What type of business ideas are eligible?

Alabama Launchpad is for high-growth and technology ideas in early or expansion stages. There are some restrictions, so please refer to the Requirements & Eligibility page for more information on specific businesses that are excluded from the competition.

How do I register for the competition?

Registration for the 2008-2009 competition will begin on Tuesday, September 2th. Once registration opens, please click the Registration link and follow the instructions.

Why is there a $50 application fee?

The application fee helps Alabama Launchpad offset some costs of the competition and administrative expenses. Participants are able to pay either by PayPal or by mailing a check. More information is provided in the Phase I instructions.

Who judges the business plans?

Alabama Launchpad recruits individuals with backgrounds in technology and high-growth entrepreneurship to participate as judges. We have used people from the Alabama venture community, successful entrepreneurs, strategy consultants and others how work regularly with start-ups. We have used a few individuals from out-of-state in order to get a different perspective. Each plan is reviewed by multiple judges. For a list of those who participated as judges in the past, please visit the Judges page. If you are interested in being a judge in the competition, please contact Glenn Kinstler.

How are plans judged?

Our judges evaluate the plans on the quality of the opportunity, the depth of thought, and the thoroughness and clarity of the proposal. Each judge scores specific sections of the business plans using predetermined criteria. These scores are aggregated, and the highest scores advance in each round. In the end, the opinions of the judges are subjective. However, each plan is reviewed by multiple judges in order to minimize this risk.

Do teams see their scores?

Yes, each team will receive their scores and feedback from all judges. However, teams will not be able to see scores from other teams.

Are teams eliminated in Phase I?

No, Phase I is non-competitive and optional. Each Phase I submission is reviewed by a panel of expert who then provide valuable feedback to the teams. No team is eliminated in this phase. Teams can still register after the Phase I deadline but will not be able to submit plans for review prior to Phase II.

How are business plans submitted?

At the present time, each team will submit their business plan via e-mail to Glenn Kinstler. Each team should have a read receipt requested on the e-mail.

If my team wins, how will the money be distributed?

If your team wins, you and the leadership of Alabama Launchpad will consult and make arrangements for payment. It should be noted that the team must form an incorporated entity before payment will be made - checks are not written to individuals. Please review the requirements & eligibility section for more information. Alabama Launchpad reserves the right to make payment in stages.