- What is TIC Americas Business Plan Competition?
- The Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas (TIC Americas), will develop the extraordinary inter-American business potential of innovative young entrepreneurs with sponsors from the thirty-four Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) and around the world.
- How do I enter the competition?
- Registration has no cost and should be online, and through the TIC Americas Webpage
- Am I eligible to participate in the competition?
- Men and women between the ages of 15 and 35 may be part of a team in the 2007 TIC Americas. All team members (excluding mentors) must not be more than 35 years of age prior to 11:59 pm of December 31, 2006. Proof of age will be required for winners.
- Contestants must be citizens or legal residents of the country they are representing and be legally authorized to start and operate a business in that country.
- University, community college, post-secondary students, recent graduates, and young entrepreneurs in general regardless of their physical location and nationality are the target group. However, any entrepreneur 15 or more years of age and not more than 35 may enter regardless of their education status or level of completion.
- YABT staff, Board of Directors, and sponsors’ immediate family members are not eligible to participate.
- Is there a limit to the number of members in a team?
- TIC Teams must include a minimum of three members with the following:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Technical Officer
- A Team may not have more than ten members, not including mentors.
- Can my team include students from different Universities?
- Can I be on more than one team?
- No, participants cannot compete in more than one team
- Can we recieve money from institutions to make inversions in our BP. This to invest in investigation, like market research in our country?
- Yes, TIC Americas prizes and the program in general is intended to generate investments, training, promotion, skills etc.
- Can non-students be on the team?
- University, community college, post-secondary students, recent graduates, and young entrepreneurs in general regardless of their physical location and nationality are the target group. However, any entrepreneur 15 or more years of age and not more than 35 may enter regardless of their education status or level of completion.
- Who can be a judge?
- Judges will be experienced professionals whose skill sets make them amply qualified to carryout the judging of business plans submitted by contestants of TIC Americas
- Mentors and judges should not represent the same institution or organization. If this is unavoidable, they should remove themselves from judging that Team.
- Judges from across the Americas will participate in TIC Americas Semi-Finals and Finals Judging Teams, YABT may appoint others as required at it own discretion.
- YABT may appoint a Judges Committee to coordinate the work of the judging teams and the process during the Semi-Finals and Finals.
- What do the judges look for in a business plan?
- Judges will evaluate the following:
- Innovation (Creativity and Originality)
- Market Feasibility (Responds to Clear Market Needs)
- Management Feasibility (Human and Technical Resources)
- Financial Feasibility (Start up and Sustainability)
- Overall Business Plan Presentation (Technical / Presentation Professionalism)
- How can I sponsor the Competition?
- Several options are available for sponsoring TIC Americas. For further information, please contact Mr. Roy Thomasson at +1 (202)458-3641
- Who can be a mentor?
- University or other educational or instructional personnel
- Private sector representatives, e.g., Chambers of Commerce and business associations.
- Experienced business managers and technical or business experts
- Successful young entrepreneurs.
- Any adult meeting the criteria set out for mentors in these Rules.
- YABT Staff, Board of Directors, or immediate family members may not serve as mentors.
- Is there a limit to the number of mentors on a team?
- Yes, a team can have a maximum of two mentors
- Does a mentor have to be from the same country or region as the participants in the team?
- No, mentors may be from different places to the participants.
- Can I submit a Business Plan for a non-Profit venture?
- Sure. Teams comprised of young people from OAS Member States and internationally are invited to submit business plans in the following four sectors.
- Trade – To encourage the exchange of goods and services in the Americas
- Tourism – To promote the development of the tourisms industry, including culture
- Agribusiness – To utilize the region’s agricultural capacity to create economic growth
- Technology – To increase the Americas technological capabilities and infrastructure.
- Any more questions? Click here to download the Complete Terms of Reference.
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