| Date | Schedule |
|---|
| January 6 | Big Idea Kickoff; First Business Plan Lab |
| January 7 | Deadline to submit online Intent to Compete Form |
| January 13 | What is a Business Plan |
| January 20 | Business Plan Lab: Section I of Plan – The Industry, Library Resources to Support Writing the Plan |
| January 27 | Business Plan Lab: Section II of Plan – The Company, Concept, and Product(s) or Service(s) |
| February 10 | Business Plan Lab: Section III of Plan – Market Analysis (aka ‘The Market’) |
| February 10 | Submit Business Plan Model (2-3 pages) |
| February 17 | Business Plan Lab: More on Section III of Plan – Market Analysis |
| February 24 | Business Plan Lab: Section IV of Plan – The Economics of the Business |
| March 3 | Business Plan Lab: Section V of Plan – The Marketing Plan |
| March 17 | Business Plan Lab: Section VII of Plan – Operations Plan |
| March 17 | Initial Draft of Business Plan Deadline – Due by 5PM |
| March 24 | Business Plan Lab: Section XI of Plan – Financial Plan |
| March 21-25 | Individual Feedback Meetings on Initial Draft |
| March 31 | Business Plan Lab: Section XI of Plan – Financial Plan Help Session |
| April 5 | Final Draft of Business Plan Deadline – Due by 5PM |
| April 7 | Business Plan Lab: Sections VIII – Management Team, IX – Overall Schedule, and X – Critical Risks, Problems, and Assumptions |
| April 8 | Top 16 Semi-Finalists Announced |
| April 16 | Semi-Finalist Revised Business Plans Due by Noon |
| April 21 | Semi-Finals: Top Sixteen Teams Present |
| April 22 | Finals: Top Four Teams Present |