TigerLaunch
TigerLaunch is the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club’s annual business plan competition and premier multi-part event (also see the Princeton Pitch elevator pitch competition). Each year Princeton students compete for thousands in prize money, totaling over $20,000 in 2010. In 2010, TigerLaunch was expanded to feature a Social Entrepreneurship Track in addition to the longstanding General Business Entrepreneurship Track. This year, TigerLaunch 2011 will feature three tracks: the Technology Entrepreneurship Track, the Environmental Entrepreneurship Track, and the Social Entrepreneurship Track.
Students may enter any of the three tracks by submitting an executive summary in December. All entrants are then notified in January as to whether they made it to the semi-finals. Ten semi-finalists in each of the three tracks are paired up with mentors that give them guidance on writing their business plans and help them prepare for the competition.
When competition day, or Super Saturday, rolls around, the 30 semi-finalists are each assigned a room of judges in which to present their business plans (there are typically two rooms for each track). Once all the presentations have ended, the judges assemble and decide on the finalists.
The finalists then present in a large hall in front of students, judges, special guests, members of the Princeton Community, and others – everyone is welcome to attend. The judges reconvene for a final time to decide on the winners of TigerLaunch, who are then presented with their awards.
Super Saturday is TigerLaunch’s main event and should not be missed. It is an entire day of entrepreneurship, networking, inspiration, and excitement. It features a cocktail hour, guest speakers and performances, and lots of prize money! We encourage all students to submit their executive summaries to the TigerLaunch 2011 competition this December and we look forward to seeing everyone at the next Super Saturday. Make sure to keep that entrepreneurial spirit alive.