Blueprint Mississippi Social Business Challenge

Mississippi Public Universities are solving Mississippi’s most pressing problems and advancing the state together. Through research, teaching and service, universities help tackle health issues, improve education and assist those who are economically disadvantaged, unemployed or underemployed. There is much work to be done. Knowing that the University of Mississippi community possess the creativity and ingenuity necessary to find unique solutions to these problems, the McLean Institute is excited to support the UM Blueprint Mississippi Social Business Challenge.

Congratulations to our winning and runner-up teams!

The Challenge

We are inviting teams of students to put their heads together and come up with a creative solution and develop a business plan to address one of Mississippi’s most pressing problems. Open to any public university students, the challenge requires students to work in teams of up to six with at least one faculty adviser. Teams will compete first in an on campus challenge. The winning team will advance to a state competition.

Eligibility

  • A team may have a minimum of 3 students, maximum of 6 students and must have at least one faculty advisor.
  • The team should select a captain and co‐captain, both of whom are students.
  • Alumni and business leaders may serve in an advisory capacity.
  • All ventures must be based on a clearly defined social problem or issue in Mississippi.

Presentation Guidelines

  • Teams should set up a table‐top, poster board display, which must be manned by the faculty advisor, captain and co‐captain of the team. Other team members may be present also.
  • Judges will review the displays prior to the presentations and may ask questions of the team members.
  • The presentations will be made in a classroom equipped with the appropriate audio visual equipment to accommodate a Powerpoint presentation and video.
  • Judges will be seated in the first row; others are welcome to attend the presentations.
  • The captain and co‐captain will present from the podium. Presentations are limited to five minutes. The presentations may include up to five Powerpoint slides and a video that is no longer than two minutes.
  • At the end of the presentations, the judges will select a finalist to advance to the state competition and an alternate to advance if the finalist team is unable to do so.

State Competition Guidelines

  • The state competition will be held at the State Capitol in conjunction with Universities Day at the Capitol.
  • One team from each university, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Mississippi State University Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine will compete in the State Competition.
  • Teams should set up a table‐top, poster board display, which must be manned by the faculty advisor, captain and co‐captain of the team. Other team members may be present also.
  • Presentations are limited to five minutes. The presentations may include up to five Powerpoint slides and a video that is no longer than two minutes.
  • At the end of the presentations, the judges will select first, second and third place winners.
  • Appropriate attire for a professional situation is required. The required dress code is business casual.

Business Plan Guidelines

Rules and requirements for the written business plan may be found here.