Students
Process
Phase I: The Mini-Mentoring Marathon (OPTIONAL but recommended)
December 11th, 2009
Sign up for 15 minute time slots from 10 am to 2 pm. Register here.
Have an idea? Phase I is a chance to help you refine your idea for an innovative product or service. Phase I is non-competitive and optional – you don’t need to enter Phase I to participate in subsequent rounds, but the insights you gain from this round will give your idea an "edge" in the next phases.
To participate, student teams must submit a brief document describing their innovative idea. The highlight of phase I is the Mini-Mentoring Marathon. The Marathon is a one-day, technological take on “speed dating”. You will have the opportunity to discuss your ideas with dozens of industry leaders from areas like product development, biotechnology, law, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. These professionals will offer insightful feedback and advice, and can be valuable connections as you continue to develop your idea.
How the Mini-Mentoring Marathon works: Upon entering the Inspiration Round, you will be asked to fill out a survey and indicate which kind of industry experts you wish to speak with and why. Based on your responses, you will be assigned various fifteen-minute time slots to meet with individual professionals during the event. PennVention will do its best to accommodate your preferences and availabilities but all matches will be final. Before the Marathon, you will receive a biography of each of your designated mentors so that you can prepare questions ahead of time. Likewise, your mentors will be receiving information about your invention idea in advance of your appointments.
How to Enter Phase I: You must complete the online registration form by Friday, November 14
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Phase II: The Achievement Round (First Judging Round)
January 13th - February 8th, 2010
With the optional Mini-Mentoring Marathon and our resources, you should now have a fairly clear vision for your idea. The Achievement Round (Phase II) will be your first opportunity to receive judged feedback for your plan.
During this round, each team submits a more in-depth document including preliminary design specifications along with feasibility and commercial potential. All participants are given written feedback from several judges, including inventors, consultants, entrepreneurs and business professionals. This feedback will be very valuable in fine-tuning inventions and moving them through the patent and licensing processes. Ten teams from phase II will be selected to move onto the final Invention Fair.
Note: You MUST enter Phase II in order to qualify for Phase III, the final Invention Fair.
How to Enter Phase II: Team Packet (PDF)
Examples of past submissions: Sample submissions (PPT), Sample submissions (PDF)
Starting January 13th, the online registration form can be completed. The Achievement Round Submission must be emailed in PDF format to pennvent@seas.upenn.edu by 11:59 PM EST on Monday, February 8, 2010. Please click here to access PennVention's online resources, which include the complete details on how to enter Phase II.
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Phase III: The Invention Fair (Final Round)
April 9th, 2010
In the final Invention Fair, the 10 finalists from phase II will “pitch” their ideas in front of a live audience and a panel of judges – and compete for over $60,000 worth of prizes and in-kind services!
Leading up to the final Invention Fair on April 9th, 2010, all ten finalists will receive:
- $250 cash to build a prototype of the invention and proceed to the Invention Fair.
- An opportunity for up to $1000 award from the Innovation Fund.
- Support to 1) solicit detailed manufacturing quotations and 2) construct a prototype in advance of the Invention Fair.
- Support for market research as well as an independent professional valuation analysis in advance of the Invention Fair.
** Late submissions will not be accepted in any round, at the discretion of the PennVention Committee **