Tech/ESP Track
The Tech Venture Track is open to startups and businesses that are scalable with have high growth potential. These businesses contain a service or product that is tech-focused, tech-enabled, or manufacturing-focused with the intent to disrupt, diversify, and/or add significant value to a current or expanding market.
Criteria:
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The product or service has to operate through advanced technology.
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The venture specifies the design and architecture of the specific technical components needed for the solution to be developed, implemented, and operated.
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The business has a profit model that requires the business to generate revenue.
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Businesses with launch dates, incorporation, or dates of first sales within the last 36 months are eligible to pitch (older firms are not appropriate for this competition).
Main Street Track
Main street businesses can include brick-and-mortar, vendor-based or ecommerce businesses. By nature, these businesses are operated locally and are typically small firms; however, they can also have the potential to scale in size and location based on the goals of the owner. Main street business typically experience slower growth than high-growth, "tech" firms
Common examples include: food trucks, dry cleaners, hair salons, restaurants, auto and truck services centers, convenience stores, small manufacturing and service businesses (accounting practices, tax preparation business, etc.), internet, website development and technology businesses, small wholesalers and many other similar businesses.
Criteria:
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Businesses are operated locally, are typically smaller firms, and are not necessarily scaleable.
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The product or service can operate independently of advanced technology.
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The business has a profit model that requires the business to generate revenue.
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Businesses with launch dates, incorporation, or dates of first sales within the last 36 months are eligible to pitch (older firms are not appropriate for this competition).
Nonprofit Track
The nonprofit track is for 501c3 organizations currently serving or planning to expand to the Greater Dayton area. The Nonprofit must be a qualifying charitable organization.
Criteria:
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Existing (older than 36 months) nonprofit ventures may pitch NEW ideas (ideas for projects that have not already been implemented)
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Ideas for new nonprofit organizations (applicant will pursue a nonprofit org structure and register as a 501c3)