JUDGING CRITERIA FOR HANDS UP LAKE COUNTY BUSINESS COMPETITION 2021

There are three key stages in the competition, the application review; the mini-competition; and the final competition. Applicants are judged in each stage by a different set of judges.

• The Application Review: In this stage, 15 applicants and 3 alternates will be selected to advance to the 1-day workshop and mini competition. The 1Team 1Dream Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, will evaluate all applications submitted and select the top 18 (including 3 alternates). The general criteria for this phase is:
  • The basics:
    • Late applications will not be accepted. Must submit application online by June 30, 2021.
    • Complete the application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
  • The business concept/plan should address:
    • mission and values
    • financials – income, expenses, projections
    • market – product, customer base, outreach, competition
    • long-range goals – income, growth potential
    • business management –how will the business resources be managed to meet objectives
    • viability and sustainability – how will the business weather economic ups and downs
• The Mini Competition: In this stage, 15 applicants will present their business plan to a set of judges. The judges are business-savvy individuals who own or have owned successful businesses. The judges will generally use the criteria in stage 1 as well as the quality and effectiveness of the presentations in the mini-competition.
• The Final Competition: In this stage, 5 finalists selected in the mini-competition will pitch their business plan to a new set of judges. The judges in the final selection are business savvy leaders in the community who have or currently manage large businesses and or organizations. The judges will generally use the criteria in stages 1 and 2 with a focus on how convincingly the finalists “pitch” their idea/business plans.

NOTE: Applicants may find it useful to watch the videos of last year’s 1-day workshop, the mini-competition and the final competition available at https://1team1dream.net/. If you have any questions, send an email through the Contact form on the website.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• The business or business idea must meet State of California small business definition.
  • (d) (1) (A) “Small business” means an independently owned and operated business that is not dominant in its field of operation, the principal office of which is located in California, the officers of which are domiciled in California, and which, together with affiliates, has 100 or fewer employees, and average annual gross receipts of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) or less over the previous three years, or is a manufacturer, as defined in subdivision (c), with 100 or fewer employees. Commencing January 1, 2019, the average annual gross receipts threshold shall be fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
• Must be a resident of Lake County.
• Applications for either a startup business or existing business will be accepted.
  • You can join the competition even if you don’t have a registered business yet.
    We welcome all applicants with a business idea which can grow successfully in
    Lake County.
  • We welcome applicants who are doing business in Lake County, either with
    storefront or online.
• Must submit an online application by the deadline. Incomplete applications may be
  disqualified.
• If approved to proceed, must participate in a 1-day training.
• If approved to proceed to mini-competition, must participate in the competition to be
  considered for the final competition.
• Mini and final competitions will be in person – no virtual presentations will be possible.
• COVID-19 mask, social distancing and sanitizing requirements will be enforced.
• If selected as a finalist, must attend all follow-up training and comply with presentation
  criteria and other requirements including dress rehearsal.
• If selected as an alternate, must attend all phases of the competition and be willing to
  step into the competition on short notice.
• All applicants must sign a Training and Media Waiver and Hold Harmless Agreement.
• Cannabis related businesses are not eligible to apply (due to Federal laws).
• Prior 2020 applicants may apply for the 2021 business competition EXCEPT
  winners/finalists of the 2020 Hands Up Lake County business competition.
• Other criteria as announced.