Our Annual Contest for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

The Kravis Concept Plan Competition is for students and alumni of The Claremont Colleges who have what it takes to be entrepreneurs.

Participants will submit a concept plan that outlines their business idea in the first round of the competition. If selected as a finalist, they will pitch their plans to a panel of experienced judges for a chance to win up to $10,000 in a cash prize and a shot at bringing their venture to life.

Join us for our 2024 competition on April 5, 2024. Register for the event here.

History

In conjunction with the naming of the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management, Henry R. Kravis, a founding member of the Board of Visitors, established a $175,000 endowment fund. Each year the income from this endowment is awarded to the student(s) or alumni, if any, who demonstrate real promise as entrepreneurs. The amount awarded each year depends on the interest from the endowment and the number of awards granted. No more than three will be granted; if no submissions are deemed worthy, no awards will be made. Awards will be made by a committee of judges consisting of practitioners involved in entrepreneurial ventures and venture capital.

Eligibility

Students and alumni of any of The Claremont Colleges may enter this competition.

What do I need to do?

Students and alumni from the seven Claremont Colleges (7C) who wish to compete for the award must submit concept plans that may not exceed 10 pages (double-spaced). Appendices may be provided in addition to these 10 pages. The ideas and reports must be original but may be the work of a team consisting of no more than four students/alumni. Team members involved in the planning of the concept may include those who are not part of the 7C community.

Entrants will be asked to attest to the originality of the idea.

Upcoming Deadlines

March 1, 2024: Deadline to submit Intent to Compete Form
March 8, 2024 at 5:00pm PST: Concept Plans due
March 20, 2024: Finalists announced
March 22, 2024 at 12:00pm PT: Virtual Pitch Training for selected teams
March 27 at 12:00pm PT: Virtual Lightning Round Training for selected teams
April 2, 2024 at 12:00pm PT: Presentations due
April 5, 2024 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm PT: Kravis Concept Plan Competition

How do I enter?

Interested students and alumni must first complete and submit an Intent to Compete form to ensure they receive important communications about the competition.

1) Their concept plan,
2) A completed W-9 or W-8BEN form for each team member, and
3) A statement waiving confidentiality for the purposes of judging (one per team) by the deadline established in the guidelines.

In the zipped folder, please include a separate file with the following information:
1) A cover letter with your concept name,
2) One sentence that describes your concept (name of venture, product, target customer, and value proposition for the customer you provide), and
3) A list of team members with the name of the school and class year for all each team member

2024 APPLICATION MATERIALS

2024 PREP SESSIONS

Past winners

2023: Atlas Intelligence
2022: Navfeas
2021: Yoodli
2020: The Cut
2019: Social Cipher
2018: SKIN-spiration Truck
2017: MagStrong
2016: Start Art Legal
2015: Sifty
2014: LiangYou Language Partners
2013: Life Patch
2012: Serengetee
2011: Banana Storage

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