CHALLENGE STRUCTURE
The Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge is made up of two main components:
1) The Written Business Plan: Students create a detailed business plan outlining their vision for a business they would like to start in Rhode Island. The written plan includes a company logo, mission statement, marketing plan, market analysis and more.
2) The Business Pitch: After all written business plans are scored, the top five scoring students advance to a final pitch competition. During the final competition, students give an oral presentation (business pitch) to a panel of judges made up of successful Rhode Island entrepreneurs. The final five students will receive scholarships based on the their business pitch scores.
1st place - $5,000 scholarship
2nd place - $4,000 scholarship
3rd place - $2,500 scholarship
4th place - $1,500 scholarship
5th place - $1,000 scholarship
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
All Rhode Island high school students in grades 9-12 from public, private, charter and homeschooling groups are eligible to compete. The student must be a Rhode Island resident. The competition is for student-created business ventures. In other words, students must:
Have played a major role in conceiving the proposed venture
Have a key management role in the proposed venture
WHEN IS THE CHALLENGE?
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 24, 2024 (by midnight): Deadline for students to apply by submitting their written business plans via e-mail to lgecri@gmail.com.
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: April 1, 2024: The Lt. Governor’s Office announces the top 5 students/student teams who will advance to the final competition. All participants will receive e-mail notification.
FINAL COMPETITION: April 16, 2024: Top 5 students/student teams give their business pitches at the final competition.