$30,000 New Product Competition

Have you come up with the best thing since sliced bread? You can win a grant plus mentoring to take your idea to market. 

Or join a team inventing solutions for world problems. We need designers, engineers, coders, marketers, finance majors, and CAD-CAM pros.  

Open to Bridgeport residents and small businesses, plus students at Fairfield University, Housatonic, Paier, Sacred Heart, and University of Bridgeport.

Kick-off, April 12, 6-8 pm, University of Bridgeport, Dana Hall 107. Dinner provided  

Reserve you spot at www.NewProduct.EventBrite.com 

1. Product Ideation and Feasibility Analysis, Patent searches
2. Optional elevator pitches by attendees to recruit team members or for feedback

Patents. April 13 at 1 p via Zoom. Patents searches; when to file provisional patent, full patent.  Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3223600800?pwd=YkFKN0FtaDh3dk1nUE1EWExXVHVVZz09 

Meeting ID: 322 360 0800 Passcode: qecV2G

Wednesday, May 1, 6-8 pm,  University of Bridgeport  Cox Student Center. Dinner   

1. Brief updates from each company: What have you accomplished? 
2. What do you need help with?
3. Market Research
4. Prototyping 
5. What to pitch at finals (3-minute PPTs)

APPLY BY Thursday, May 16.   -- Download PPT Application from the link below.

Submit PPT Application to roer@entrepreneurshipfoundation.org 

Finalists will be notified May 20 via email.  

FINALS Thursday, May 23, 6-8 pm, Fairfield University, Dolan School of Business, Room 201. Dinner provided.  At the finals each innovator will give a 3-minute PowerPoint presentation and answer questions from the judges. Judging criteria:

1.  Problem. Solves a real problem; substantiated strong customer pain or desire 

2.  Solution. Superior or cheaper than alternatives, or serves new market niche 

3.  Patent Potential(or other strong barrier to copying) 

4.  Speed to Market. How soon test marketing can commence) 

5.  Capital Intensity: Funding needed to bring to market

6.  Realistic Annual Sales Potential (by year 3)

7.   Likelihood product can/will be made in CT

Bonus prizes. 25% cash bonus if applicant has a CT company primed to produce the product.

In addition, one finalist will receive a free 60-sec marketing/explainer video from a local agency.

Eligibility. Concepts must be physical products that can be manufactured in CT, but are not yet in marketplace. Awards may be used for R&D to develop marketable prototype or for marketing

NOTE: Established businesses must be certified as Bridgeport-based. Download certification request from  https://bit.ly/BridgeportSMB and email to Jason.Chandersingh@Bridgeportct.gov