Business Plan Competition
HavaStartup is an annual competition organized by ASU at Lake Havasu in collaboration with the Lake Havasu Chamber Foundation for Education and Leadership and Better Business Bureau. The competition is organized to provide new entrepreneurs a chance to share and improve their innovative business ideas, products, prototype, services, etc.
The goal of HavaStartup 2023–24 is to find new and established business's looking to create a business plan and grow their business. This will result in economic development in Lake Havasu City, encouraging and supporting local entrepreneurs and their businesses.
Who can enter the competition?
The business plan can be for commercial (financial returns) or nonprofit (social change) purposes and the focus can be any innovative idea from any industry (product or service). Participants and team members should have a meaningful role in the venture and competition.
Eligibility
- Anyone who is a resident from Lake Havasu City with a new business idea to start a business in Lake Havasu.
- We will emphasize applicants with businesses that are already operating for less than three (3) years or aim to open their business soon in Lake Havasu City.
- Team: 1-6 members.
- Contestants who participated in a previous year are not eligible to compete again with the same concept
- You will be fully able to disclose your business models and plans.
- The participants have to mention how they are going to utilize the money to develop their business.
Competition timeline
| Date, Time and Location | Events |
|---|---|
| Tues, November 14th at 6:00pm - Thurs, February 29th, 2024, 5pm. (Online via Google Form or uploading a video at ASU Social Media (Facebook) | Online Registration period |
| Tues, November 14th at 6:00pm Santiago109, ASU at Lake Havasu | Information Session |
| Fri, March 1st, 2024 (Online), 5pm. | Announcement of Finalist from Round 1 of Competition |
| February - March 2024 | Meet Your Mentor (Optional) |
| Wed, March 20th, 2024, at 5:00pm by uploading in Dropbox | Final Business Plan submission |
| Wed, April 10th, 5:30pm Santiago 109, ASU at Lake Havasu | Winner's Business Plan Showcase and Award Ceremony |
Information Session
The Information Session open to the public will include competition eligibility, guidelines, mentoring and volunteering opportunities, and a question and answer discussion.
The event is free and open to all members of the Lake Havasu community.
Online Registration begins on the same day.
So if you plan to participate in the competition, please join the information session.
Date: Wednesday, 14th November, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Santiago 109, ASU at Lake Havasu
Alternatively, if you are unable to join in person, please feel free to join via Zoom at: https://asu.zoom.us/j/85970609966
Please check HavaStartup 2023-2024 Application Packet for details about competition before the registration. If you have further questions, please contact lmadhabi@asu.edu
Final Business Submission
Contestants are required to submit their Final Business Plan (PPT Slides/Video format) by uploading in Dropbox link.
Check HavaStartup 2023-2024 Application Packet
Winner's Business Plan Showcase and Award Ceremony
Winner will present his or her business plan to the community through an oral PowerPoint presentation followed by an Award ceremony.
Schedule: Wed, April 10th, 2024, 5.30pm, Santiago 109, ASU at Lake Havasu
Mentor pairing
After the registration period is over, teams for the second stage of the competition will be selected. These team entries will be paired with mentors, professionals with a variety of backgrounds and expertise who will evaluate the feasibility and viability of the proposed business idea. Mentors will be assigned based on the nature of submitted proposals and identified focus areas. This is not mandatory to all contestants, mentors will be allocated to those who needs it.
The mentors will provide feedback to participants to further develop business models and the final business plan.
Participants are encouraged to make good use of the mentoring process to assist with crafting a fine-tuned business plan proposal.
Advisory board and steering committee members
- Dr. Carla Harcleroad, Executive Director, ASU at Lake Havasu
- Dr. Leepsa Nabaghan Madhabika, Organizer & Coordinator, ASU at Lake Havasu
- Andrea Helart, President and CEO, Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
- Ms. Kryistyna Hook, Director of Media Relations, Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest
- Mr. Jason Mullavey, Sr. Systems Analyst, Desktop Services (ET)
Contact
If you have any questions about HavaStartup Business Plan Competition, please contact Dr. Leepsa Nabaghan Madhabika directly at lmadhabi@asu.edu.