About the Contest

usky I+ Challenge (HIC) is an innovative startup competition designed to model entrepreneurship, grow entrepreneurs and facilitate the creation of early stage companies over the course of a semester. Through a series of five strategy development Boot Camps, students from across the university are able to engage in and learn the different aspects of starting a venture. Students will "graduate" with a prototype of their venture, financial projections, a realistic business model and a deep understanding of their customer.

We believe The Husky I+ Challenge is a significant improvement on the typical business plan competition because we teach students how to put knowledge to practice by starting a company. Through the Boot Camps, networking and collaboration events and hands on time with experienced entrepreneurs and mentors, the students learn the practical knowledge and skills necessary to start a company in the real world. Boot Camp topics range from how to perform in-depth market research, to creating a prototype and developing the right business model for your venture. Each session will be led by entrepreneurs, industry professionals and professors who specialize in the topic for each Boot Camp.

The competition culminates near the end of the Fall semester with an electric celebration called Demo Night. The event is an opportunity for the students to display all their hard work as they showcase their ventures to the Northeastern & Boston community, alumni and thought leaders. With food and drinks, the competing teams show off their prototypes and models and vie for the opportunity to win great prizes!

   

How It Works

The HIC encourages the development of the foundation of an entrepreneur and their business, focusing on prototypes, business models and customer development. The goal of the HIC is to assist in the growth of business ideas and concepts into sustainable ventures.

The program provides teams with unique opportunities to participate in highly educational Boot Camps led by people with a background of experience on the topic of focus. Each Boot Camp meets bi-weekly on Sunday's for a 4 hour block.

Below is a brief outline of the Boot Camp topics that will be made available to students:

  • Boot Camp 1 – Industry & Ideas
  • Boot Camp 2 – Customers: Who, What?
  • Boot Camp 3 – Prototype & Costs
  • Boot Camp 4 – Business Model
  • Boot Camp 5 – Presenting & Next Steps

All Boot Camps and working events will be recorded to help teams create a video pitch to be included in their final submissions to the Judges towards the end of the competition!

Social Events

In addition to the Boot Camps, students will be able to get to know one another during social outings to restaurants and bars in the area to encourage collaboration and networking. The HIC will also lead contestants to events catering to entrepreneurship as they are announced by Boston area entrepreneurship organizations.

Demo Night

Demo Night is the big shebang at the end of the semester where the students get to show off their shiny, new ventures! This past year, over 150 students, entrepreneurs, alumni, professors and thought leaders in Boston came out to celebrate.

The ventures are judged based on prototypes that convey their concept and highlights of business model and finance considerations required to be successful in their given venture. Judges will evaluate each competing venture for different award categories such as Game Changer Award, Financial Stability, Time to Market Award, Social Change Award and Audience Favorite.

   

Entry Information

The Husky I+ Challenge was designed to attract budding entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. Whether you have a newly minted idea or concept or a working business, we encourage you to sign up and take full advantage of what the HIC offers.

A few guidelines:

  • Teams can partake with ideas that they’ve been working on over time, or completely come up with new ideas at the start of the competition.
  • Teams are highly encouraged to consist of two or more students from any one or combination of departments or schools within Northeastern.
  • The competition is focused on undergraduate venture ideas.
  • Teams can consist of no more than 5 members.
  • Single person entrants should contact the HIC organizers to qualify.


Applications will be opened shortly!

   

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