Type:
Judges
Start date:
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:00 AM PDT
End date:
Thursday, July 11, 2013 11:00 PM PDT
Enrollment is open until Thursday, July 11, 2013 11:00 PM PDT
Requirements:
Startups must be three years old or under. Startups must not have raised more than $2 million in funding. Startups must apply with a company profile on Vator. Startups with actual products will have a higher probability of making it through the rounds.
Rules:
All participants will move to the next round, which is the popular voting round.
Type:
Popular vote
Start date:
Thursday, July 11, 2013 11:00 PM PDT
End date:
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 11:37 AM PDT
Enrollment is open until Wednesday, September 18, 2013 11:00 AM PDT
Finalists: top 18 selected
Requirements:
Startups must be three years old or under. Startups must not have raised more than $2 million in funding. Startups must apply with a company profile on Vator. All relevant startup team members must be included as admins of the startup profile. All profiles must be filled out with relevant information, such as past experience and universities. Companies must have a product: a website that is up and running (not just accepting emails for a future release), and/or multiple screen shots of the product/concept.
Vator also uses a proprietary ranking system, based on the information provided. See rules.
Rules:
The popular vote determines the top 15 to 20 finalists. The number of finalists are determined at the end of the round.
Voters are limited to one vote per Participant for the entire competition. Participants may vote for their own company. Vator and the contest organizers have the right, in their sole discretion, to take whatever action they deem appropriate to uphold the integrity and reputation of Vator, the organizer and the competition, including the right to disqualify companies, void votes, or recalculate votes, in the event of, but not limited to, multiple votes from the same user from different IP addresses, or votes considered fraudulent, technical failures, errors or problems occurring with the site and/or Internet services, failure of judges to perform their duties, proxy voting or payment for votes.
Vator scores: Companies are ranked based on their founders, backers (mentors, investors, board members). The more experienced the founder/team, the higher the probability of a greater score. The more high-profile investors, board members, mentors behind the company, the higher the probability of a greater score. The more high profile investors, entrepreneurs following the company, the higher probability of a higher score. The scores have corresponding vote points which will be given to startups throughout this round.
Vator and the contest organizers have the right, in their sole discretion, to take whatever action they deem appropriate to uphold the integrity and reputation of Vator, the organizer and the competition, including the right to disqualify companies that do not meet the requirements.
Type:
Judges
Start date:
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 11:37 AM PDT
End date:
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 11:30 AM PDT
Vote weight: 10% popular vote from previous round and 90% judges.
Judging criteria
Team
Is the team relevant to the opportunity? Does the team have the expertise to execute and succeed? Do they have the key members in place?
Novelty and product/service
Does this product/service solve a clear market problem? Is it a new and novel approach to solve a problem? Is there enough differentiation that gives this idea a fighting chance against competitors? Is the actual product/service a good prototype/starting point that reflects the founding team's vision?
Commercial viability
Is the market a big macro opportunity and a venture-backed business? Does this startup have a clear market niche and user group? Did they indicate clearly their go-to-market strategy to attract users? Did they clearly articulate their business model? Did they demonstrate how they will compete effectively?
Requirements:
Startups must provide PPTs, videos, screen shots to help judges evaluate. Startups lacking information will be looked over. Companies must have a product: a website that is up and running (not just accepting emails for a future release), and/or multiple screen shots of the product/concept.
Rules:
Participants have to have finished in the top 18 of the first round. In order to not overwhelm judges, judges will only vote for startups in their category of expertise.
