Rules and regulations

The following rules apply to the LaunchNevada Pitch Competition and the qualifications to compete. 

Eligibility

• LaunchNevada is open to all full-time University of Nevada, Reno students who are enrolled and in good standing during the competition's academic year. Full-time means at least 12 credit hours for undergraduates and at least 6 credit hours for graduate students.
• Students who enter LaunchNevada stay eligible for any other business plan competition.
• Prior LaunchNevada Pitch Competition and Sontag Entrepreneurship Competition are ineligible to compete.
• To protect the integrity of the competition, the Competition Committee may at any time change eligibility rules or competition requirements, or use its discretion to refuse or remove any participant.

Rules

Team composition

• Students may enter as individuals or as part of a team.
• Teams have one to five members.
• Non-students may serve as advisors, mentors or members of the company, but every team member who presents at competition events must be an eligible University of Nevada, Reno student.
• Graduate and undergraduate students may be on the same team.
• Each team names a team leader, who is the contact for the competition director and the Competition Committee.
• Each person may be a member of only one team.

The business idea

• The business must be a for-profit or a non-for-profit startup or early-stage venture that is less than two years old and has received less than $50,000 in revenue, including grants. A Benefit Corporation is acceptable.
• A plan to expand an existing business may be submitted with Competition Committee approval.

Entrants proposing to expand an existing business must show a clear and significant equity interest in that expansion.

If the idea is based on research by a faculty member at a university or research entity, the team must obtain a licensing agreement from the owner of the intellectual property, and the students must hold a clearly defined and significant equity interest in the business.

• The business can't mainly consist of running an existing business model under a licensing agreement, such as becoming a franchisee.

How to enter

Email the Ozmen Center (ozmencenter@unr.edu) with your interest. You will receive the relevant form to fill out after your email is received.

Pitching Format

• Student Pitch: 5 minutes
• Judges Q&A: 2 minutes

Prizes

• Total prize pool: $4,000
• First: $1,500
• Second: $1,000
• Third: $500
• Audience Choice: $500
• Socially Responsible Venture: $500