Eligibility Criteria

Baseline criteria for consideration in the competition:

• Currently operating businesses
• Business located in Windham County
• Not a previous awardee of the WCEDP Competition
• Participated in the WCEDP Competitions fewer than 2 times.

Participants in the Quick Pitch Round and the Final Round will be judged on the following:

• Have a 3-year growth plan.
• Prove a strong team, with experience in the industry.
• Understanding of the industry, market, and competition
• Identify what market strategies will be used drive revenue.
• Show recirculation of revenue in Windham Region: suppliers, equipment, employees, services etc.

Participants in the Final Round should include the following “Stretch criteria”:

• Have a 5-year growth plan.
• Show the addition of 2 NEW full-time employees (in Windham County), within the 5-year growth plan.
• Show revenue derived from a broad geographic area (tourist dollars don’t count).
• Provide examples of customer interest, reviews, contracts etc.

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Participation Criteria

Quick Pitch Round

Participants will:

• Register online; include a description of the business/project proposal.
• Attend one of the local Quick Pitch Events and pitch their idea to the panel of judges. (Those unable to attend, will submit a video recorded pitch)
• Be selected by judges to move on to the final round.

Final Round:

Participants will:

• Be assigned a mentor.
• Complete a formal Business Plan (software access provided), including financial projections.
• Pitch their business at the Final Pitch Event, to a panel of judges.

$20,000 Grand Prize Winner

Awardee will:

• Be selected by the panel of Judges following the Final Pitch Event based on the 2023 Eligibility Criteria.
• Meet all requirements to receive the award, to be distributed in the form of a grant.