Eligibility Requirements
- All competitors must be college students (undergraduate or graduate) enrolled in Salisbury University classes.
- Students can compete individually or in a team of up to 3 total students.
- Winners are eligible to compete again, but must pitch a different idea. Non-winners are welcome to compete again, but are encouraged to improve their business idea or presentation.
Deadlines
Application Opens: Febraury 2, 2026
Final Deadline for Submissions: April 6, 2026
Students can submit or update their materials at any point during this period. The system will be closed at 11:59 PM on the final deadline date. Students are encouraged to submit well before the final deadline to avoid internet connectivity or system problems. Late, mailed, or emailed submissions will not be accepted for any reason.
Submission Requirements
- Online Application: Students will complete an online application that includes a background profile, contact information, and key elements of their business idea.
- Poster Submission requirements:
- Students will create a poster for their business addressing the problem, solution, market analysis, competitive advantage, marketing plan, general pricing and cost information, and a use of competition funds if you were to win. Students will upload their poster into their Idea Factory Competition Application. A template is provided on the website to get them started on this poster. Note – If using the template provided, PLEASE personalize this to your business including but not limited to changing the information, colors, and images included on the template.
- Posters need to be printed prior to competition day in order to participate. Complimentary poster printing is available through Poster Printing.
- Poster Printing Instructions:
* Name
* Your request: to schedule a poster printing time for your Idea Factory Competition Poster.
*Requested day/time (available printing hours, are usually in the afternoon and evenings)
*Subject of your email: "Poster Printing request".
- On your appointment date, bring your file to Poster Printing in Conway Hall (TETC) 352. Prints are limited to one copy and take approximately 20 minutes to print. It’s important to arrive on time for appointments. If you arrive late, you could lose your spot, get bumped to the waiting list, or risk not being able to print your poster.
- Purchase a tri-fold display board (48” x 36” in size) at Wal-Mart or Dollar General.
- Mount your poster onto a tri-fold board. Questions? Contact Mike Camillo at - 410-677-0031
Rubric
Scoring
Applications and pitches will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts. A scoring rubric will be used to rank submissions. The top-ranking submissions will be evaluated further by the entrepreneurship team, and winners will be selected. All decisions made by the panel is final and scored rubrics will not be shared with competitors.
Resources
- Competitor Readiness Training
Prepare for success with our Competitor Readiness Training! This online program provides step-by-step guidance for developing your idea, refining your pitch, and understanding what judges are looking for. It’s designed to help students feel confident and fully equipped for the competition. Access the training here: Join the Online Entrepreneurship Competition Workshop Here
Startup Studio is a club that fosters entrepreneurship and small business development on the SU campus and within the Salisbury community. The club brings together innovative minds to share ideas, collaborate, and gain mentorship through networking, pitch practice, and business planning support. Members benefit from professional development, one-on-one guidance, and opportunities to participate in competitions and local entrepreneurial initiatives. Learn more and get involved: https://www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/business/entrepreneurship/ceo.aspx
Our Competitions team is located in the BEACON office suite in PH 100. The team provides a variety of entrepreneurship resources, including mentorship on your business application, poster development, and pitch practice. We also offer workshops to guide you through every step of the competition process. Stop by to learn how we can help you bring your idea to life!
Event Information
The Idea Factory Poster Competition concludes with a live, in-person judging event. All competitors are expected to review the following details carefully and come prepared. Missing information sessions or workshops does not exempt students from meeting requirements or following these guidelines. The event is exhibition-style with judges circulating to visit student tables. Students will start with a brief elevator pitch, followed by Q&A. This is repeated throughout the morning as judges move from exhibit to exhibit. Generally, you will pitch your idea about 10 times.
Competition Date & Time
- Friday, May 1, 2026
- Check-In: 7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
- Judging Begins Promptly: 8:00 a.m. Late arrivals may be disqualified or may not be guaranteed full judging time.
- Order of Events:
- Competitor Check-In
- Poster Competition Judging
- Competitor Information Session
- Poster Display Breakdown
- Awards Ceremony & Photos
Location
- Perdue School of Business (Salisbury University)
- Check-In Location: First floor, in front of the Perdue Museum
- Competitors will be assigned a designated table upon arrival.
Presentation Format
- Competitors will present at an assigned 6-foot table.
- Each presentation includes:
- 1-minute pitch
- Q&A with each judge
- Judges will rotate; competitors must remain at their assigned station for the duration of judging.
- Please plan to arrive early enough to set up your display before judging begins.
What to Wear (Choose One)
You may select the option that best represents you and your business:
- Business Merchandise (Branded T-shirt, logos, hats—encouraged for teams already selling or promoting a venture)
- Business Casual or Professional
Comfortable shoes are recommended.
What to Bring
Required Materials:
- Printed Poster, attached to a Tri-Fold (science fair style) display board
- Recommended size: 48" x 36" or any size that fits within your assigned 6-foot table space.
- Method of Attachment (Tape, adhesive, clips—ensure your poster can be securely displayed.
Encouraged Materials (Optional but Helpful):
- Marketing or Promotional Materials: Flyers, business cards, brochures, etc.
- Prototype or Proof of Concept: Physical model, prototype, product sample, or design plan.
Event Expectations
- Competitors must remain at their assigned table during judging.
- Displays must be set up and ready by 8:00 a.m.
- All competitors are expected to participate in the Competitor Information Session following judging.
- Posters and materials must be removed at the conclusion of the event.
Website
All participants are encouraged to visit the Idea Factory Competition website, your go-to resource for everything you need to succeed. The site includes a full competition overview, eligibility requirements, important deadlines, downloadable templates and guides, workshop information, and details about awards and prizes.
Reviewing the website early will help you stay organized, prepare a strong submission, and take full advantage of the resources available to support your idea.
👉 Visit: https://www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/business/entrepreneurship/idea-factory.aspx
For Professors
It is strongly recommended to incorporate this competition in the classroom as a learning activity in classes such as business, marketing, innovation, entrepreneurship, etc. Please contact Mike Jensen, Executive Director, mdjensen@salisbury.edu for resources or training materials. See our website for additional information: www.salisbury.edu/entrepreneurship.
Other Competition Rules
- For-Profit and Nonprofit Ideas: Not all problems students encounter have a for-profit solution. While the focus is on traditional business startups, students may submit a nonprofit business idea or a social enterprise in their pitch. However, nonprofit models must still be sustainable via grants, donations, or other funding sources.
- Electronic: All submissions must be made via the provided web-based information system. Submissions sent by email, mail, or other methods will not be reviewed.
- Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, may be used as part of a student’s creative process. However, all submitted text and narrative must be the student’s own self-generated content. Stealing of other people’s ideas or pitches is prohibited. Plagiarism (i.e. using someone else’s written material without proper citation) or any form of intellectual property theft is prohibited.
Violations of these rules will result in a rejection of the application and all involved competitors will be permanently barred from competing in all future competitions for which the student would otherwise be eligible. This will apply to all team members on a team found to be in noncompliance even if an individual student team member was not directly involved in the violation. The competition administrator has sole discretion in making a determination without a right by the student or other stakeholders to appeal. By submitting an application, all competitors and their supporters agree to abide by these terms and conditions.
Questions
Please contact Heather Brooks at hmbrooks@salisbury.edu or 410-546-4325.