2016 TVC Finalists
Meet the 2016 TVC Teams
Overview of TVC
2016 TVC Workshops
Links to participate remotely and PDFs of presentations
UTRF highly recommends the use of the Customer Development process for new venture creation. There are numerous guides available for the Customer Development process, including an excellent online course available for free at Udacity . The cornerstone of Customer Development is the Business Model Canvas, and all teams will be expected to utilize the Canvas in TVC.
Finalists will be selected during the semifinal round.
Schedule
| TVC Kick Off Event | Feb. 9 | 4:00PM in the downstairs conference room of the UTRF Business Incubator, located on the Ag campus at 2450 E. J. Chapman Blvd. |
| Bootcamp Workshops | Feb., 9 – Mar. 8 | The remaining bootcamps will be held on Tuesdays from 4:00PM – 6:00PM in HBB 530 |
| Workshop 1 | Feb. 9 | 5:00PM – 6:00PM upstairs conference room in the UTRF Business Incubator immediately after the kickoff |
| Workshop 2 | Feb. 16 | 4:00PM – 6:00PM Haslam Business Building, room 530 |
| Workshop 3 | Feb. 23 | 4:00PM – 6:00PM Haslam Business Building, room 530 |
| Workshop 4 | Mar. 1 | 4:00PM – 6:00PM Haslam Business Building, room 530 |
| Workshop 5 | Mar. 8 | 4:00PM – 6:00PM Haslam Business Building, room 530 |
| Mar. 14 – 16 | Spring Break | |
| Semi Finals | Thursday, Mar. 24 | 4:00PM – 6:00PM 8th Floor Conference Room, Andy Holt Tower |
| Pitch Competition/TVC Finale | Wednesday, April 6 |
3:00PM – 5:00PM The Foundry on the Fair Site |
Cash Prize Conditions
Cash prizes will be awarded to an organization, not to the individual team members. The business entity must have an independent account with a recognized, preferably local, bank prior to receiving the prize money.
Prizes
There is no limit to the number of teams that can enter the TVC. Based on the initial submissions, the University of Tennessee Research Foundation and its affiliates will work with judges to determine a list of teams that will present their venture pitches at the Finale Event. The winning team will receive a $20,000 cash prize. The second place team winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize,and the third place team winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize. Finalists will make their pitch to venture capitalists, early stage investors and successful entrepreneurs serving as judges for the finals round. For more information please visit the “About TVC” page.
Judges Evaluation Criteria
Judges will evaluate the teams based on how convincingly they present their business concept, such that the judge would want to learn more about the company as a potential investor. The best teams are those with whom an investor would want to schedule a follow-up meeting because they believe the company represents a strong investment opportunity.
Successful teams should communicate the following in their pitch:
- Clear explanation of their product/service and the problem it solves
- How their company is unique and differentiated
- Sizable market opportunity and ability to penetrate that market
- Current development stage
- Viable business model
- Clear measures of success
Finale Event
Click here to register for the TVC Finale on Wednesday, April 6, 2016
The Final Round includes the following:
- 8 minutes prepared remarks, 2 minutes Q & A
- Winners announced at awards ceremony