What is needed to apply for the first round?

You will need names, addresses, and phone numbers of all applicants as well as your faculty advisor. You will also need one (1) .doc or .pdf file that contains:

* Executive summary (1 page suggested)
* Industry analysis (1 page suggested)
* Market analysis including assumptions that lead to financials (2 pages suggested)
* Financials (2 pages suggested)

The application is limited to 6 pages. Any pages over 6 will be deleted and judges will not see them.

What does Conscious Capitalism mean?

A conscious capitalist company focuses on optimization of stakeholder alignment. Such a company recognizes that no one stakeholder can be compensated in such a way that it damages any other stakeholder and jeopardizes the sustainability of the organization. For example, if the customers were given a level of service and product value that was not fairly reflected in the price there would not be sufficient revenue generated to fairly compensate employees, reward shareholders for risking capital, and making investments in R&D to ensure the future growth of the company. For more information, please visit the following page:

http://www.tulanebusinessplancompetition.com/conscious-capitalism/

What is needed to apply for the second round?

A full business plan numbering no more than 30 pages including everything in one (1) .doc or .pdf is required. The subsections are your discretion. PLEASE NOTE: ALL FILES CONTAINING MORE THAN 30 PAGES WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT BEING JUDGED.

If I get to the final round, will you pay for travel?

Final round contestants will receive one $1000 travel stipend per qualifying team.

I have my plan in two parts: a word document and an excel spreadsheet for the financials. What should I do?

You should compile them into one .pdf or .doc file. You can cut and paste your excel sheets into a .doc file. Alternatively, you can use several free online tools to compile documents into one .pdf file. If you are using a mac, this option is available to you in mac word as a standard feature from the print screen. If you are using a windows computer, there are several free options online. We are not able to offer any flexibility with this requirement. Applications received in pieces will not be accepted.

How much does it cost?

The application fee is $75 per team. Registration will begin at 12:00 pm on January 1st and end at 12:00 pm on February 1st. PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE ACCEPTING A MAXIMUM OF 120 PLANS THIS YEAR; ONCE WE HAVE RECEIVED 120 PLANS, WE WILL CLOSE REGISTRATION.

Can I continually update my plan until the deadline?

No. Once you have submitted your plan, you cannot make changes. Please ensure to diligently review your work before submission.