Addressing critical challenges with radical innovations

There are many established business plan competitions. What differentiates the Draper Competition is its express focus on data science as a means to create business value and broader economic and social impacts. Venture teams will notice this focus in the application. For example, teams have to provide a description of the data science methods and technologies that they are using and phases of the data lifecycle in the scope of their solutions. For the purpose of this competition, we define data science as

A field that advances or applies computing, mathematical or statistical methods and technologies in synergy with domain expertise and big data sets to solve unmet problems.

 

Key Dates

January 27, 2023

Applications due
February 24, 2023

UTSA announces invited team
April 21, 2023

UTSA hosts competition

 

 

The Draper Competition focuses on data science

Applications Open -  Monday, November 7, 2022

Applications Deadline - Friday, January 27, 2023

 

Prizes

1st Place - $30,000
2nd Place - $20,000
3rd Place - $10,000
Honorable Mention - $5,000
Fan Favorite/Best in Show - $5,000
Five small cash prizes of $1,000 may be awarded to other teams

 

Information Sessions

To learn more about the Draper Competition, register to attend one of these online information sessions:

1st Session
Date Time Registration
Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 1:00 PM CST Register Here
2nd Session
Date Time Registration
Friday, Jan. 13, 2023   1:00 PM CST   Register Here
 

Eligibility

  • Open to:
    • all students—undergraduate or graduate—currently enrolled in two- or four-year degree granting programs at accredited not-for-profit colleges or universities located in the United States,
    • recent college graduates, as of December 31, 2021, in the United States.
  • All ventures must have at least two and no more than six team members.
  • The Team Leader serves as the main contact for the team and must complete the team's application.  The application must demonstrate that the Team Leader played a significant role in conceiving the venture.
  • Team members must:
    • demonstrate commitment to moving venture forward,
    • have played a primary role in developing the business strategy,
    • and have a key management role in the startup venture.
    • Each team must provide contact information for a faculty advisor/mentor who is familiar with the team and the venture.  Any faculty advisor/mentor is welcome but not required to be present at UTSA on pitch day.
  • The competition is for new, for-profit, independent ventures in the seed, start-up, or early growth stages.  Ventures with a social impact focus are eligible as long as there is a revenue- generating component to the venture.  Ventures that qualify for 501(c) status are not eligible.
  • An existing business is eligible only if, as of 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2021, it has
    • received less than $25,000 in funding
    • earned less than $100,000 in gross revenue.
  • Ventures must be wholly owned by the team (i.e., investor-funded ventures will be disqualified)
  • Ventures must be student-created and student-managed.

For complete information on eligibility, the application process, travel, competition deliverables, and more, please refer to the Participant Handbook [pdf].