BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
About the Competition
2010 Winners
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In 2004, The LES Foundation, with support from The Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc., hosted its first Graduate Student Business Plan Competition. The event grew quickly in both size and popularity among students in the U.S. and Canada and in 2008, thanks to a partnership with The Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), it “went global” welcoming student participants from around the globe.
The Competition continues to thrive on its reputation for being a world-class event emphasizing IP education, professional mentorship and networking – but with an added sense of community and collegiality that sets it apart from the rest.
Each year participants find that beyond the chance to win incredible prizes, their Competition experience provides a comprehensive education about the importance of intellectual property as part of a successful business strategy, as well as valuable mentoring and networking opportunities with members who readily volunteer to share their input and expertise. Win or lose, the LES Foundation Competition gives each participant a leg up for their future.
Past participants rate LES Competition judges as “second to none.” Each year the Foundation assembles a world-class panel of IP business veterans, who span industry sectors and who share with students valuable expertise, insights and know-how earned in the trenches of start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. In return, our judges find mentoring young entrepreneurs to be incredibly rewarding and invigorating.
These days, students are taking their involvement a step further by electing to attend the PDS 100/IAM 100 Commercializing Technology through the Power of IP Licensing course in their area, which gives them a one-day IP basics crash course including hands-on negotiation experience. This is an excellent building block not only for the Competition but for any career in today’s more IP-focused marketplace.
