WHAT IS THE MDC START-UP COMPETITION?
An opportunity for promising entrepreneurs to present their business and social enterprise ideas to seasoned business experts for feedback, mentorship, and a chance to win start-up capital.
WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
Over $60,000 in prize money will be given out between the for profit & social entreprise tracks.
While prize money is great, no matter what the outcome you will benefit from helpful recommendations to help grow and advance your business ideas. In addition to the prizes, you will meet other like-minded entrepreneurs at McGill and develop your personal and professional skills.
HOW DO I WIN?
Judging will focus on innovation, viability, and growth potential - as presented by the teams.
WHO CAN COMPETE?
This competition is open to ALL McGill students, alumni, faculty, and staff. All MDC teams must comprise one to five individuals, of which at least one member must have a McGill affiliation.
Nearly 70% of submitted proposals in 2013 were from outside the Desautels Faculty of Management, including Science, Law, Music, Engineering, Medicine, Arts, Education, and Music.
MDC FACTS:
- Since 2011, the McGill Dobson Cup has attracted over 450 innovators and helped create 28 start-ups (of which over 70% are still active) and 70 new jobs.
- Social entrepreneurship strives to solve social problem using innovative, sustainable, scalable, and measurable approaches. To meet growing demand, the Social Enterprise track was introduced 2011 and offers $20K/year to winning ideas.
- "The quality and depth of feedback and mentorship are simply world class. While the primary goal for our team was to develop a sustainable business from the ground up by leveraging the McGill entrepreneurial ecosystem, the experience also enabled personal growth. It has been an opportunity for me to push boundaries and see just how far I can go." – Grant Yim, Start-up: HypeJar, 2013 Dobson Cup 1st Place Winner
“Entrepreneurship requires an incredible amount of hustle and a positive outlook even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The McGill Dobson Cup gave me the legitimacy to convince others that my idea could work.” – Avery Rueb, Start-up: Zuub, 2012 Dobson Cup, 2nd place
WHEN? (Mark your calendar!)
Phase 1
February 19 - 26, 2015 – Registration and two page business plan due
Phase 2
March – Qualifying teams asked to submit ten page business plan
March 25, 2015 – Qualifying Social Enterprise teams present to judges
March 26, 2015 – Qualifying For Profit teams present to judges
Phase 3
April 2015 – Qualifying teams asked to submit fifteen page business plan
May 06, 2015 – Qualifying teams present final social enterprise plan to judges
May 07, 2015 – Qualifying teams present final business plan to judges
2014 McGill Dobson Cup guidelines of the for-profit track.
mdc_competition_guidelines_fp_02may2014.pdf
2014 McGill Dobson Cup guidelines of the social enterprise track
