Skandalaris Center

1.1 Submit online application (By 9/11/24 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time)

1.2 Executive Summary (By 9/2524 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time)

Executive Summary will be judged on the following criteria:

1. Problem: Clear, concise description and understanding of the problem.

2. Solution: The solution is feasible and implementation is achievable by team and highlighted collaborators.

3. Target customer: Team has spoken to potential users and has a plan for ongoing customer discovery.

4. Value Proposition: This is an original solution and differentiated from established competitors.

5. Minimally Viable Product or Service: Team has a plan for development of a working product or service.

6. Resource Support: Team has pursued other avenues for funding and resources, including non-WashU entrepreneurship competitions. Teams are strongly encouraged to enter outside competitions.                     

7. Team: The team understands their capabilities and has a plan to fill knowledge gaps. Diversity of disciplines encouraged.

*We will review examples of executive summaries at SVC orientation.

1.3 Post your 2-minute vide pitch idea for a new invention, service, or startup concept  (By 10/2/24 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time)

IdeaBounce® Post-Two-Minute Video

2.1 Customer Discovery Evaluation (By 10/23/24 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time) 

1. What hypotheses did you test?
2. Who did you talk with and when? 
3. What was the outcome? 
4. How did you evolve the business?
5. What are your next steps?

2.2 Two-minute live presentation at Semifinals-Selection of Finalists (October 24th)

Teams will be judged on the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. Problem: Clear, concise description and understanding of the problem.
      2. Solution: The solution is feasible and implementation is achievable by team and highlighted collaborators.
      3. Target customer: Team has spoken to potential users and has a plan for ongoing customer discovery.
      4. Value Proposition: This is an original solution and differentiated from established competitors.
      5. Minimally Viable Product or Service: Team has a plan for development of a working product or service. 
      6. Team: The team understands their capabilities and has a plan to fill knowledge gaps. Diversity of disciplines encouraged.

*You are not permitted to have AV, props, or a script for this presentation.

3.1 Revised Executive Summary (By 11/4/24 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time)

Written Summaries (40% of final score)

Summaries will be judged on the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. Problem: Clear, concise description and understanding of the problem.
      2. Solution: The solution is feasible and implementation is achievable by team and highlighted collaborators.
      3. Target customer: Team has spoken to potential users and has a plan for ongoing customer discovery.
      4. Value Proposition: This is an original solution and differentiated from established competitors.
      5. Industry Trends: There is demand for this solution, there is a significant market, and potential positive impact to society.
      6. Minimally Viable Product or Service: Team has a plan for development of a working product or service. 
      7. Financial Modeling: Pricing, marketing, sales, revenues, and investment needed are realistic.
      8. Traction: Team has established and is meeting milestones, including having paying customers and/or partnerships. There is a clear plan for future growth.
      9.  Resource Support: Team has pursued other avenues for funding and resources, including non-WashU entrepreneurship competitions.
      10.  Team: The team understands their capabilities and has a plan to fill knowledge gaps. Diversity of disciplines encouraged.
      11. Use of Funds: The team clearly explains how much funding they need and a detailed description with a plan of how they will use the funds.

3.2 Five-minute in-Person Presentation (November 21st)

• Final pitch dec is due by Monday, November 19 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time

Pitch and Slidedeck (60% of final score)

Teams will be judged on the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. 1. ­Problem: Clear, concise description and understanding of the problem.
         2. Solution: The solution is feasible and implementation is achievable by team and highlighted collaborators.
         3. Target customer: Team has spoken to potential users and has a plan for ongoing customer discovery.
         4. Value Proposition: This is an original solution and differentiated from established competitors.
         5. Industry Trends: There is demand for this solution, there is a significant market, and potential positive impact to society.
         6. Minimally Viable Product or Service: Team has a plan for development of a working product or service. 
         7. Financial Modeling: Pricing, marketing, sales, revenues, and investment needed are realistic.
         8. Traction: Team has established and is meeting milestones, including having paying customers and/or partnerships. There is a clear plan for future growth.
         9. Team: The team understands their capabilities and has a plan to fill knowledge gaps. Diversity of disciplines encouraged.
         10. Presentation: Team presented confidently, answered questions effectively, and has the motivation to succeed.
         11. Use of Funds: The team clearly explains how much funding they need and a detailed description with a plan of how they will use the funds.

Winners' Announcement

• Innovator Funding ($3,000): This fund supports startups that the Skandalaris Center believes are showing promise and potential, providing initial funding to explore their concepts further. Two teams were awarded funding at this level: Portal and Mapable
• Disruptor Funding (up to $7,500): This fund supports startups that are refining their product and enabling them to advance towards market readiness. Two teams received this funding: Phoenix and Sustain-a-Plate
• Catalyst Funding (up to $10,000): This fund supports the launch of startups poised for growth and providing resources for the critical next steps in their development. Three teams received launch funding: Anode Free Sodium Batteries, InCase, and OvuMap

Winners' Announcement

• Exploration Funding (up to $2,000): This fund supports startups that the Skandalaris Center believes are on to something and need additional support to move forward. Three teams were awarded funding at this level: Beacon Tags, Chick, and OvuMap

• Proof-of-Concept Funding (up to $5,000): This fund supports companies that are building an minimal viable product (MVP), or have a proof of concept that needs some refinement. One team received this funding: Ascent Labs, Crewmate, and Papertrail

• Launch Funding (up to $10,000): This fund supports startups that are launched and ready to take those next steps in growth and development. Three teams received launch funding: ASL Aspire

Winners' Announcement

• Exploration Funding (up to $2,000): This fund supports startups that the Skandalaris Center believes are on to something and need additional support to move forward. Three teams were awarded funding at this level: Lumilin Therapeutics, Magnifi, and Papertrail.

• Proof-of-Concept Funding (up to $5,000): This fund supports companies that are building an minimal viable product (MVP), or have a proof of concept that needs some refinement. One team received this funding: Contrast AI.

• Launch Funding (up to $10,000): This fund supports startups that are launched and ready to take those next steps in growth and development. Three teams received launch funding: ChiChi, Ice Cream for Bears, and Top Tutors for Us.

Winners' Announcement

1st Place: $10,000 Sobriety Hub, Clayton Canfield (BU ’23), Joseph Lanfersieck (EN ’24)

2nd place: $7,500 Tutors for Us, Angelica Harris (BU ’21, SI ’22), Brianna Chandler (LA ’23), Artorius Zhang (EN ’24)

3rd Place: $5,000 ChiChi, Chiara Munzi (LA ’23), Isabelle Gorton (LA ’25), Yemane Kidane (LA ’23)

4th Place: $2,500 MiDoc, Linda Wu (GB ’22), Katie Thai (EN ’23, SI ’24), Lili Hostetler (GB ’23, SI ’24), Hanyang Liu (PhD Candidate), Arthur Zhou (GB ’22), Alec Fields (EN ’22, SI ’22)

Winners' Announcement

1st Place: $10,000 Grapevine Biosciences, Victoria Mityul (ME ’25)

2nd place: $7,500, Multiflex Neurovascular Catheter, Vinay Chandrasekaran (BS ’21)

3rd Place: $5,000, Tylmen Tech, Lloyd Yates (GB ’22).

Winners' Announcement

1st place: $10,000, ClosetSwitch, Chiara Munzi (LA ’23).

2nd place: $7,500, Oystar, Lungile Tshuma (MBA ’21), Kevin Ko (MBA ’21), Tim Brandt (MBA ’21), and Abhinav Gabbeta (MBA ’20).

3rd place: $5,000, Speak Information Technologies (Speak IT), Kai Skallerud (MD/MBA ’23), Maxwell Popper (LA ’22), Chris Callan (MBA ’22), Quan Khuc (EN ’23), Afam Obioha (BU ’22), Mitchell Sampson (EN ’25), Ajla Salic (BU ’22), Maddy Singleton (LA ’24) Issa Cook (JD/MBA ’22/23), Julian Lu (LA ’24), and Michael Cafiero (LA ’24).

Winners' Announcement

1st place: $10,000, HIVE Medical, Inc., Joe Beggs (Biomedical Engineering ’20)

2nd place: $7,500, Salentra Biosciences, Leonardo Velazco-Cruz (Ph.D. candidate in the DBBS program, School of Medicine graduating December 2021) and Punn Augsornworawat

3rd place: $5,000, SafeBeat RX, Rachita Navara, MD (Division of Cardiology) and Kunj Patel, MD, MSc.

Honorable Mention: $2,500, Jellie Rhodes Group, Angelica Harris (‘21 in the John B. Ervin Scholars program double majoring in Computer Science and Finance)

Winners' Announcement

1st place: $10,000 cash, Cedars Health, Inc., Raphael Chung (BS’19, MS ’20), Kevin Park (BS ’20), and Dr. Arett (Associate Professor of Surgery, School of Medicine).

2nd place: $7,500, Lifted Pouches, Derek Leiter (MBA ’21), Tyler Edwards (MBA ’21), Marguerite Whitelaw (MBA ’21), and Zach Hechtman (BSBA ’21).

3rd place: $5,000, Golden Roots Essentials, Fanta Kaba (MBA ’21)

Winners' Announcement

1st place: $10,000, Pareto, Mitchell Lynn (GM, ME), Rachel Heymach (SI’20), and Kelley Coalier (UG’15, PM’20)

2nd place: $7,500, Honeymoon Chocolates, Cameron (PM) and Haley Loyet.

3rd place: $5,000, Caralyst, Havisha Pedamallu (LA’21, BU’21), Matthew Millet (ME), and Owen Zhang (EN’23, BU’23).

Winners' Announcement

1st place: $10,000 cash and $1,000 Lyft ride credits, SpectraServe, Chris Weber, Fei Xie, Michael Wong, and Maneesh Jey

2nd place: $5,000, Illumino, Cassie Davis (SI ’19)

3rd place: $2,500, HUM Industrial Technology, Byron Porter (GM ’20)