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J Herbert Smith Centre

5th annual RBC UNBeatable Ideas Competition

Supported by RBC

RBC Logo

Entrepreneurship starts with an idea — and we would love to hear yours! We also want to help you take those ideas to the next level!

All you have to do is send us a one-minute video of you presenting (pitching) your idea.

  • Application deadline: Nov. 16, 2018 by 11:59 p.m. (AST)
  • Voting period: Nov. 19, 2018 at 10 a.m. – Nov. 23, 2018 by 11:59 p.m. (AST)
  • Winner announcement: Nov. 26, 2018

Apply now

Prizes

A total of up to four (4) cash prizes are up for grabs:

  • 1st place prize: $1,000
  • 2nd place prize: $750
  • 3rd place prize: $500
  • Viewers' Choice Award: $500 

How to enter

1. Upload your pitch to YouTube

Upload a one-minute video of you pitching your idea on YouTube. Set the video to "unlisted" if you wish to not be considered for the Viewers' Choice Award.

2. Fill out application

Fill out an application form before 11:59 pm (AST) Nov. 16 with a link to your video.

Voting begins on Nov. 19

All eligible entries for the Viewers' Choice Award will be posted on TME's Facebook page for public voting on Nov. 19, at 10 a.m.

Voting will be open until the end of the day (11:59 p.m. AST) on Nov. 23.

Prizes will be determined by a panel of judges from various fields; the idea with the most "Likes" on the original video posted on TME's Facebook Page will be awarded the Viewers' Choice Award.

Winners will be announced on Nov. 26.

Eligibility

The UNBeatable Ideas Contest is open to all full-time University of New Brunswick students (undergraduate and graduate, Fredericton and Saint John). You may enter as an individual participant or as part of a student team. A student may only participate in one entry, that is, either as an individual or a member of a team. The UNBeatable Ideas Competition welcomes ideas of any kind, including:

  • Products or services:  New products, services, or innovations that meet a need in the marketplace, or improvements on existing products or services.
  • Social or environmental problems: Ideas that will improve or eliminate a societal problem, including solutions to environmental concerns.
  • Engagement in the arts: Creative ways to engage more people in the arts, increasing appreciation for the arts and their importance in society, making art more accessible, or ideas for commercializing art.
  • Commercializing UNB research: Creative commercial applications of research performed by faculty and/or students.
  • Improvements to the campus or campus life: Innovative ideas that would enrich the student experience or that will save UNB money.

Ideas must be new and innovative, you cannot have received funding in excess of $500 for this idea in the past or have business operations extending for more than three months prior to Nov. 1, 2018. The organizers of the contest (TME) reserve the right to pre-screen entries for eligibility and appropriateness.

Team entries must consist of at least 50 per cent UNB students.

Judging process

Judging will be performed by a panel of judges (seasoned business professionals and academics). The scoring will be based on the following criteria: definition of the problem and opportunity; solution to the problem/opportunity; impact of the solution; feasibility; and presentation style.

Resources

There are lots of resources online to help you prepare a 1 minute pitch, often referred to as an "elevator pitch" in the start-up community.

Past UNBeatable Ideas winners

2017

  • 1st Place: Potential Motors
  • 2nd Place: LivePlus
  • 3rd Place: AllerEats
  • Viewer’s Choice: AllerEats

2016

  • 1st place: Lis Strip
  • 2nd place: Project Qi
  • 3rd place: Portals
  • Viewers' choice: Project Qi

2015

  • 1st place: Stash
  • 2nd place: The Limbic Control System
  • 3rd place: Saros Sports Training
  • Viewers' choice: Saros Sports Training

2014