Fowler Business Concept Challenge

The competition is open to all USD undergraduate and graduate students. You can submit your business idea individually or as a team with up to four members.

Submissions should be new business concepts. Businesses that are already incorporated and ideas that have won prizes at previous competitions (such as at the Fowler Business Concept Challenge, Venture Vetting Pitch Competition or the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge) are not eligible to participate. Founders of these businesses can submit new ideas for this challenge even if they have previously won money for their other ideas. Students may submit as many business concepts as they like. However, only one concept from each student will be eligible to compete in the semifinal and final rounds of this competition.

Submission Requirements:

1. A concise description of the proposed business concept and why it is unique/compelling.
2. Target Market – Who is your customer? What customer problem will you solve? How does your customer solve that problem today? What other solutions will compete for that customer?
3. Proposed Solution – What is your product or service? How will it solve the problem? How will your solution create exceptional value for the customer? How is it different from and superior to other solutions in the market?
4. Market Opportunity – Provide a preliminary estimate of the size of the potential market (number of customers that can be reasonably addressed).
5. Business Model – How will you deliver this solution to your customer affordably and effectively, and how will the venture make money (revenue model, costs)?
6. Why should someone invest in your venture? Explain why you will be successful.
7. CEOs of some of the largest corporations have revised their definition of the purpose of a corporation from profit maximization to leading their companies for the benefit of all stakeholders (customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, people and planet). Explain how your idea will create value for all stakeholders.

Submissions will be due by noon on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Submit Here

The workshops are optional and exist to help you submit the best application possible. If you are unable to attend a workshop, don't worry! We will have recordings available on this webpage.

Register for Workshop Series

*If your business idea is selected to be a semi-finalist in the competition, you will receive an invitation to participate in the Pitch Feedback and Pitch Rehearsal sessions. If you have any questions, please contact us at entrepreneurship@sandiego.edu.

Recordings and slides from the FBCC 2025 workshops will be posted as they are completed.

• View Video Recordings Here
• View Slides Here

Preliminary submissions will be judged by a panel of reviewers using the criteria below, all of which are equally weighted. Upon review, up to 16 teams will be selected to move on to the semi-finals and pitch their ideas live to a panel of judges. Four teams will move on to the final round of the competition. At the final round of pitching, a new panel of judges will select the winners.

Criteria

• Originality - business idea is new, novel and unique
• Clear and compelling value proposition - demonstrates a legitimate and recognized need along with an appropriate solution
• Competitive advantage - creates more value for the customer than alternative solutions
• Market opportunity - adequate market size and viable revenue mode
• Feasibility - reasonable prospect of funding and successful implementation
• Well-researched - demonstrates clear understanding of customer/customer need, market, competitive set and solution requirements
• Impact on stakeholders and the community

All participants and judges are invited to a ceremony immediately following the competition finals where the following awards will be presented.

Awards:

• Guide: Fowler Business Concept Challenge Submission
• Video: Build Epic Startups: NotebookLM + Gemini 2.5 Workflow
• Video: What is a business model?
• Video: How to size the market
• Video: Intro How To Calculate Your Startup’s Total Addressable Market (TAM) The Right Way
• Article: Customer Jobs
• Template: User Personas
• Template: Customer Journey Map
• Copley Library and Other Databases
  • A-Z Databases
  • Customer Analysis Research Guide
  • IBIS World
  • SBDC National
  • The Brink SBDC