thinkBIG! Challenge 23-24 » Veale Entrepreneurs

thinkBIG! CHALLENGE

An online business plan competition open to all high school students in Northeast Ohio, offering $9,000 in prizes. Finalists are invited to attend virtual Executive Coaching and receive guidance from entrepreneurial professionals in the Cleveland business community. The Final 6 teams will compete live at the thinkBIG! Summit on March 5, 2024.

How it Works

Step 1: Executive Summary Submission

Teams (1 to 4 members) will submit an Executive Summary that explores and develops ideas for business ventures in one of two tracks: Innovation or Small Business.

The Executive Summary should be no more than 5 pages in length and must describe the concept and outline the problem, the solution, customers, the competition, assets needed, challenges, and financial feasibility.

Deadline for Executive Summary Submissions:

January 16, 2024

Finalists Announced Online: January 31, 2024

Step 2: Executive Coaching Session on February 15, 2024

The 6 teams chosen to pitch at the thinkBIG! Summit will receive Executive Coaching from a professional entrepreneur!

Step 3: Live Pitch at thinkBIG! Summit on March 5, 2024

The Final 6 teams will present live in front of judges and attendees at the thinkBIG! Summit on March 5, 2024. Three teams from each track will compete for the cash prizes.

Please download required challenge documents for both tracks here:

Small Business Executive Summary Guidelines

Small Business Rubric

Innovation Executive Summary Guidelines

Innovation Rubric

Optional Download:
Small Business Executive Summary Sample

Please view all rules, eligibility, terms, and conditions for the 2023-2024 thinkBIG! Challenge and Summit here:

Rules, Eligibility, Terms and Conditions

Prizes

Offering $9,000 in prizes!

1st place for each track will each receive $3,000 per team.

2nd place for each track will each receive $1,000 per team.

3rd place for each track will each receive $500 per team.

The Grand Prize Team will be presented with our Traveling Veale Innovation Cup Trophy to display at their school for the 2024-2025 school year!

Each Final Team will receive a Veale Innovator plaque, uniquely handmade by Upcycle Parts Shop, for each team member!

Areas of Focus:

Networking, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Design thinking, Validation, Sales and Operations, Online Marketing, Finance and Accounting, Effective Communication, Collaboration, Public Speaking

2024 thinkBIG! Challenge Executive Summary Submission

Idea (Team) Name

This name will become your official Team Name. You will need it in subsequent rounds, should your idea advance. (Example: Team Locateria: Farm Fresh Cafeteria Food for All)

What thinkBIG! Challenge category are you entering?

Are you already actively running this business?

Is this an original idea that has not been submitted to the thinkBIG! Challenge in the past?

If no for the above, please explain:

Primary Student Contact Name

First

Last

Address

Phone Number

School Name

Teacher Contact Name

First

Last

Teacher's Email

How many other team members are there?

File Upload

Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 4 files.

• Please upload your Executive Summary. Maximum 5 pages.(Max 32 MB: .pdf, .doc, .docx format)* Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx. • If applicable, you may upload up to three images (sketches, diagrams, prototype photos, etc.) that showcase your business or innovation. Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, jpeg.

By submitting this entry, you agree to all of the rules, eligibility, terms, and conditions as outlined on the 2023-2024 thinkBIG! Challenge webpage.

*NOTE: You may need to hit the submit button a second time if you receive an error message. If successful, a green message will appear indicating it has submitted successfully and you will also receive an email notification. If you have any issues or need to send a file directly, please contact Jaclyn Balliet at jballiet@vealefound.org.

Message

Funding for travel to programs may be available to non-Forum schools. Please contact us at programs@vealefound.org for more information.