NCSU eGames 2009 - ATHENA

“The majority of the world’s designers focus all their efforts on developing products and services exclusively for the richest 10% of the world’s customers. Nothing less than a revolution in design is needed to reach the other 90%.”— Dr. Paul Polak, International Development Enterprises.

Students, working in teams or individually, create a working model of a new product AND associated business plan, OR create a business plan detailing a service that solves a problem in one of the following areas: shelter (example), health (example), water (example), education (example), energy (example), or transportation (example) – for more information about each of these visit this website.

After registration, the first step will be the submission of an executive summary of your product or service idea by Wednesday, March 11th, at 6:00pm via YouNoodle. This should outline the basic product or business concept, market opportunity, competition and provide brief bios of the student team members. The executive summary should be in pdf format, no more than two pages, use 12 point Times New Roman font, and be single spaced.

Students/teams, whose executive summaries qualify, will be invited to participate in design and business planning workshops during late March. Contestants must submit their draft business plans in pdf format by Friday, April 3rd, at noon via YouNoodle. Contestants will receive feedback on their draft business plans by Friday, April 10th, and will have until Friday, April 17th at noon to submit their final business plan and PowerPoint presentation via YouNoodle.

The judges will select three finalists that will proceed to the final round of competition to be held at the eGames on Friday, April 24th, where they will give a formal presentation to a panel of judges behind closed doors for confidentiality. Each presentation will last no more than 10 minutes followed by 20 minutes of Q & A. Finalists must showcase their designs at the eGames and participate in a poster session.

Students entering the Athena Award competition are encouraged to enter the Calliope Award competition.

Judging Criteria: In developing your idea, you are expected to give consideration to how it can be brought to fruition in the physical locale of its intended use by using, where and when appropriate, local materials, craftspeople and management.

* Gold $3,000
* Silver $1,500
* Bronze $750