| Date | Schedule |
|---|
| January 11 | Big Idea Kickoff; First Business Plan Lab |
| January 12 | Deadline to submit online Intent to Compete Form |
| January 18 | Business Plan Lab: What is a Business Plan? |
| January 25 | Business Plan Lab: Section I of Plan – The Industry, Library Resources to Support Writing the Plan |
| February 1 | Business Plan Lab: Section II of Plan – The Company, Concept, and Product(s) or Service(s) |
| February 8 | Business Plan Lab: Section III of Plan – Market Analysis (aka ‘The Market’) |
| February 15 | Business Plan Lab: More on Section III of Plan – Market Analysis |
| February 15 | Submit Business Plan Model (2-3 pages) |
| February 22 | Business Plan Lab: Section IV of Plan – The Economics of the Business |
| February 29 | Business Plan Lab: Section V of Plan – The Marketing Plan |
| March 7 | Business Plan Lab: Section VII of Plan – Operations Plan |
| March 8 | Initial Draft of Business Plan Deadline – Due by 5PM |
| March 21 | Business Plan Lab: Section XI of Plan – Financial Plan |
| March 21-25 | Individual Feedback Meetings on Initial Draft |
| March 28 | Business Plan Lab: Section XI of Plan – Financial Plan Help Session |
| April 4 | Business Plan Lab: Sections VIII – Management Team, IX – Overall Schedule, and X – Critical Risks, Problems, and Assumptions |
| April 12 | Final Draft of Business Plan Deadline – Due by 5PM |
| April 16 | Top 16 Semi-Finalists Announced |
| April 21 | Semi-Finalist Revised Business Plans Due by Noon |
| April 25 | Semi-Finals: Top Sixteen Teams Present |
| April 26 | Finals: Top Four Teams Present |