$6,000 in cash prizes!
Click Here To Enter
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is partnering with UNITY to offer a business plan competition. The winners will be announced at the National UNITY Virtual Conference.
WHAT DO THE WINNING TEAMS WIN?
1st Place $3,000.00 plus 3 complimentary registrations to 2021 National UNITY Conference!
2nd Place $2,000.00 plus 3 complimentary registrations to 2021 National UNITY Conference!
3rd Place $1,000.00 plus 3 complimentary registrations to 2021 National UNITY Conference!
This competition is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs seeking start-up funds. The judges will decide which business venture they would most likely fund. The value created by the new product or service, attractiveness of the market opportunity, the competitive advantage of the proposed venture, the operational and technology viability, the capability of the management team, the clarity and persuasiveness of the plan, and the capital requirements and financial forecast all influence the judges’ decisions. Ultimately, the winning teams should be the team in which the judges would most likely invest their money.
WHO CAN ENTER THE COMPETITION?
The NCAIED Business Plan Competition is open to UNITY affiliated Youth Councils or team of individual UNITY youth members between 14 to 24 years of age — who want to explore the world of business.
Business Plans submitted for the competition must be submitted by a team (2 or 3 individuals recommended). The team may be made up of just high school students or just college students or a combination of both. Age of participants is at time of the business plan submission deadline.
WHEN ARE THE BUSINESS PLANS DUE?
Saturday, June 20, 2020 by 5:00pm EST.
Email your plan to Amber Childs at amber@ncaied.org in Word or PDF. All entries must also be accompanied by a video presentation of three minutes or less. Each team member must play a role in the video. Please stay 6 feet apart if everyone is in one room or you may record a Zoom video conference presentation.
HOW ARE BUSINESS PLANS JUDGED & WINNERS SELECTED?
Completed business plans are reviewed by a team of professional experts. This team reads through the business plans and will review videos then rate them according to a number of criteria and a scoring matrix. The winning teams will be announced on July 21 at 12:20 pm during the National UNITY Virtual Conference.
WHAT SHOULD A BUSINESS PLAN INCLUDE?
A business plan is a written description of the future of your business. It’s a document that tells the story of what you plan to do and how you plan to do it. The plan should cover all the important matters that will contribute to making your business a success. Include three sentences (minimum) or a paragraph each to cover the following statements:
1. Executive Summary: This is a snapshot of your business concept.
2. Company Description: Briefly describe what you do.
3. Market Analysis: Research on your industry, this is where you identify who you competitors are.
4. Organization and Management: List and describe each job in your company. You can include an organizational chart as well.
5. Service or Product: In this section, describe the services you are offering or product you are selling.
6. Marketing & Sales: Describe how you will promote your product or service. You can do this by answering the 5 P’s of marketing.
BONUS POINTS – This is optional and can earn your team up to an additional 5 points
7. Budget & Financial Projections: How much money will you need to start up your business; 3-5yr budget; and how much do you plan to make.
WHO ARE THE JUDGES?
Alia Hauter, Gila River Indian Community, NCAIED Director of Communications
Amber Childs, Gila River Indian Community, NCAED Business Development Specialist
Tara Koleski, NCAIED Program Manager
Yvette Fielder, Hidatsa/Mandan/Lakota, NCAIED Program Manager
JUDGING CRITERIA & SCORING MATRIX
Click this link to learn more about the Judging Criteria for the NCAIED Business Plan Competition
ABOUT NCAIED
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (“The National Center”), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 50 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – The National Center has evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation serving over 500 clients and providing over $4Million in contracts to its clients. The National Center has nine offices throughout the nation with its home office located in Mesa, Arizona. The National Center is actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people- both now and for generations to come.
ABOUT UNITY
Founded in 1976, United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) is a national network organization promoting personal development, citizenship, and leadership among Native Youth. UNITY’s mission is to foster the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth ages 14 -24, and to help build a strong, unified, and self-reliant Native America through greater youth involvement. UNITY’s network currently includes 320 affiliated youth councils in 36 states.