• Must be enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington during the semester in which the Connect Challenge takes place
• May enter on your own or with a team of up to five people
• If applying as a team, all members must be enrolled at IU Bloomington
• Students may apply only once per year with one idea
• Students who previously entered may apply again, but must apply with a different idea

During first-round vetting, a select number of spots at the finals may be reserved for students who are in a program in the IU College of Arts + Sciences.

The only thing needed to apply is an idea! Manifestations of the idea (prototypes, patents, launched businesses, market viable products) are not required to apply. The idea must be the student’s own. Students may apply to one of three categories. The categories are:

• Creative Endeavors
  • Ideas in which the main objective is to create or manufacture something. The idea can, but does not need to, generate revenue or solve an overt issue.
  • Ex: Fine arts projects, film or tv scripts, music compositions, creative writing projects.
• Nonprofit + Social Good
  • Ideas in which the main objective is to address a problem faced by humans or the planet, typically generating revenue not from the sale of goods or services but from donations, grants, membership fees, or public funding.
  • Ex: public programs, environmental programs, consumer products, business models that give back, research, investigative journalism.
• Startups and Technology
  • Ideas that are typically seen at pitch competitions, in which the idea addresses a problem and generates ongoing revenue through the sale of goods or services.
  • Ex: Software as a service (SaaS), phone apps, consumer products, medical devices, inventions.

Please refer to Handshake to see details and register for events.

Information Session, February 26
A 1-hour virtual event in which students can learn about the competition, ask questions, and receive expert advice. This event will be recorded.

Watch the Recording

Application Dates

• Opens, February 28, 12 a.m.
• Closes, March 16, 11:59 p.m.

Finalists

• Notified, March 21
• Feedback sessions, March 25-26

Connect Conference, April 4

• Connect Challenge, 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Awards Ceremony, 12:15-2 p.m.

All students wishing to be considered must apply through the online application. The application will display 'Sorry, this survey has already expired.' before the application has opened. It will display the same message after the application has closed.

Open application

The online application asks for student information, a summary, and a pitch deck.

The summary is a 1-page document that outlines what the idea is and why it should be pursued. The summary must be a PDF document. The pitch deck is a 10-slide maximum slideshow that shows what the idea is and why it should be pursued. The pitch deck must be a Microsoft PowerPoint document.

Successful summaries and pitch decks typically address:

• The problem – why should the idea be pursued?
• The solution – what is your idea?
• The team – who is involved in bringing the idea to life?
• The audience – who benefits from the idea?
• The challenges – what are potential setbacks, and how will you address them
• The plan – how will this idea come to life?

For intial applications and for finalists who compete in-person, ideas will be evaluated based on the core values of the IU College of Arts + Sciences. The following criteria is scored from 1-5. The final score is the sum of each.

Question Critically
Did the student/s question the status quo? Are they solving a problem? Is the reason behind this idea compelling?

Think Logically
Did the student/s create a plan for their idea? Did they analyze a target audience, challenges, or resources? How viable is this plan? Will it work?

Communicate Clearly
How well did the student/s convey their idea? Is it clear what it is? How was the overall presentation?

Act Creatively
Is the idea innovative? Are there elements that are particularly imaginative or creative?

Live Ethically
Did the student/s analyze the ethical implications of the idea? You do not have to agree with the ethics – but have they been addressed?

After the initial application closes, a committee comprised of IU staff will select five (5) ideas from each category that will pitch their idea in person at the Connect Challenge. Those finalists will be notified via email.

Finalists are expected to:

• Complete a finalist form
• Schedule and attend a 1:1 virtual feedback session with an expert
• Pitch in person at the Connect Challenge
• Attend the Connect Challenge awards ceremony

Applicants who are not chosen as finalists will automatically be placed on a waiting list. If any finalist cannot compete in the Connect Challenge, the students on the waiting list may be invited to pitch their idea at The Connect Challenge.

Finalists will potentially have their name, photos, and brief information about their idea shared on a slideshow during the Connect Challenge awards ceremony and on the Walter Center website. Finalists will have an opportunity to consent to this in their finalist form

The Connect Challenge will take place in-person the morning of the Connect Conference. Students will pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges. A computer and projector will be available. Each idea category will have a distinct panel of judges and ideas will only be judged with other ideas in the same category. For example, an idea from the creative endeavors category will not be competing with ideas from the startups category.

The general public is welcome to watch pitches. Finalists are also invited to watch the pitches of other finalists. We ask that everyone in the audience show respect to the people pitching.

Each room/category will have the following volunteer staff: An emcee to host the event, a timekeeper, a doorkeeper, and a panel of 3-5 judges. The emcee will give opening statements, and then invite the finalists to the “stage” to pitch their idea. Finalists are expected to be in the room (or just outside the door) and ready at their assigned pitch time. The doorkeeper will close the door while finalists are pitching, and people will be asked to limit entering and leaving during a pitch.

Finalists will have a total of 20 minutes in front of the judges – 10 minutes to pitch their idea and 10 minutes to answer questions from the judges. Only judges may ask questions; the audience will be asked to withhold questions. After all ideas have been pitched, the judges will have time alone to decide the winners.

Winners will be announced at a luncheon and awards ceremony during the Connect Conference. Connect is a 1-day conference-style event in which alumni of the College of Arts + Sciences talk to students about their careers.

After winners are determined, prize money will be awarded to the students as an academic scholarship on their IU Bursar accounts. If the recipients are a team, the scholarship money will be divided evenly among the team members.

The value of this prize will be reported to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. This prize will reduce the financial aid for any students who are 21st Century Covenant recipients, Groups recipients, or Pell Promise recipients by its total value. The prize will also reduce the student’s loans or Federal Work Study if they have reached their cost of attendance. Please note that awards over $600 will be reported on the IRS Form 1099-MISC by Indiana University. The IRS has stipulated amounts less than $600 must be self-reported by the recipient on their personal tax return. Please consult with your personal tax advisor for any questions or concerns