Conferences and Business Plan Competitions
A comprehensive listing of conferences and business plan competitions, including application deadlines
2021
Entrepreneurship for Life Sciences and Healthcare Startups
Learn practical information about entrepreneurship guided by expert participants in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem, delivered by a preeminent life sciences/medical institution, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). We focus on startups that can have the potential to positively impact human health at scale. Whether your interest is therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics or healthtech/digital health, you will find this course highly relevant. You will access an unparalleled network of colleagues in North America and globally. Expand your knowledge and impact.
Early bird pricing ends on January 31.
Merck Innovation Cup
The brightest students from all over the world meet at our company headquarters to learn from professionals, network, develop business plans and win the 20,000 EUR Innovation Cup.
The Innovation Cup Summer Camp takes place on June 26-July 2, near Frankfurt, Germany.
Who can Apply:
Applications are from postgraduate students in the life sciences working towards a PhD in biology, medicine, biotech, bioinformatics, computer science, data science, biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacy, engineering or related fields. Postdoctoral students are also welcome to apply, as are advanced MBA students or recent MBA graduates with an interest in the pharmaceutical business and a background in life sciences.
The 2022 Innovation Cup will be accepting applications starting in November 2021.
U.Pitch from Future Founders
This national competition is the ultimate elevator pitch. In just 90 seconds, contestants compete for recognition, validation, and a piece of a $10,000 prize pool. U.Pitch 2021 will be 100% virtual as contestants present their virtual pitches live to a panel of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from across the country. In addition to the winners selected by our panel of judges, all participants will be eligible for the People's Choice Award. The 2021 U.Pitch National Elevator Pitch Competition & Showcase will stream live globally on November 10.
Contestant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 1.
Adobe Analytics Challenge
Since its inception in 2005, the Adobe Analytics Challenge has grown into the #1 international business case competition for cash prizes, internships, and full-time offers. The Challenge is a unique analytics-focused business case competition where teams of university students are given the opportunity to use Adobe Analytics with real-world data from leading organizations. Last year over 4,600 students from over 300 universities across 20 different countries competed for $60,000 in cash prizes.
Students must be currently enrolled in a full-time academic undergraduate or graduate program, and all team members must be from the same university. Teams will also have a faculty mentor. Teams will have two weeks to analyze the data and produce recommendations. Each team will create a presentation and share their findings by the submission deadline.
Over the years, Adobe and its AAC client partners (Nike, T-Mobile, Sony PlayStation, Comcast, etc.) have interviewed hundreds of students for full-time and intern positions. Adobe has hired more than 50 students from this program across a wide array of roles from engineering to corporate strategy.
To register, students must pick a team name and have each individual complete the registration form on adobeanalyticschallenge.com, which will be available starting September 8, 2021.
2020
Berkeley HAAS Investing in Inclusion Pitch Competition
Calling all entrepreneurs! The Investing in Inclusion Pitch Competition is an avenue for MBA students and their teams to pitch start-up ventures related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Up to $15,000 in prizes will be awarded to the top teams who demonstrate a vision and potential to generate a positive impact!
Venture Focus Areas
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender/Gender identity
- Socioeconomic Status
- Intellectual, Mental, Physical Disability
- Sexual Orientation
- Age
- Former Incarceration
Team Requirements
- At least one team member must be a current MBA Student
- Other team members may be fellow students, community members, business partners, or otherwise
- Travel stipends may be available to teams outside of the Bay Area
Application Deadline
February 7, 2020
Event Date
March 6, 2020
Contact
U21/PwC Innovation Challenge 2019-2020
SUMMARY
This competition was launched in 2018 to create worldwide talent networks through which U21 students obtain exposure to new global employment opportunities, showcasing their knowledge, skills and talents to potential employers. For more information, go here.
PRIZES
The winners will be awarded an expenses-paid trip to Dubai (7 days) courtesy of PwC where students will be able to explore the city and also see some of the innovative projects taking place. Runner-up prizes will include career development coaching with the PwC Academy. Everyone entered into the U21 competition will receive access to online training via the PwC Academy; the assessment and certificate fees will be covered by PwC.
DESCRIPTION
The mission is to answer the challenge question posed by PwC/U21 in a compelling three minute video.
Each registered university will be able to submit a maximum of 4 videos to the challenge.
Students will submit their videos to the GSM Selection committee. The committee can select up to four videos. After selected, the student will submit the video to U21/PwC Innovation Challenge
HANDBOOK
Review the U21/PwC Innovation Challenge Handbook.
GSM VIDEO DUE DATE
Video submission is February 10 . Please submit videos here.
This Year's Challenge Question: How can universities help individuals gain a broader perspective on the long-term impact and consequences of their day-to-day actions on people, society and the environment? What types of jobs will an environmentally-sensitive economy need, and what is the best way to prepare students for them?
VCIC Business Plan Competition 2020
The VCIC 2020 is the perfect opportunity if you are interested in the Venture Capital industry and would like to network with professional investors! UC Davis Graduate School of Management is invited to send a team of 5 graduate students plus a Team Shadow and/or a Judge Shadow to the event.
If you have any questions or would like to join this competition, please contact The Finance Club:
Jing Zhang
jjjzhang@ucdavis.edu
Registration Deadline
Friday, November 15, 2019
Event Date
Friday, February 21, 2020