The Finals is divided into two parts:

• the preparation and submission of a full business plan and
• a formal pitch to a panel of distinguished judges.

The Finals – Full Business Plan Submission
The “Great Eight” finalists are required to submit a full business plan. The business plan is the key to launching a new business. It is a critical tool for communicating to potential investors, strategic partners and key employees how you will implement your new business and why you think it will succeed. It can serve as an operating tool that helps you manage your business with your specific goals in mind. It is a vehicle for obtaining feedback and input from valued experts. The process of creating a full business plan requires considerable analytical thought.

Submission Deadline
Submissions must be uploaded by 28 February 2010 @ 5 p.m. (UAE time).

What to Submit

Guidelines on developing a full business plan are produced and distributed throughout the year. In general, a business plan must include the following:

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Product/service identification
• Market, competition and competitive advantage
• Management team and organization
• Operations
• Financial structure and projections
• Documentation and discussion of intellectual property

For a more thorough understanding of how your team's business plan will be assessed, please review the evaluation plan. This is a list of questions that judges are asked while reviewing each business overview.

The business plan should clearly tell a reader about your background and experience, what you plan to do, how you will execute on your business idea, how you will achieve financial viability and why the reader should have confidence investing in your business.

There is no limit to the number of words for your submission, other than what you deem is an appropriate length for a business plan.

Also, team member names can appear in full business plan submissions.

How to Submit

Details of the submission process are distributed to the finalist teams upon selection.

Benefits of Participating

Students or teams who participate will receive the following benefits:

• Eligibility to submit a brief summary of your business plans for inclusion in a " Book" that is distributed at the  Finals and to judges and other investors
• The top eight teams are eligible to compete for the Competition's top prizes at the  Finals
• Eligibility to receive coaching assistance in preparing to present to a panel of judges
• Ability to distribute marketing materials at the  Finals

Judging Criteria

Judges are asked to read the submitted plan and evaluate it, according to the evaluation plan. The judges will rank plans accordingly.

Eligibility Requirements

Only the top eight teams are invited to participate.

The Finals – The Formal Pitch
The Formal Pitch is the culminating event of CERT|Wharton EPIC. It is a signature opportunity for CERT|Wharton EPIC’s finalist teams to present their business plans to distinguished judges who will award the prizes. In addition to prizes, the Formal Pitch is a great event for the entrepreneurial community, bringing students together with angel investors, capitalists, entrepreneurs, and others from the entrepreneurial business community.


Judging Criteria

The Judges' selection of prizewinners is based upon how well each team demonstrates that it can achieve its goals and that its concept is worth pursuing. In addition, teams must make presentations to the judges in a 20 minute time frame (10 minute presentation and 10 minutes for Q&A). For more information on judging criteria in the Formal Pitch visit our Judges section.