Competition :: Overview
The Wharton Business Plan Competition (WBPC) is among the leading global university-run business plan competitions. The WBPC was launched in 1998 by the Wharton Entrepreneurship Club and is now part of Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs , which co-manages the event with a specially selected student committee. The WBPC is open to all students at the University of Pennsylvania and, since its inception, has drawn over 150 student teams annually, comprising nearly 400 participants from Schools across the University of Pennsylvania.
The WBPC is not just about ideas. The WBPC is a comprehensive, 7-month platform to help entrepreneurs and their teams launch their new business ideas.
The WBPC is structured in three phases to help teams develop their plans in both a collaborative and competitive environment.
Phase I is a non-competitive, optional phase that allows participants to explore and receive feedback on a variety of ideas.
Phase II is the first competitive phase of the competition. The top 25 teams in Phase II advance to the competition's semi-finals (Phase III).
Phase III is the semi-finals stage of the competition. The top 25 teams are required to submit a full business plan and the top 8 teams advance to the Venture Finals where they present live for a chance at myriad cash and in-kind prizes.
The WBPC’s entrepreneurship workshops feature entrepreneurship experts including Wharton entrepreneurship professors and Wharton graduates who have started their own businesses. The WBPC provides a network for brainstorming, feedback, and future business opportunities. Participating teams develop their ideas with the guidance from top business leaders who serve as mentors and judges. Finally, the top three finalists receive national press attention and share $70,000 in cash and prizes to jump start their businesses.
