Participation

Timeline:

  • Competition Launch and 1st Call for Applications: 19 June 2020

  • Preparatory Workshops: June - July 2020

  • Information Day: 10 September 2020

  • Submission of Executive Summaries: 14 September 2020

  • Announcement of Stage 1 Results: 28 September 2020

  • Appointment of Mentors: 05 October 2020

  • Acceleration Program: 03 October 2020 - 30 November 2020

  • Video Pitch Submission: 19 October 2020 *

  • Consultation on DRAFT Business Plans: (Week of November 23-27) **

  • Submission of Business Plans (Stage 2): 3 December 2020

  • Pitching Day (closed session): 17 December 2020 (tbc)

  • Final Conference and Award Ceremony: 18 December 2020 (tbc)

Note: Applicants and participants are strongly encouraged to regularly visit the Competition website for any updates/changes.

CyEC participants will be requested to develop their business plan in 3 incremental stages, with guidance and feedback. This 3-stage iteration enhances the learning experience of participants. Please check Terms & Conditions for participation. All teams that pass Stage 1 will attend Entrepreneurship Seminars and Business Planning Workshops and will be offered Mentoring.

Stage 1:

Participants submit an Executive Summary of a pitch deck up to 4-7 pages long, where they outline:

i) The Business Idea

ii) The Competitive Advantages

iii) The Target Market

iv) Technology

v) The Market Potential

vi) The Qualities of the Team

All submissions are then evaluated by the CyEC Jury on their merits in developing successful businesses in the marketplace.

Stage 2:

Participants who pass Stage 1 are required to submit a short video pitch which communicates their venture idea* and undergo an acceleration program organised in the context of CyEC. At the end of this program, teams are required to submit a well developed Business Plan of their project idea. The CyEC Jury evaluates and rates the submitted Business Plans and selects the finalist teams.

Stage 3:

The finalists are expected to present their Business Plans in a closed meeting with the CyEC Jury. All finalists are also required to present a 3-minute long pitch of their business plan in an open audience at the CyEC Final Conference. At the end of the Conference, the Award Ceremony will take place with the CyEC Jury announcing the winners and giving the awards.

* Video Format and requirements:

Please submit a 1-5 minute video pitch idea with a Youtube unlisted link. The video can be made in any way you find creative pitching your innovation. All members of the team can talk or you can assign the team’s speaker. Video quality will not be evaluated.

Once you upload your pitch video on Youtube make sure that it’s Unlisted not Private and send the link to cyec@ucy.ac.cy with the Subject name of your company.

** DRAFT Business Plans must be submitted by November 16th at cyec@ucy.ac.cy to be reviewed by the appointed consultant.