Mid-Hudson Business Plan Competition
2024 Judges and Mentors Information
12th Annual Mid-Hudson Regional Business Plan Competition
April 5, 2024
See below for more information about judges and mentor's responsibilities.
Judges and Mentors Application for the MHRBPC will open in January 2024
Contact Cynthia Worrad, cynthia.worad@marist.edu, for more information
The Mid-Hudson Regional Business Plan Competition prides itself on innovation and technical merit. Both of these values are hallmarks of the main organizing universities, and we strive to integrate them into every aspect of the competition. To do so, we have established a transparent judging process with no conflicts of interest between our judges and the teams that they are evaluating. A vital aspect of the business plan competition is the support system supplied to student teams by academic advisors and entrepreneurial mentors throughout the competition. Our main goal is to foster and encourage entrepreneurial activity in our students to promote new business ventures. The competition fosters and strengthens connections between student entrepreneurs and area business leaders to promote new business ventures.
All of our judging panels and mentors are composed of a mix of private and public investors, business leaders, and advisors – all of whom have years of experience investing or advising in their respective industries.
Judges
The distinguished panels of judges will evaluate student team business plans and provide valuable perspectives and insight on succeeding in building small businesses.
Judges who have mentored or otherwise engaged with any competing teams are not eligible to participate on any level of the competition - even across tracks or regions.
Judges may serve as either regional judges or state judges (not both) and will be required to complete a unified application to judge for either regionals or state finals. Judges should avoid interaction with all competitors until the event is completed.
Judging for the 2024 competition will include:
Judges will be asked to review the business plan submissions a couple days prior to the April 5, 2023, Mid-Hudson Regional Business Plan Competition Day. This preview will allow judges to become familiar with the team's product/service idea and develop some questions to ask the teams during the live event.
Judges will be asked to evaluate live pitch presentations and participate in Q&A sessions on the day of the Mid-Hudson Regional Business Plan Competition Event on April 5, 2024. Live pitches will include a Q&A session.
Usual timeframe for Judges commitment: Apply in January. End of March-April: Judges prep session, Pre-competition review, Judging day of competition
Please check back frequently for updates and potential changes.
Mentors
Mentors will provide valuable advice for overcoming hurdles that many small businesses face during the initial years and teach students how to navigate the process of beginning and planning a small business.
Thank you to the 2023 Mid-Hudson Regional Business Plan Competition Judges and Mentors
Al Bartosic, Executive Director - Fordham Foundry, Fordham
Travis Biro, Product Manager - Ensono
William Brammer, Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Keith A. Brokaw, Vice President, Sr. Relationship Manager, Lower Hudson Valley, TD Bank
Scott Brenner, Partner - Corporate and Commercial Law, Parlatore Law Group LLP
Ben Caldwell, Business Advisor - Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center
John Cohn, Senior Advisor - Diamond Capital Advisors
Doris Conti, VP - Power Systems Product Management, IBM
Jean-Claude Fouere, Principal - NE Technology Associates
Frank DeSimone, Associate Professor at the Nicolais School of Business, Wagner College
Peter Eliopoulos, Managing Partner - Helios Innovation Group LLC
Phyllis Fein, Business Professor/Academic Advisor - SUNY Westchester Community College
Gregory Garville, Garville Corporation
Andi Gray, President - Strategy Leaders
Leon Greene, Manager - HV Startup Fund
Edison Guzman, President - Prosperity Marketing LLC
Dana Jones, CEO - Accessadoor LLC
Richard Lewandowski, Founder-Director, Direct Gain Consulting
Cynthia Marsh-Croll, Women's Business Center Director - Women's Enterprise Development Center
Dean Michael, President - Hometown Premier Agency LLC
Bill Midgley, Assistant District Director - SCORE Dutchess
Jean Morris, Certified Business Advisor - Mid Hudson Small Business Development Center
Carol OConnell, Vice President - Pursuit
Bruce Pinker, President & Founder - PFC
Renee Richard, Director of Business Retention & Expansion - Think Dutchess Alliance for Business
Michelle Rider, Catania, Mahon, & Rider, PLLC
Lena Rizkallah, Financial Advisor - Conte Wealth Advisors
Jared Roth, Account Executive - Tanium
Rose Rubin, Chapter Chair - Ulster SCORE
Robert Russini, President/CEO, New Start Capital and SCORE Volunteer
Hugh Schwartz, CEO/Chair - Hudson Valley Center for Innovation
Luke Stangel, Marketing Manager - Secfi
Jan Wallen, Sales Mentor - SCORE
Justin Wingenroth, Owner/Director - The Dance Conservatory
Criteria for Judging
Judges are asked to evaluate companies according to the following criteria:
- Market Opportunity: Clear market need and a plan to take advantage of the need.
- Competitive Advantage: The product or service is something unique that has a protectable competitive advantage in the proposed market.
- Management Capability: The team has the skills and experience to develop this venture and address the associated risks.
- Financial Understanding: The team has a solid understanding of the financial requirements of the venture.
- Roadmap/Growth Strategy: The team has engaged in short and long-term planning and has considered strategies for growth.
- Sustainable Business Model: The team understands and can communicate their core business model. They are most likely to develop a sustainable venture.
- Judges will be asked to focus their deliberations around the sustainable viability of each venture.
For more information contact Cynthia Worrad at cynthia.worrad@marist.edu or Roberta Diggins at roberta.diggins@marist.edu.
NYSBPC 2023 Rulebook - Please check back for the 2024 NYBPC Rulebook.
