* This information is from last year (the 2009 Challenge) so please use this as a guide only. No significant changes will be made.
Rules
The Walmart Better Living Business Plan competition seeks to promote entrepreneurship in the area of sustainability. While commonly accepted business school competition rules and standards are acknowledged to be an important part of this event, Walmart seeks to emphasize sustainability as a significant portion of the judging criteria.
For the purposes of the Challenge, Better Living will be defined as:
The actions we take today that improve quality of life for us, our children, and future generations, including actions that:
- Preserve clean air, water and soil
- Reduce waste
- Improve energy efficiency or usage of renewable energy
- Promote healthy living for people and communities and support biodiversity
It is the desire of Walmart Stores, Inc. to award funds in the amounts of $20,000 and $10,000 to the winner and first runner-up team, respectively; additionally, $5,000 will be awarded to the team who shows “best effort” on the day of the semifinals competition.
It is expected that all teams competing in this challenge will exhibit the qualities of honesty and integrity, and will harbor friendly respect for their competitors. All teams are assumed to be familiar with the rules of the competition and will abide by these rules.
Walmart Stores, Inc. reserves the right to dismiss or disqualify any team found in violation of the rules or of non-collegial activity that negatively affects the competition experience for any stakeholders of the competition. Any illegal activities on the part of participants or stakeholders are subject to the laws of the State of Arkansas and Federal Laws as applicable and are reasons for immediate disqualification or/and dismissal from the competition and the competition site.
Team Eligibility Rules
1. All team participants must be currently enrolled as students in the school for which they are competing.
2. No team members may be currently employed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (including all subsidiaries) or a member of the immediate family of a Wal-Mart employee.
3. The business plan submitted must be student-created and student-managed.
4. Teams are required to have a management structure which is to be stated in the business plan.
5. Only students may participate in the competition. Students may be in pursuit of undergraduate or graduate degrees in any discipline.
6. Each participating team must be sponsored under the full support of their academic institution and must be prepared under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Faculty advisors are strongly encouraged to travel with their team to each of their competitions.
7. Business plans remain the property of the authors of the plan and they will retain all rights to the plan.
8. All sessions of the competition are open to all Walmart employees and to the public as space permits. Sessions are open to the press, including television and other video recording. Participants will be required to complete a Form 1099 and a talent release form. Primary video distribution will be to Walmart employees for educational and professional development purposes, but distribution to other media outlets may occur.
Judges
1. First Round (School-wide competitions)
Judges will be selected by the school’s faculty/administration advisor(s) for the competition. A list of judges must be sent to walmart2009@netimpact.org no later than Friday, January 16th.
2. Second, Third, and Fourth Round (Regional, Semifinal, and Final competitions)
Judges will be provided.
Submission Instructions
1. Failure to meet submission deadline may result in disqualification. Judges will receive copies of the plans for review in advance of the competition.
- First Round (School-wide competitions)
One electronic copy (MS Word format; 2007 preferred but 97-2003 accepted) of the final plan should be emailed to judges on or before 4:00 pm (local time) Friday, January 23, 2009. Judges will be selected by the school’s faculty/administration advisor(s) for the competition.
- Second Round (Regional competitions)
One electronic copy (MS Word format; 2007 preferred but 97-2003 accepted) of the final plan should be emailed to walmart2009@netimpact.org on or before 4:00 pm PST Wednesday, February 4, 2009.
- Third & Fourth Round (Semifinal & Final competitions)
One electronic copy (MS Word format or pdf) of the final plan should be emailed in a single document to walmart2009@netimpact.org on or before 4:00 pm PST Wednesday, April 1, 2009. Plans will then be forwarded onto judges.
2. Each team will need to bring their own laptop with their presentations previously loaded, as well as a travel drive (stick) with the presentation on it in case of equipment failure. You will be provided an LCD projector, screen, and courtesy monitor. Microphones will not be needed based upon room size.
3. Plans will be no longer than 20 pages in length; typed and double-spaced, using 12-point font. Margins will be 1” on all sides.
4. Spreadsheets and appropriate appendices are permitted, but the entire plan must not exceed 30 pages.
5. The text portion of the plan is the most essential part, and time may not permit careful study of any attachments or appendices by the judges. All necessary information should be stated in your business plan, and attachments, appendices, and spreadsheets included for justification or illustration purposes.
6. Competition dates will be announced to your region when the host school for your region has set a date, but no later than January 9th, 2009. Competition for semifinals and finals will take place on April 16 and 17, 2009 in Northwest Arkansas. Information regarding logistics and other details for the competition in Northwest Arkansas will be distributed to all teams by February 13, 2009.
7. First and Second Round (School-wide and Regional competitions) - each team will have 30 minutes to present their plan, followed by judges’ 20-minute question and answer. Judges will have 10 minutes to confer and break if necessary. Each team will have up to five minutes to set up their presentation.
8. Each team will present to the same team of judges. It is up to each team and their advisor as to how and where you will wait until your presentation.
Regional - Each host school should provide rooms and other needed amenities for the comfort of the waiting teams.
Semifinals and Finals – There will be a designated preparation room for use up to 30 minutes before you enter the room for judging. In both cases, PLEASE PLAN TO BE in the designated waiting area at least 15 minutes before you are scheduled to go before the judges.
9. Semifinals and Finals – PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN DURATION OF PITCH AND Q & A:
Teams will have 15 minutes to present and up to 15 minutes of question and answer. Judges will have up to 15 minutes to confer after both finalists have presented.
Judging Criteria
Judges’ Criteria for Presentations:
- Market Opportunity (10 points): There is a clear market need presented as well as a way to take advantage of that need.
- Distinctive Competence (10 points): The company/product provides something novel/unique/special that gives it a competitive advantage in its market.
- Management Capability (10 points): This team can effectively develop this company and handle the risks associated with the venture.
- Sustainability (35 points): The idea improves the environment. These actions include preserving clean air, water, and soil; reducing waste; improving energy efficiency or developing renewable energy ideas; and promoting healthy living for people and communities. Plans and presentations must quantify their ability to provide benefits in at least one (or more) of the above areas.
- Financial Understanding (10 points): This team has a solid understanding of the financial requirements of the business.
- Profitability (25 points): The business represents a real profit opportunity.
The written business plan is your passport into the competition and must support your plan effectively. The written business plan should cover all of the following aspects:
- Executive Summary
- Company Overview
- Product or Service
- Market and Marketing Strategy
- Operations and Management
- Financials
Sample "Day of" Schedule
First Round (School-wide Competition)
Below is a sample “day of” schedule for the first round (school-wide) competition. The exact structure will vary by school depending on number of teams, class schedules, availability of rooms, participants, judges, etc.
9:00 am Team 1 presents
10:05 am Team 2 presents (if applicable)
11:10 am Team 3 presents (if applicable)
12:15 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Team 4 presents (if applicable)
2:05 pm Team 5 presents (if applicable)
3:10 pm Team 6 presents (if applicable)
4:15 pm Judges confer and make decision
4:45 pm Announce Winner/give explanation
5:00 pm Feedback to losing teams by judges
6:00 pm Faculty advisor emails walmart2009@netimpact.org to announce name of winning business plan and contact information for team members.
Resources
Schools will need to provide:
- A designated faculty/administrative advisor
- A designated room with a projector for the duration of the scheduled day
- A designated room where “on deck” teams can prepare
- A panel of at least two impartial judges
Second Round (Regional Competition)
Below is a sample of what a “day of” schedule for the second round (regional) competition. The exact structure will vary by school depending on number of teams, class schedules, availability of rooms, participants, judges, etc.
8:30 am Judges meet with school contact/faculty advisor in judging room
9:00 am Team 1 presents
10:05 am Team 2 presents
11:10 am Team 3 presents
12:15 pm On-campus Lunch with all teams (Walmart representative speaks)
1:00 pm Team 4 presents
2:05 pm Team 5 presents
3:10 pm Team 6 presents (if applicable)
4:15 pm Judges confer and make decision
4:45 pm Announce Winner/give explanation
5:00 pm Feedback to losing teams by judges
6:00 pm Faculty advisor emails walmart2009@netimpact.org to announce name of winning business plan and contact information for team members.
Resources
Regional host schools will need to provide:
- A designated faculty/administrative advisor
- A designated room with a projector for the duration of the scheduled day
- A designated room where “on deck” teams can prepare
- An on-site contact that can assist traveling teams (recommend hotels, provide parking, etc.)
- Provide designated lunch space (and food if possible)
- A date between February 9-13th when all of this is available that works for traveling teams
*Judges will be provided at the regional level – the host schools do not need to provide*
FAQs
ABOUT THE BUSINESS PLAN
What is the scope of the challenge?
Participants must present a sustainable, profitable business plan for a new product or business process with a measurable positive environmental benefit. This could include preserving clean air, water, and soil; reducing waste; improving energy efficiency or developing renewable energy ideas; and promoting healthy living for people and communities. Plans and presentations must quantify their ability to provide benefits in one or more of the above areas.
Will there be any specific instructions on what kinds of business plans people should create, or is this a purely open-ended competition?
Plans should include both a written component (no more than 20 pages of text, with an additional allowance of 10 pages for appendices, etc.) and a presentation component (time in front of the judges to present your business plan).
The written business plan is your passport into the competition and must support your plan effectively. The written business plan should cover all of the following aspects:
• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Product or Service
• Market and Marketing Strategy
• Operations and Management
• Financials
What does the business plan presentation look like?
At the regional competition, each team will have 30 minutes to present their plan, and will be provided with an LCD projector, screen, and courtesy monitor. This will be followed by 20-minute question and answer with the judges. Judges will have 10 minutes to confer and break if necessary. Each team will have up to five minutes to set up their presentation.
At the Semifinals and Finals (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN DURATION OF PITCH AND Q & A), teams will have 15 minutes to present and up to 15 minutes of question and answer. Judges will have up to 20 minutes to confer after both finalists have presented.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
How many people should be on a team?
There is no set rule on the number of people per team, but the travel stipend for teams to present at the finals will likely cover only 3-4 participants.
How are judges chosen?
In the First Round (school wide competitions), judges are selected by the faculty/administrative advisors listed as part of the schools “Intent to Compete” application. Judging panels in all subsequent rounds will be assembled by Walmart.
Will Walmart provide judging sheets for first and second round or do schools need to create?
A judging sheet will be provided.
Are there guidelines or rules schools should be aware of so we may enforce the day of the competition? For example, if a team arrives after their designated presentation time slot, will they be allowed to present late? What are the penalties for breaking presentation rules? Time and material rules?
Any enforcement of infraction of the rules day of are subject to the judges discretion.
Is Walmart going to send a press release regarding the competition? Do schools have any restrictions in publicizing the competition?
There is a press release planned to announce those regional winners. Schools can do any sort of promotion, although we do request that you run materials and ALL PRESS RELEASES by Net Impact to ensure accuracy.
INFORMATION FOR REGIONAL HOSTS
Do regional hosts communicate with teams or does Walmart? For example—I would like to send our teams info about accommodations, parking, directions, etc.
It would be a good idea for regional hosts start collecting this information now, and when the teams representing each school are selected, we can put together a contact list for you to communicate.
Will Walmart provide any day of personnel support for the second (regional) round? Or will regional host schools coordinate all aspects of the competition?
A Walmart employee will be onsite that day and a judge. This individual will also be assembling the panel of judges.
Do regional host schools need to provide any judges for the regional competition?
A full panel of judges for the second round will be provided – schools will not need to provide anyone.
When will regional schools know about their judges for the regionals?
Schools will be informed of second round judges once full panels are assembled (January).
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