COMPETITION RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the prize, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
At least 51% woman-owned business in the State of Florida.
Must be over 18 years old for Established and Emerging categories; must be 16-25 years of age for NextGen category.
Agree to abide by the contest rules as detailed below
Own the rights to any product(s) and/or ideas they are pitching
Have a Federal EIN if entering in the Established category
A non-refundable payment of $75 (NAWBO Orlando members), $95 (nonmembers) must be included. This fee includes your application and ticket to attend the live event. (We recommend attending the live event even if you are not selected as a finalist!) The applicant’s payment is submitted with the completed Intent to Compete form upon registration.
Award Categories
Participants will compete in three categories:
Established: Must be in business a minimum of two years with revenue between $100,000 and $500,000 and be ready to invest in your business growth. Applicants will need to provide two forms of financials for proof, must have an active State of Florida business registration, and a valid EIN number.
Emerging: Business or business concept must include a product or service that has the ability to scale and grow with the market potential identified. Applicants must provide an Executive Summary demonstrating the ability to scale and market.
NextGen (ages 16-25): This category recognizes high school students, college students, and recent graduates with bold ideas and ventures that demonstrate potential for growth and impact. Participants will compete based on their ability to articulate their vision, identify market potential, and outline the steps needed to bring their business or concept to the next level. Applicants must provide a one-page business summary detailing their idea, target market, and growth potential.
Entry steps & Key Dates
Fill out the entry form and submit your entry fee payment.
Participate in our FREE webinars to assist you in preparing your pitch materials. See the schedule and topics on the main event page. Webinars will be scheduled starting in February 2025
Prepare your materials. Participants will need to upload an introductory video, business/executive summary, and preliminary pitch deck. Established category contestants will also provide financial statements and their EIN number. Instructions and a link to upload documents will be provided in your confirmation email.
ALL MATERIALS MUST BE UPLOADED BY MIDNIGHT ON MARCH 21, 2025.
Judges will review submissions and schedule interviews with contestants in April.
Finalists will be announced April 14, 2024.
Finalists will have the opportunity for a live pitch practice session (date TBD) at the National Entrepreneur Center.
Finalists will make any adjustments to their pitch decks and get ready to present live at the Take Flight Business Conference May 15, 2025 at Seminole State College in Sanford, FL.
Competition OVerview & Scoring Criteria
Finalists will each have eight minutes to deliver their pitch presentations live at the Take Flight Business Conference on May 15, 2025. The winners will be announced at the end of the event that day. The judges will rate each applicant using predetermined ranking criteria, including:
Viability and investment appeal of the applicant’s business presentation
Slide deck with all components laid out from the webinar series
Passion for the business expressed in the introduction video
Quality of the in-person interview with the judges.
SCORING CRITERIA
10% overall quality of the written executive summary submission
10% video submission
20% individual interviews with judging committee
50% final presentation at the awards event
Awards
The nine finalists who will compete LIVE on May 15, 2025, will each receive cash prizes and business services, that include:
Free services from experienced entrepreneurs and community leaders, which may include legal counsel, marketing, mentoring, financial planning, administrative services, and funding opportunities.
One year membership to NAWBO Orlando.
Recognition at NAWBO Orlando events, on the NAWBO Orlando website, and on social media.
Winners in each category, runners-up, and third place will also receive cash prizes.
All services will be distributed within one year of award. Note: For cash awards - payouts will be made no later than May 30, 2025.
NAWBO Orlando will determine the amounts of the awards and reserves the right to change the awards at any time. NAWBO Orlando also has the right to cancel the awards if, at its sole discretion, it determines that there is not a suitable entrant or the winner has violated the contest rules. Cash awards and in-kind services are subject to change based on sponsor participation. The awards and in-kind services are non-transferable. There may be no cash or other substitutions of prizes by the winner. Individual winners are solely responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes with respect to the entire prize package.
Competition agreement & disclaimer
Originality of Plan
The ideas and concepts set forth in the business pitch are the original work of the Applicant and neither the Applicant nor any of the Applicant’s owners, officers or employees are under any agreement or restrictions that prohibit or restrict their ability to disclose or submit such ideas or concepts to the competition.
Ownership
The Applicant understands and agrees that the Applicant owns the rights to its ideas; however, the Applicant must properly acknowledge any trademarks or copyrighted materials of others that are incorporated into the Applicant’s materials. The Applicant is responsible for obtaining any necessary permission(s) before incorporating such materials into its competition materials. Once materials are submitted, the Applicant: (a) irrevocably grants NAWBO Orlando the unconditional, perpetual and non-exclusive right and permission to reproduce, store, copy, transmit, publish, post, broadcast, display, adapt, create derivative works of, exhibit, or otherwise use the Applicant’s name and Business Pitch in any media throughout the world for any purpose without limitation, and without additional review, compensation, or approval from the Applicant or any other party. Submission of an idea to the Competition is considered a public disclosure of the idea. Obtaining patent, trademark and copyright clearance as necessary for your business will be the sole responsibility of the Applicant. NAWBO Orlando will not be held responsible for any patent, trademark and/or copyright issues whatsoever regarding the Applicant’s own ideas and proprietary material or that of others.
Waivers and Releases
The Applicant understands that National Association Of Women Business Owners – Central Florida Chapter, Inc. (dba NAWBO Orlando), along with NAWBO Orlando Foundation, Inc., the judges, as well as any and all of the former’s successors, assigns, promotional agents, co-sponsors, insurers, principals, representatives, affiliates, franchisors, subsidiaries, participants, officers, directors, agents, shareholders, independent contractors, managers, supervisors, employees and agents (collectively the “Releasees”), are under no obligation to provide any advice or service to the Applicant. The views expressed by the Releasees are their own and not those of any other person or entity. The Releasees are held harmless by Applicant, its owners, officers, employees and agents and shall not be subject to any action arising from Applicant’s participation in this Competition.
Applicant also understands and agrees that the legal protection of the plan submitted by Applicant to the competition is the sole responsibility of the Applicant. Applicant understands the deadline for submission of all materials is midnight on March 21, 2025. Semi-finalists will be notified by and interviewed by the panel of judges in April 2025 (specific dates TBD). Finalists will give their final presentations at the Take Flight Business Conference to be held May 15, 2025. FINALISTS MUST BE AVAILABLE ON THE DATES LISTED.
The Applicant, its owners, officers, employees and agents, grant permission to NAWBO Orlando to publicize their name(s) and a description of their business plan for marketing or other purposes.
NAWBO PARTICIPATION
All finalists are strongly encouraged to participate in NAWBO Orlando events. Winners will be required to allow NAWBO Orlando to use their business as a success story and publish the news about the business in various publications, on the NAWBO Orlando website and social media channels, with possible updates explaining the success of the business since winning the competition.