Venture 2015 – some tips and tricks

>>venture>> is a start-up competition with a long tradition however the current edition is characterized by several innovations. "We are creating more opportunities for young entrepreneurs to enlarge their network and find a suitable coach, we bring more potential investors in touch with the teams and we award more prizes: in addition to the prize money of CHF 130’000, the participants of the competition can win among other things, advice from McKinsey & Company", said >>venture>> founder Thomas Knecht.

One of the most important innovations: There is only one deadline for business plans and business ideas – 17 April. Participants who want to submit a business plan, should know that this would not only need to be more advanced than the business idea, but will obviously compete among fierce competition. Accordingly, the organisers advise participants to exercise caution while assembling the proposal, which should be in the extent of appropriately 20 to 30 pages. >>venture>> has  published business plan guidelines in a PDF document. People who want to submit a business idea are asked to hand in a short and clear-structured proposal in the extent of two to six pages. A checklist was published as a PDF document, too.

An important part of the competition is the coaching by experienced coaches. Participants have to register on the >>venture>> platform and can afterwards search for a coach and invite him or her to the project.

Events provide further assistance. Following the “Business Plan Booster” (Zurich, 21 March), there will be a “Clinic” in Lausanne (31.03.) and Zurich (01.04.) respectively, where participants can get helpful insights from experts in different relevant fields, such as business law or (digital) marketing.

More information on the competition, the coaching and the events on the >>venture>> website.