Are you a business founder or have exciting business concept? Apply to compete in the Tigers Den and win an award of up to $20,000 sponsored by the Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Purpose

The Tigers Den program provides an incubator experience for founders with ventures that have launched or are close to launch. The pitch competition offers students from all over the college a chance to share their ideas and business progress regardless of participation in Flemming Center programming.

Founders in the pitch competition will be invited to join the 2024-25 incubator. The incubator will run throughout the academic year and can include the spring EL-OFF course for continuing students with ideas involving the application of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or the arts.

Eligibility

Any student currently at Hampden-Sydney or from the alumni classes of 2020-2024 are eligible to participate. You must have a developed business or non-profit model with customer validation that you will actively grow in the following 12-18 months.

Amount

The decisions whether to make any awards and the amounts of those investments will be at the discretion of the judges. If awarded, awards(s) may range from $1,000 to $20,000. Awards are grants with no repayment or equity stake requirements.

Presentation

As a Tigers Den presenter, you will have 10 minutes to make a pitch in front of a panel of judges who are alumni and founders of businesses. You will have access to a projector, sound system, and PC computer. The content of the pitch is at your discretion, but you must present a slide deck or create an infomercial video that meets the criteria below. Your goal is to convince your future customers, investors, and the panel of judges that you have an organization that can have meaningful impact on a significant problem.

Timeline

  • September 30, 2024: Submit your application for the 2024-25 Tiger’s Den.
  • March 1, 2025: Submit draft presentation for verification of finalist position.
  • April 1, 2025: Submit your final presentation documentation for the competition.
  • Late April: Finalists pitch to panel of judges, awardees selected, and announcement of award denominations.

Registration

Judging Criteria

  • Business Purpose - Explanation of the problem that exists and how the business idea solves this problem
  • Potential - Support for the commercial potential, viability, and prospects for success of the business idea e.g. you’ve achieved milestones
  • Validation - The idea has been tested in some way, big or small, with real potential customers (customer interviews, prototypes, surveys, etc.) 
  • Team - The credibility, "back-ability," and passion of the individuals behind the business idea

Mentorship & Entrepreneurship Education

The following is a sampling of the benefits available to the finalist teams:

  • Education - Prior to the pitch competition, student and local alumni teams can engage the Flemming Center directly for guidance and consulting. Winning teams receive semi-structured training in entrepreneurial decision making
  • Mentoring - Work with experienced mentors and entrepreneurs in the Hampden-Sydney community and beyond
  • Networking - Connect with the Hampden-Sydney entrepreneurial ecosystem including investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders with a diverse range of expertise
  • Community - Community is an important part of the Hampden-Sydney Venture Fund experience. Teams are expected to learn as much from one another as they do from the Hampden-Sydney College Venture Fund staff and mentors.

General Rules

ELIGIBILITY

  1. Each team must include at least one current Hampden-Sydney student or a member of the graduating class of 2020-2024.  
  2. Currently enrolled Hampden-Sydney student(s) and/or a member of graduating classes of 2020-2024 must own 30 percent or more equity in the business to be eligible for an investment.  
  3. One currently enrolled Hampden-Sydney student or a member of the graduating class of 2020-2024 must deliver the pitch and answer the questions from the judges.  
  4. Ventures of winning teams must be organized in limited liability form (corporation, LLC, LLP, or similar structure) in order to receive investment funds, although teams may enter and place in competition without limited liability organization.  

CONFIDENTIALITY & PERMISSIONS

  1. Confidentiality of information is not guaranteed and teams should not include any confidential information in their submissions, including trade secrets or other proprietary information that would be at risk of disclosure.
  2. Entry into this competition may be considered a public disclosure for patent purposes. If teams plan to file patent protection on an aspect of their business, they should consult with an intellectual property attorney before entering.
  3. Intra-team confidentiality is the sole responsibility of team members.

There is no requirement that judges make an investment in any team. Investment grants are awarded at the judges' discretion. Teams are subject to the Hampden-Sydney College honor code.