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Hurricane Innovation Prize

Are you ready to compete?

We’re seeking the greatest student-led innovation created at the University of Miami.

This innovation can be an invention or a prototype. Most of all, it needs to be new, unique, and intended to solve a real-world problem. And importantly, it needs to be led by students.

Application Requirements

  • Team information for all members
  • Tell us about your idea in a tweet (280 characters)
  • An unedited video pitch that is 2 minutes or less
  • A completed business model canvas
  • Find a business model canvas walkthrough on our resources page
  • An acknowledgment that at least 1 team member will travel to Tallahassee, FL to represent UM at the ACC InVenture Prize if your team wins at UM

Deadline To Submit

November 1, 2023 at 11:59pm

Winner will be announced at the pitch competition on November 15th.

ACC InVenture Prize

The winning team will win a trip for up to 3 team members to represent the University of Miami at the ACC InVenture Prize in Tallahassee, FL in Spring 2024.  At least one member of the winning team MUST commit to travel to Tallahassee, FL to represent UM in the competition.

At the ACC InVenture Prize in Tallahassee, FL, after a preliminary pitch from all 15 teams representing ACC schools, the top 5 teams selected will re-pitch in the finals, which will be carried on TV both live and on tape-delay to multiple markets that make up the Atlantic Coast Conference, typically thorough their local PBS stations.

Additionally, the pitch competition will take place in front of a live audience of up to 1000 persons on campus at Georgia Tech University.  This competition provides a unique opportunity to share your innovation, to build an audience of supporters, and to potentially seek funding for further development, both from the prize and potentially from investors.

Judging Criteria

1

The Idea

Idea validity, novelty, and potential social impact.
2

Business Model

Value proposition, cost structure, key resources, customer discovery and validation (marketability, market size), and product or service development strength.
3

Entrepreneurship

Future vision, team commitment and culture, team expertise and knowledge, and pitch delivery.
4

Likelihood

Probability of becoming a successful business, competitive advantage, and probability of receiving investment.

Team Eligibility Requirements

1

Each university finalist team may be composed of full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students or recent graduates of the university within one year of graduation from their undergraduate program.
2

If a team member is a recent graduate of the university, the idea for the invention must have been initially conceived while the student was enrolled as an undergraduate.
3

If a team member is a recent graduate of the university and is now attending graduate school at another ACC institution, the student is only eligible to compete for their undergraduate institution.
4

Teams with generated revenue or venture capital funding in excess of $100,000 are not eligible to compete.

Interested in entering into the Fall 2023

Hurricane Innovation Prize?

Need help with your application?

All UM students can receive free help from The Launch Pad – UM’s Entrepreneurship Center. Register for an account and request a meeting at thelaunchpad.org.

Get Started with The Launch Pad

  • Co-working is open from 9 AM – 4 PM
  • Multiple flexible working spaces
  • Provides a central location
  • Two private phone booths to take calls or meetings
  • Limited daily availability