Frequently Asked Questions
1. How are the tracks and teams determined for the Semifinals?
2. How are teams selected for the Finals competition?
3. What is the role of the moderator in each session?
4. What if our PowerPoint doesn’t function correctly?
5. How do you select judges?
6. Who is responsible for making hotel arrangements?
7. Do you accept paper copies of the Business Plan?
8. Can we bring product prototypes for the competition?
9. You mandate that the business plan length plus appendix can only be 16 pages. Why?
10. Is a faculty adviser necessary?
11. What are the limitations on the trade-show display?
12. Do the team members receive the cash prize, or does it go back to our school?
13. Who pays for the airfare and the hotel?
14. What is an “automatic berth”?
15. How does my business idea stay protected? Does everyone sign confidentiality agreements?
16. Is a computer provided for the competition or do we bring our own?
1. How are the tracks and teams determined for the semifinals?
Each plan selected for the semifinal round is evaluated and rated according to the judges criteria outlined on our webpage. Semifinal plans are then seeded into five tracks with a goal of achieving balanced tracks across all teams.
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2. How are teams selected for the Finals competition?
Judges are instructed to take into account the plan evaluation criteria, the presentation and Q & A sessions and their personal assessment of the potential of the venture. Following the last presentation, judges review each entry and come to a consensus opinion on which team will move forward. This decision is made separately from any other judging track and judges do not know other teams that will be moving forward.
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3. What is the role of the moderator in each session?
Moderators are instructed to keep sessions to the approved timeliness including strict enforcement of presentation and Q & A time limits. They do not participate in the judging process but are available for points of clarification for both teams and judges.
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4. What if our PowerPoint doesn’t function correctly?
Dealing with PowerPoint is similar to using a computer. Sooner or later it is just going to stop working for no apparent reason. We provide ample opportunity for tech checks prior to the competition and maintain a backup In Focus projector for emergencies. However, if your PowerPoint fails, we suggest you have a contingency plan beyond a new projector.
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5. How do you select judges?
Our judges are drawn from a diverse population of entrepreneurs, service providers, angel and VC investors and seasoned business executives. Each panel is formed with the idea of achieving a well-balanced team of individuals with a broad understanding of the process of evaluating new venture opportunities.
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6. Who is responsible for making hotel arrangements?
Each team that is invited to the semi-inal round of the NVC is responsible for making their own hotel reservations. We negotiate a special rate for our participants at the host hotel and encourage teams to register there. You are welcome to seek out other arrangements on your own but realize you will be separated from the majority of event participants.
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7. Do you accept paper copies of the Business Plan?
No. NVC is a paperless submission competition, all business plan documents must be uploaded on the Team Login tab of the NVC website (oregonnvc.com). The plans must be uploaded no later than Noon PST of the business plan due date and must be submitted as a single document in “printable” PDF format.
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8. Can we bring product prototypes for the competition?
Yes, you may bring prototypes for the competition and they may be displayed at the opening night trade show, however, all related costs are the responsibility of the team.
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9. You mandate that the business plan length plus appendix can only be 16 pages. Why?
Plans are limited to 10 pages of text. Detailed spreadsheets and appropriate appendices can follow the text portion of the plan but will be limited to 6 pages (total 16 pages). Plans must be formatted in 1-1/2 line spacing with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins. This line spacing and font requirement applies to the textual content of the document and not to titles and descriptions accompanying pictures, graphs, tables, worksheets or graphical NVC’s requirements are designed to reflect a typical request to provide information to a angel or venture finance based investor.
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10. Is a faculty adviser necessary?
Yes. As stated in the rules of eligibility all entries must be prepared under faculty supervision and for credit in a regularly scheduled course or as an independent study. We also strongly urge the faculty adviser to attend the competition.
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11. What are the limitations on the trade-show display?
You are welcome to make your display as “fancy” as you’d like. We have no restrictions on how much money you invest into this project; that is simply your prerogative as well as your expense. However, you are limited on the area (physical space) you can occupy which is one 6′ table. You may rent easels (space limits you to 2 max.), extension cords and other equipment from the hotel for that evening. The hotel does not allow hanging anything on the walls, so be creative with the tabletop space.
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12. Do the team members receive the cash prize, or does it go to back to our school?
For tax purposes, we issue a check to the university itself. It is the individual university’s decision on how the cash is allocated. We suggest you talk to your advisor or other university personnel to determine their policies regarding this issue.
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13. Who pays for the airfare and the hotel?
Your team (and/or school) is responsible. Check with your school since many universities may have funds set aside for these types of off-campus academic events.
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14. What is an “automatic berth”?
It is an invitation extended to a select group of universities including previous year’s winners. This invitation ensures a space for a team representative from a specific university without the team going through the initial qualifying round process.
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15. How does my business idea stay protected? Does everyone sign confidentiality agreements?
We do not have non-disclosure agreements in effect. Your team may elect to modify to protect specific intellectual property but the reality of these types of competitions is that NDA’s are not provided.
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16. Is a computer provided for the competition or do we bring our own?
Over the years, it has been our experience that technical difficulties (i.e. compatibility problems, software launch, projection, etc.) are best avoided if the participants adhere to the following guidelines:
- Teams must provide their own laptop computers for the competition.
The LCE will NOT provide laptops for the participant teams. - Team laptops must be equipped with a standard video connection.
- Team laptops must be able to interface with a PowerPoint overhead projector
(e.g. In Focus). There will be a projector provided in each presentation room.
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