Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who can be on my team?

A. Any NYU or NYU-Poly student can be on your team as long as you have at least one NYU-Poly teammate.

Q. What’s the deadline to enter the competition?

A. The Registration deadline is Friday February 15th at 11:59 pm (midnight).

Q. What is due by Friday February 15, 2013?

A. Your Registration including an Idea Submission. It should be a summary of what your idea is about and the potential significance of it, but it doesn't have to be perfect, yet. It's just a starting place. 

Q. Does Poly own my idea since it’s a school competition?

A. No, Poly does not own your idea. The idea is completely yours.

Q. What if my idea is patentable and I don’t want to share my idea with people?

A. Early on in the competition, all individuals with this concern will be given the chance to speak with Kurt Becker, Poly’s patent portfolio manager, to discuss the implications of a patent.

Q. What will I gain from participating in this competition?

A. Learn how to refine your idea and validate whether it has potential (Cust Dev workshop). Learn about patents and intellectual property. Prototype your ideas into products and solutions. Enhance your presentation skills. Pitch to a panel of investors and industry experts. Get mentored by successful Poly alumni, faculty and NYC entrepreneurs.

Q. What is NYU-Poly looking for in the Idea Submission? What are the judging criteria?

A. We are looking for students to prototype and pitch commercially viable ideas for real world problems. At each stage of the competition, teams will have set deliverables that they will have to present to a panel of judges. Teams will be provided with the judging criteria at the beginning of every stage.

Q. I’m on a team. Do all of my teammates need to send an Idea Submission?

A. No. Just one team member needs to send an Idea Submission. Please remember to include all team members’ names on your submission.

Q. I have an idea, but I don’t have a team. What do I do?

A. We encourage you to come to the kickoff event on 1/30 and the official team hunt on 02/04 during which we will have time for networking and finding teammates. If you do not have a team by 02/08 Idea submission, please see someone on the EIA / Inno/Vention team.

Q. How do I submit my idea?

A. On the Registration Page

Q. Is the $40,000 a grand prize to the winner?

A. No, the prize package is split up among the winners of each rounds. Each team moving onto the next rounds will be given money to prototype and build their ideas. The prize package includes patent support thought NYU-Poly, legal support, physical workspace at the incubators, and a cash prize.