Judging Criteria
The competition is looking to award new ventures that will be economically successful and have a positive impact hence the emphasis on team’s ability to executeThe competition will be judged on
- Best chances for a successful new venture – balancing magnitude and probability of success
- Strong team
- Strong market focus on attractive market opportunity
- Strong execution plan
- Strong competitive advantage (could be technology but does not have to be)
The competition will not be judged on
- Cool technology alone
- Venture fundability
Profile of Judges at high level could be:
- Respected member of the Clean Energy Community
- Diversity and balance across types of energy
- Accomplished entrepreneurs, angels, venture capitalists, technologists, service providers
- Vetted to ensure no conflict of interest
Disclaimer: Sponsors will not influence judges, criteria, or the outcome of this competition
Detailed Criteria Assessment for Judges
CEEP Judging Criteria
Each round of judging will be conducted by prominent venture capital and angel investors, seasoned entrepreneurs, members of the university community, government officials, business consultants, and other professionals. The guiding criteria for the judges to apply will include:
·
o Is there a clear market need that exists or can be created for this idea?
o Does the team have a feasible strategy to drive market uptake?
o Is the business opportunity of significant magnitude?
o Is the market research thorough and conclusive in support of the proposed offering and strategy?
· Competitive Advantage 25%
o Does the team’s primary quantifiable value proposition have a clear and differentiated competitive advantage?
o If the team’s plan is reliant on technology,
§ What are the technology risks?
§ How well protected is their IP?
§ What is the sustainable advantage of the technology?
o If the team is relying heavily on first mover and/or a speed to market advantage, is there a business strategy to succeed when the market gets more competitive? (e.g. EnerNOC and Sun Edison)
o Has the team thoroughly thought out the various competitive threats to its business and addressed plans to mitigate those risks?
· Team and Execution 25%
o Is there a clear and strong strategy to build a successful business?
o Are the milestones (including financial, market gain and time to market) and deliverables reasonable for the team and achievable from the standpoint of the relevant market?
o Do the team members have the necessary skill set, including finance, technology, and marketing experience, to bring the idea to market?
o How committed is the team to the success of this new venture?
o Does the team have a plan for appropriate and necessary team growth?
o If the new venture requires investment for growth, will the team be able to acquire that capital?
· Business Economics 20%
o What is the realistic forecasted magnitude of financial success for this new venture? (revenue and profitability)
o Is the business model robust and scalable?
o Is it likely that this business can grow and survive within
the next five years?
o Is the company disproportionately dependent on governmental or other subsidies?
· Clean Energy Impact 10%
o Has the team convincingly identified and quantified the clean energy benefits of the technology or business concept with respect to such impacts as increasing use of renewable resources, reducing dependence on non-renewable or undesirable resources, increasing energy efficiency, reducing emissions, or reducing peak
energy demand, etc.?
o Will the business idea make a significant difference in terms of producing such clean energy benefits?