ACCELERATE ST. LOUIS CHALLENGE The Accelerate St. Louis Challenge promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and venture development within the St. Louis region by highlighting dynamic startup and early stage companies; strengthening those companies through relevant training, feedback and support; and rewarding the best-of-the-best. New in 2015, the Accelerate St. Louis Challenge has added application tracks for different industries. These tracks include biosciences, education, financial technology, informational technology, manufacturing and products & services. The Challenge encourages all startups and early stage companies to apply, and applicants may be pre-launch, operational, or pre- or post-revenue. TOP STARTUPS AWARD: $100,000 A total of $100,000, provided by Edward Jones through St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, will be awarded to the top three overall winners: First Place - $50,000 Second Place - $30,000 Third Place - $20,000 Legal, accounting and marketing professional services are donated by Carmody MacDonald, Thompson Coburn, RubinBrown, BDO, Common Ground PR, Spoke Marketing, Polsinelli, and Elasticity. Incubator space is donated by STLVentureWorks. Video production is provided by Elasticity. BRIGHT FUTURE ENTREPRENEURIAL INCLUSION AWARDS: $20,000 The Bright Future Entrepreneurial Awards recognizes the most promising startups in the following categories: minority-owned, woman-owned, immigrant-owned and veteran-owned. Bright Futures Veteran Sponsored by Plan Corp Bright Futures Woman Sponsored by BDO, Bryan Cave Bright Futures Mosaic Immigrant Sponsored by Commerce Bank Bright Futures Minority *subject to availability
ELIGIBILITY Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry and legal residents of the United States. Team members who are directors, officers or employees of the Partnership, consultants or freelancers who do business with the Partnership or immediate family members of any of these persons are ineligible. Every industry sector is eligible, but the businesses must be new or early stage companies with no more than $100,000 in annual revenue. Applications submitted for buy-out or expansion of an existing company, tax-shelter opportunities, subsidiaries, franchises, licensing agreements for distribution in a different geographical area and the creation of value through better management or a new strategy are not eligible. A complete list of Accelerate St. Louis Challenge requirements is listed under Rules. SUMMARIZE ANALYZE RECOGNIZE Like most challenges, the Accelerate St. Louis Challenge requires successful completion of certain tasks to move forward in the competition. These activities are vital to determining the best-of-the-best. 1) Summarize This is the first step. Applicants must submit online (www.acceleratestlouis.org) by July 28, 2015 (by 5PM CST, 7/28/15). Applications are accepted from those who meet the eligibility requirements and are willing to abide by competition rules. Applications will be judged based on five categories: team, value proposition, market, financials and risks. 2) Analyze The top applications for the Edward Jones Top Startups Awards and Bright Future Entrepreneurial Inclusion Awards will advance to the next round and are invited to submit an analysis of their businesses. In addition to the business analysis, finalists will make a 10-minute presentation to the judges, followed by a 40-minute interview. 3) Recognize The winners of the Edward Jones Top Startups Awards and the Bright Future Entrepreneurial Inclusion Awards will be announced at the 2015 Startup Connection event. The winning teams will be announced in front of St. Louis startup community. STRENGTHEN HIGHLIGHT A key aspect of the Accelerate St. Louis Challenge is to strengthen entrepreneurs and businesses simply as a result of participating. To that effort, there are activities that will increase the likelihood of success in the Challenge and beyond. 1) Strengthen Finalists are encouraged to attend a workshop on how to conduct a competitive business analysis and prepare a strong presentation for the judges. The best way to impress the judges is to know how to impress the judges. Open to all finalists from the Edward Jones Top Startups Awards and the Bright Future Entrepreneurial Inclusion Awards. 2) Highlight The finalists for the Edward Jones Top Startups Awards will participate in a video shoot, where they will record content for a one-minute, professionally produced, pitch video. These videos help finalists tell their story in a dynamic and compelling way, while offering an opportunity for some additional, friendly competition. There will be a challenge within the challenge based on viewership of the pitch videos. The Accelerate St. Louis Challenge has a complete social media campaign built around the promotion of its finalists.
CALENDAR PHASE DATE EVENT DESCRIPTION Summarize June 18, 2015 Kickoff of 2015 Accelerate St. Louis Challenge July 23, 2015 Challenge Cram July 28, 2015 (5PM CST) Online applications due August 4-18, 2015 Judges review applications Analyze September 8, 2015 Strengthen: Seminar offered to finalists on preparing business analysis and making presentations September 15-17, 2015 Highlight: Each Top Startup Award finalist is scheduled for a 10-minute window to record October 21-23, 2015 a 1-minute pitch video Presentation and interview with judging panel Recognize November 19, 2015 Winners announced at Startup Connection event CASH AND IN-KIND SPONSORS:
AWARDS There are two major award categories this year. Prize packages include cash, in-kind services, incubator space, and other elements. In-kind services will be limited to one provider from each of the following service areas over a 12-month period following the award. Incubator space is subject to availability. Thank you to the Accelerate St. Louis Challenge sponsors: Edward Jones, Carmody MacDonald, Thompson Coburn, RubinBrown, BDO, Common Ground PR, Spoke Marketing, Polsinelli, Elasticity, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and STLVentureWorks. TOP STARTUPS AWARD: $100,000 First Place $50,000 cash + 30 hours in-kind services (each discipline): accounting, legal, marketing Second Place $30,000 cash + 25 hours in-kind services (each discipline): accounting, legal, marketing Third Place $20,000 cash + 20 hours in-kind services (each discipline): accounting, legal, marketing Finalists STLVentureWorks affiliate membership (3mo)* BRIGHT FUTURE ENTREPRENEURIAL INCLUSION AWARDS: $20,000 Bright Futures Veteran Sponsored by Plan Corp Bright Futures Mosaic Immigrant Sponsored by Commerce Bank Bright Futures Woman Bright Futures Minority Sponsored by BDO, Bryan Cave *subject to availability Bright Futures Finalists (up to 8): Admission (2) to Startup Connection +
JUDGING 1) Judges will receive and review all information submitted in connection with each application to the competition. 2) Judges will rely on the following criteria in judging the business analysis and presentations: Innovative nature, creativity Growth potential Feasibility and marketability Adaptation to change Funding Strength of management team Quality of product or service Internal organization 3) Judges may disqualify any application they believe violates the letter or spirit of the competition guidelines. 4) Judges will not sign a non-disclosure agreement in connection with performing their duties for this competition. Each applicant is responsible for taking appropriate steps to protect its intellectual property when drafting its business analysis and presentation. 5) Judges agree not to initiate a professional relationship with individuals who have an active application before the competition. Judges will recuse themselves from discussion and voting on an applicant to the competition if the judge has an existing personal or business relationship with the applicant. An application is considered active until the judges have made a decision about it or until it has been withdrawn by the applicant. RULES 1) Incomplete applications will not be considered. 2) Presentation teams are limited to two company representatives. 3) Winners of grand prizes cannot compete in future Accelerate St. Louis Challenge competitions. 4) Grand prize winners of previous years of the competition are ineligible to compete in the Accelerate St. Louis Challenge. Previous winners of Bright Future Awards are eligible to compete for grand prizes, but not additional Bright Future Awards. 5) Applicant entities must be located in the St. Louis region, including the Missouri counties of St. Charles, St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Warren, Lincoln, Washington, and St. Louis City; and the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Claire, Monroe, Clinton, Jersey, Bond, Macoupin, and Calhoun. 6) No individual may be included as a team member on more than one Accelerate St. Louis Challenge application. 7) No business may enter more than one application. 8) Any area for- or non-profit commercial endeavor will be considered. 9) All submitted documents/information must be the original work of those making the submission. 10) Applicants must be consistent with a startup or early stage company as described in the guidelines provided. 11) The decisions of the judges are final, including interpretation of the rules. 12) Applications must be received online by 5pm (CST), July 28, 2015. 13) Applicants agree to uphold the integrity of the competition and adhere to competition rules. 14) Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. 15) Winning companies are required to provide quarterly reporting information, regarding company status, employment, revenues, challenges and opportunities.