The NIBS Worldwide Business Plan Competition wrapped up this afternoon, on Day 2 of the NIBS Annual Conference. This year’s finalists included teams from Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland), the University of Vermont (USA), and Washburn University (USA).
Dublin Institute of Technology student Ciaran Sullivan accepts the €1,200 first-place prize via remote uplink, with the judging panel and competition manager Lieve Hauben in the foreground
DIT took home the trophy and the €1,200 cash prize, with their proposal for Ripple Sense, an internet-based wireless water level and consumption monitor for use in agricultural applications. The team consisted of Ciaran Sullivan, Evan Stuart, Olivia Holbrook, Rachael Ryan. Students from the University of Vermont finished in second place, winning €800, while Washburn took home bronze and a €400 prize.
This year’s competition attracted 16 entries from 10 different countries. Submissions were evaluated and scored by an expert panel of judges from various NIBS member institutions, during a preliminary round held in the fall. The top three finishers were then invited to participate in this week’s Grand Final; the winner is determined by a combination of the preliminary round score and on-site assessment by both the judging panel and the audience members in attendance.
The team from Dublin led things off . This was followed by Vermont’s Beacon, a web-based service that matches businesses with students looking for specific kinds of work experience. Washburn wrapped things up with their pitch for The Turning Pointe, a specialty retail franchise focused on dance equipment and apparel.
Students from the University of Vermont present the Beacon concept during the finals of the 2017 NIBS Business Plan Competition
Students from Washburn University present their proposal for The Turning Pointe during the finals of the 2017 NIBS Business Plan Competition
The Worldwide Business Plan Competition accepts submissions each winter, and is open to all NIBS member schools. The deadline to register a team for next year’s competition is December 1. For more information about submission guidelines and assessment criteria, please visit the competition page.