Judging Criteria

Both rounds of judging are based on the following weighted system. The weights for the judging criteria were developed by venture capitalists around the country and are indicative of the emphasis that investors place on the various aspects of a business.   

The Company — 15%
Product / Service — 15%
Market Strategy — 35%
Management Team— 25%
Financial — 10%
Total — 100%
 
Each submission will be scored according to an average of the preceding weights. Each criterion is evaluated in consideration of creativity, effort, communication, and presentation. Since Opportunity Quest is educationally- based, particular attention will be given to the level of student participation in these areas. The top scores will advance to the next round.

Confidentiality and Agreements

 Opportunity Quest staff and judges that will have access to the student plans will agree to a confidentiality agreement. This agreement is available upon request to the competitors. The judges, experienced venture capitalists, lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, and successful and knowledgeable business leaders, express their belief that ideas are only ideas until implemented. The confidentiality agreement includes a non-compete clause for six months after the winners are announced.  As a competitor, you are responsible to protect any information concerning your plan that you share with mentors, team members, and fellow participants of the competition.  Opportunity Quest takes no responsibility for unwanted disclosure in these instances.
 
Contestants should be careful about disclosing information concerning proprietary concepts. Although a patent application can be filed in the United
States up to one year after the first public disclosure of an invention, many foreign countries do not allow patent applications unless they are implemented before any sort of public disclosure.