FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General
Team Composition
Judges
Executive Summary
Mentors

GENERAL

What is the UW EIC?
www.eic.washington.edu

Will all EIC teams get to participate in Demo Day? What is the selection process?
The 5-7 page executive summary, due on 3/5/09, is the preliminary round for the UW EIC. Every team will receive feedback from judges and will be notified whether they have been selected to participate in Demo Day by 3/10/09. Since this is the inaugural year of the challenge, we anticipate that most teams will be selected to participate.

Are there examples of prior submissions to the UW EIC?
No, because this is the inaugural year of the UW EIC. See executive summary in the FAQs for more information.

Can students earn credits for participating?
Yes, students may enroll in Environmental Innovation Practicum, 2 credits, offered Fall Quarter or CIE Resource Nights | ENTRE 540 (grads) /490 (undergrads), 2 credits, offered Winter Quarter.

What is the timeline for the challenge?
Each team needs to fill out an online Intent to Submit by 2/11/09, and then submit the 5-7 page executive summary by 3/5/09. Every team will receive feedback from judges and will be notified whether they have been selected to participate in the Challenge by 3/10/09. For The Challenge a one-page executive summary and 1 PowerPoint slide is due no later than 3/29/09.

How are the prototypes/proof-of-concept/computer simulations judged?
The evaluation will be based on the potential impact of the solution to the environmental problem that you described in the executive summary. The prototype/proof-of-concept/computer simulation accounts for 50% of your score.

10 points (out of 60) - 5-7 page Executive Summary, due March 5, 2009
10 points (out of 60) - 1-Page Executive Summary/business model, due March 29, 2009
10 points (out of 60) - 2-minute Pitch at the Challenge, April 1, 2009
50% of total score (30 points) - Demonstration of prototype/proof-of-concept/computer simulation

Can the "marketable, clean-tech concept" be a tangible, low-tech product?
Marketable and tangible are absolute necessities. A low-tech product is advantageous in that people get it and can imagine how it will be used. Keep in mind that big-time tech products do draw attention. The disadvantages for high-tech products are that knowledgeable judges can always poke holes in the technology and the market opportunity is harder to quantify.

How do I find a team or an idea?
Are you looking for a team or team members? To have your Classified Ad posted, send an email to ptufts@u.washington.edu. Indicate whether you are looking for a team/team members, your idea or interest area, your background and your contact information.

I know CIE does a business plan competition. Is this the same thing?
No, this is an Environmental Innovation Challenge with an emphasis on a prototype (or proof of concept or computer simulation) with an executive summary component that focuses on market opportunity. You do not need to submit a full business plan, although you can submit this prototype into the Business Plan Competition.

TEAM COMPOSITION

Can I work with a teammate who is not a student? How about a non-business student?
Yes. Each team must have at least one college student. The UW EIC is open to all students who are currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program in Washington State. Only students are eligible to win prize money.

How many members are allowed per team?
There is no official limit, but effective teams tend to be between 2-5 people.

Is it okay to have a "team" of just one person?
It’s okay to have just one person on a team, but we don’t recommend it. Teams that have both technology and business student compositions are generally more effective. Teams that have cross-disciplinary teammates will give you different perspectives and will assist in troubleshooting.

Can I compete if I recently graduated from school?
Yes, you qualify as a student if you were a student sometime during the 2008-2009 academic year. Hypothetically you can graduate in Fall 2008 and still participate.

JUDGES

How are judges selected?
We invite a mix of industry partners and experts from the environmental, green-tech/clean-tech, and research communities to judge the challenge.

Is the list of judges for the UW EIC available to the participants?
No, we do not publish the list of judges, however, you will meet many of them during Demo Day. Remember to bring your business cards to Demo Day!

Do judges or mentors usually sign NDAs (non-disclosure agreements)?
No, we do not ask our judges and mentors to sign NDAs.

How many judges will there be?
For this first UW EIC, we anticipate a minimum ratio of three judges per team.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

What are the requirements of the executive summary?
Each team will submit one 5-7 page executive summary in a PDF format that describes the environmental problem, the solution, the team composition, the market opportunity and the business model (how the team will make money). Please submit it to ptufts@u.washington.edu no later than March 5.

Will I receive feedback on my executive summary?
Yes, CIE will provide aggregated feedback from the judges to your team.

If a team goes over the 7-page limit for the executive summary, is it automatically disqualified?
No, the team will not be automatically disqualified. However, we do ask that people keep the executive summaries to 5 - 7 pages in a legible sized font (11 or 12 pt) for the judges' sake.

MENTORS

How do I get a mentor?
We will do our best to provide you with an industry specialist if you request one. It is helpful if you have a person or company in mind. Send the details of your topic and specifically what you need to Pam Tufts, ptufts@u.washington.edu.

When can I get a mentor?
You can request a mentor at any stage of your solution’s development.

What can I expect from a mentor?
A mentor is an advisor or a coach, and every case is different. A mentor should be able to provide you with industry expertise, technological know-how, or business advice. Your mentor relationship will be unique. Some mentors prefer email or phone, while others will be available for face-to-face meetings. Mentors will not be part of your team.

Am I allowed to have a faculty member as a mentor for the UW EIC?
Yes, you can have a faculty member as a mentor. In addition, experts from the environmental, green-tech/clean-tech, and research communities will be available to you upon request.