Brief | How Does it Work | Challenge Topics & Judging Criteria | Our Partners | Resources | Teams | Terms
Bilkentpreneurs Challenge 2024 invites participants from Bilkent University to join teams and submit their business ideas featuring new Products, Technology, or Services that will positively impact people, society, and their environments while creating and/or scaling up sustainable businesses. Proposals may also identify a solution that leads to the “greater good” of society.
Examples of these include Sustainable Development Goals from the United Nations; responses to climate change, transformative technologies, accessible healthcare, increasing financial literacy, advocacy, and emergency preparedness and response.
Judging Criteria
CATEGORY 1 Value Created by the New Product or Service or Expansion of the Current Product or Services
Address relevant questions below depending on the business model that your team is proposing.
- What is the problem? If possible, provide societal, economic, environmental or political context. Clearly indicate the implications and impact of the problem through data narration.
- Show an analysis/benchmark of at least one verifiable data source and demonstrate the nature and degree of existing challenges/obstacles that you want to address.
- What is the new and unique value of the product/service?
- What is the revised value of your product or service for further expansion?
- What needs/wants are you trying to satisfy?
- How important is this product/service to customers and other stakeholders?
- How does your team’s proposal support and lead to the “greater good” in the world? Explain and be specific.
- Provide your validation process/expansion plan for product-market fit and your goals for customer development.
CATEGORY 2 Competitive Advantage of the Proposed Venture
Competitive advantage refers to factors that allow a company to produce goods or services better or more cheaply than its rivals. Consider the following questions.
- Are barriers to entry identified?
- How are you positioning your product/service in relation to competitors?
- Is the product/service favorably positioned in the distribution channel?
- Can this product/service be a leader in its market?
- How long will it take you to get to market?
CATEGORY 3 Operational and Technological Viability
Participants should assess the operational and technological aspects of their distribution methods, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and compatibility with existing systems and infrastructures.
- How will the product or service be produced and delivered to customers?
- What are the distribution channels?
- Is any intellectual property essential to success?
- How will rights to intellectual property be secured?
- Are there regulatory hurdles?
- How long will it take to develop the property?
- Are key milestones identified?
CATEGORY 4 Capital Requirements and Financial Forecast
Forecast individual current assets and current liabilities using various working capital ratios, such as receivable days, inventory days, and payable days. Address the following questions relevant to your business proposal.
- How will you use the seed money?
- What are your fixed, variable, and periodic expenses?
- Is any intellectual property essential to success?
- Is the investment required all at once or can it be staged?
- How will you sustain your business for the long term and who are your long-term supporters?
CATEGORY 1 Value Created by the New Product or Service or Expansion of the Current Product or Services
Address relevant questions below depending on the business model that your team is proposing.
- What is the problem? If possible, provide societal, economic, environmental or political context. Clearly indicate the implications and impact of the problem through data narration.
- Show an analysis/benchmark of at least one verifiable data source and demonstrate the nature and degree of existing challenges/obstacles that you want to address.
- What is the new and unique value of the product/service?
- What is the revised value of your product or service for further expansion?
- What needs/wants are you trying to satisfy?
- How important is this product/service to customers and other stakeholders?
- How does your team’s proposal support and lead to the “greater good” in the world? Explain and be specific.
- Provide your validation process/expansion plan for product-market fit and your goals for customer development.
CATEGORY 2 Attractiveness of the Market Opportunity
Provide evidence for the degree to which a market offers opportunities to your organization, considering the market size and growth rate and the level of competition, and other constraints.
- How large is the market and how fast is it growing?
- What is your market entry strategy?
- Can the product/service be successfully monetized?
- Is the business model both realistic and viable over the short term?
- Is the product/service scalable?
- What is your intended impact on individuals, communities, and countries? Be specific about reach. Consider how you can maximize multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits.
CATEGORY 3 Competitive Advantage of the Proposed Venture
Competitive advantage refers to factors that allow a company to produce goods or services better or more cheaply than its rivals. Consider the following questions.
- Are barriers to entry identified?
- How are you positioning your product/service in relation to competitors?
- Is the product/service favorably positioned in the distribution channel?
- Can this product/service be a leader in its market?
- How long will it take you to get to market?
CATEGORY 4 Operational and Technological Viability
Participants should assess the operational and technological aspects of their distribution methods, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and compatibility with existing systems and infrastructures.
- How will the product or service be produced and delivered to customers?
- What are the distribution channels?
- Is any intellectual property essential to success?
- How will rights to intellectual property be secured?
- Are there regulatory hurdles?
- How long will it take to develop the property?
- Are key milestones identified?
CATEGORY 5 Capital Requirements and Financial Forecast
Forecast individual current assets and current liabilities using various working capital ratios, such as receivable days, inventory days, and payable days. Address the following questions relevant to your business proposal.
- How will you use the seed money?
- What are your fixed, variable, and periodic expenses?
- Is any intellectual property essential to success?
- Is the investment required all at once or can it be staged?
- How will you sustain your business for the long term and who are your long-term supporters?
CATEGORY 6 Presentation Delivery
- How is your spoken language clear and easily understood?
- How well do you use tone, speed, and volume as tools?
- Do you engage the audience with interesting, well-constructed content?
- Did the slides enhance the presentation – were they clear, concise, and compelling?
- Did the presenters offer well-prepared responses during Q&A?
