Dragon Lair Business Plan Pitch Competition | Pitch your idea to win thousands in prizes
Do you have the next great business idea waiting to take flight? The Dragon Lair Business Plan Pitch Competition is your chance to prove it.
On November 20, teams of 1–5 undergraduate students will step into the spotlight, pitching their innovative business concepts to a panel of judges made up of some of the region’s top business minds.
Winning teams will walk away with thousands in prizes, plus the kind of feedback from business experts that money can’t buy.
What is the Dragon Lair?
A regional pitch competition, held on November 20, where undergraduate students from regional colleges and universities present entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of business leaders. Up to $5,000 is available in prizes. Contestants gain real-world experience in pitching, problem solving, and innovation.
The competition will begin at 9 a.m. in the Barry Auditorium of the Christianson Alumni Center. Following the one round presentation format, all participants will be provided lunch.
Who can participate?
- Any undergraduate student in the region
- Teams of 1–5 students
What stage should my idea be in?
Ideas must be pre-revenue and can be at the:
- Concept
- Prototype
- Early Launch
- Growth stage
What do I submit?
Register by November 7 with:
- Participant info (name, school/program/year, email, phone)
- Team info (if applicable)
- Project name and stage
- A business plan addressing the following:
- Problem Identification, which clearly defines a real and significant problem/pain point.
- Customer & Market Fit, identifying a specific target market and showing evidence of customer discovery or demand.
- Solution & Value Proposition providing a clear, innovative solution.
- Feasibility outlining how the venture could generate revenue or sustain itself, especially in terms of resources, cost, and scalability.
- Traction / Progress sharing prototype, pilot test, or early user/market feedback to show momentum toward implementation.
By registering, you confirm your idea is original and agree to competition rules, and acknowledge you winners may need to complete tax forms in order to claim prizes.
What are the pitch requirements?
- Format: Simple summary of your concept (slides/visuals optional)
- Content: Must cover problem, customer, solution, value proposition, revenue model, traction, and next steps
- Time: 6-minute presentation + 4-minute Q&A
How will pitches be judged?
Scored on a 30-point rubric:
- Problem Identification (5)
- Customer & Market Fit (5)
- Solution & Value Proposition (5)
- Business Plan & Feasibility (5)
- Traction / Progress (5)
- Presentation & Communication (5)
Tie-breaker: Presentation score, then judge deliberation
Event details
- Date: Thursday, November 20
- Location: Minnesota State Moorhead Campus
- Free lunch provided
How are finalists selected?
After the November 7 deadline, organizers will review all registrations. Teams that meet requirements and show strong potential will be invited to present on November 20.
What can participants win?
- First prize of $3,500
- Second Prize of $1,500
- Third Prize of $500
- Recognition and feedback from business leaders
- A standout resume
How do I register?
Register at mnstate.edu/pitch-competition
Deadline: November 7
Questions?
Reach out to siwei.zhu@mnstate.edu with any additional questions