Rules and Eligibility

Applicant/Team Eligibility

This is a individual or team-based competition (teams can range from 2-5 individuals). Eligible members can be comprised of:

• Current Earlham College students.
• Current Earlham graduate school students from the Earlham School of Religion or the Earlham Master of Arts in Teaching program.

NOTE: While individuals are permitted to participate, the Center encourages the forming of teams as one of the judging criteria is academic interdisciplinary.

NOTE:  For reasons of the associated benefits, taxes and other paperwork associated with the awards from the Earlham EPIC Grand Challenge, a current Earlham College student must be designated as the team leader.

All awards for each stage of the Competition will be designated and distributed to the Earlham College team leader.

NOTE:  All awards for each stage of the Competition are subject to any applicable tax laws. The Earlham College team leader is responsible for the payment of any taxes associated with the distribution of awards from the Earlham EPIC Grand Challenge

By entering Earlham College's Earlham EPIC Grand Challenge, participants acknowledge that funds awarded by the competition are intended for the purpose of funding the social entrepreneurship concept entered.

By entering the Earlham College's Earlham EPIC Grand Challenge, participants acknowledge that they must conform to the technology specifications detailed in the competition for the submission of competition materials; e.g., PowerPoint, documents, etc. submissions. Further Earlham College will work to ensure that proper technology functions throughout the competition, Earlham College cannot guarantee it.

Evaluation criteria: What judges are looking for

This is a four-stage competition:

• Elevator Pitch: A two-minute presentation accompanied by a single PowerPoint slide.
  Saturday, February 20th, 2021.  10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Cameo Round: Includes a business model canvas, a five-page paper about the business idea and a five-minute PowerPoint presentation.
  Saturday, March 27th, 2021.  10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Cameo Round Winners/Final Round/Judges Prep Review: This is the session like seen on Shark Tank.
  Saturday, April 17th, 2021.  10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Finals Round: A comprehensive project plan and a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation.
  Saturday, May 8th 2021.  10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Elevator Pitch

For the elevator pitch round, one person from the team will present to a panel of judges.

The entrant's elevator pitch will last no more than two minutes and be limited to one PowerPoint slide.

The judging criteria will focus on:

• Ease of growth potential
• Level of innovation/creativity/originality
• Quality of benefits/customer value proposition
• Social/Financial impact
• Competiveness in the market place/concept viability
• Perceived ability to execute
• Quality of presentation
• Coverage, thoroughness and feasibility
• Community Partnership
• Academic Interdisciplinary

Cameo Round

For the cameo round, any and all of the team members may present to the panel of judges.

The participants must:

• Submit a business model canvas
• Submit a 5 page write-up about the business proposal/model
• Present up to a 5-minute PowerPoint presentation to a panel of judges.

The judging criteria will focus on:

• Quality of the business model canvas
• Executive summary
• Area of need and social venture overview
• Unique value proposition and strategy
• Marketing plan
• Operations plan
• Management team and venture structure
• Financial and social projections
• Viability of venture
• Clarity of writing

• Community Partnership
• Academic Interdisciplinary

Cameo Round/Finals Winners, Judges, and Peer Mentors Preparation and Review

Prior the Finals Round, there will be a “Cameo Round/Finals Winners and Judges Preparation and Review.

For this session, any and all of the team may present to the judges.

The participants must:

• Submit a “preliminary draft” of a project plan
• Present a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation to the panel of judges.

The judging criteria will focus on:

• Vision and statement of need
• Unique value proposition for social or environmental impact
• Management capability
• Financial understanding
• Investment/impact potential
• Material presented in a logical sequence
• Enthusiasm and persuasiveness
• Quality of visual aids

Finals Round

For the finals round, any of the team members may present to the panel of judges.

The participants must:

• Submit status reports
• Submit a comprehensive plan
• Present a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation to a panel of judges

The judging criteria will focus on:

• Vision and statement of need
• Unique value proposition for social or environmental impact
• Management capability
• Financial understanding
• Investment/impact potential
• Material presented in a logical sequence
• Enthusiasm and persuasiveness
• Quality of visual aids

• Community Partnership
• Academic Interdisciplinary

Project Plan Eligibility Guidelines

The Earlham College Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the competition committee reserve the right to disqualify project plans that fail to adhere to competition rules or are inconsistent with the values and mission of Earlham College. The following guidelines are created to inform all participants and stakeholders as to what is and is not acceptable for the competition. Each entry is vetted by members of the competition committee of the Earlham College EPIC Grand Challenge. This committee makes the final determination whether or not an entry meets the acceptable guidelines.

All work must be the original work of the applying team. Proposals and plans that constitute "academic dishonesty" will be disqualified; even if academic dishonesty is discovered after the competition is officially ended.

If the entry involves an existing venture, sales or revenue generating activity should be 30 months old or newer, at the time of the of competition's launch. If you are unclear if your social endeavor meets this guideline, please contact Gene Hambrick at hambrle@earlham.edu.

All plans must be based on a legitimate social enterprise. Ventures that involve breaking the law as a part of their business model are prohibited.

Plans that conflict with Earlham College's values are prohibited; including liquor, illegal drugs, gambling, events/activities that feature violence, pornography.

All plans must be start-ups. Purchasing a current venture, including franchises, is prohibited.

Plans involving pyramid schemes are prohibited.

Participation Expectations for Finalist Teams

All teams advancing to the Finals Round must adhere to the participation expectations identified below.

• Finalist teams must attend one Earlham EPIC Grand Challenge dress rehearsal prior to their Finals Round presentation.
• Final Round teams must submit a rough draft of their comprehensive plan by Wednesday, May 5th 2021 by 5:00 p.m.
• Final Round teams must present their final Power Point presentation by Wednesday, May 5th 2021  by 5:00 p.m.
• Finalist Round teams must present their comprehensive plans on Saturday, May 8th 2021.