We start another year, and yet another semester marked by opportunities, this time for your career. Both new and old students, this one’s for you! In February we await the biggest career fair orchestrated by the eee Committee. Namely the eeeDays! During these days, the eee Committee is hosting a range of activities, apart from the fair itself. Amidst options, such as individual interviews, inspiring lectures and more, the application for eeeBoosted opened January 15th. I can’t stress this enough – don’t miss out on this thrilling opportunity!
eeeBoosted stands as a startup pitching event for students at LUSEM. As you may have noticed, this year’s theme is “eeeBoosted goes Shark Tank”. Drawing inspiration from the popular television program, Shark Tank, this year’s eeeBoosted is thus slightly different from previous years. To uncover the key details and insights, I spoke to Elliot – responsible for overseeing this event – and asked him the questions you might wonder. Continue reading to discover what the committee has in store for this year’s eeeBoosted!
How would you describe eeeBoosted?
Elliot describes how eeeBoosted is an event for startup-minded students to meet with and learn from professionals in the industry. At this year’s event there’ll be a panel of startup founders and prominent venture capitalists, working with the committee. This way you will have the opportunity to learn both from those that are actively working on startups as well as receive valuable advice from investors on how to pitch your projects and what investors are seeking in a pitch.
What is the format of the event?
“This year, compared to previous years, we’ve revamped the event to resemble Shark Tank.” As a participant, you will pitch your business idea that you have prepared in advance, to a panel of five judges who are the potential investors. The pitches are to be 5-10 minutes long, followed by a 10-15 minutes long Q&A session with the panel. If they find your business interesting, they may choose to invest in your business. “However, only this time it’s fake money. Or who knows, if they really believe in you they might give you real money!” Additionally, there will be a student audience, however seating is limited. Therefore, make sure not to miss the opportunity when the applications open, especially if you want a chance to support your friends, or simply immerse yourself in the wonderful creativity of the presentations.
What do you present? Do you need to prepare?
“We look forward to seeing creative ideas for businesses that will be relevant in the future. This could include anything from a new brand to the development of flying cars and beyond. Hence, it doesn’t have to be a real business, you could’ve made it up while applying!” The key is that you can explain your strategy for realization and demonstrate its viability. However, keep in mind that if you’re selected, it is crucial that you thoroughly prepare. You’ll be pitching to a panel of experienced operators and investors who will dig deep and ask you a lot of hard questions about your idea. “If you come unprepared it will show.”
Who are the sharks?
“The panel consists of five judges. The sharks this year will be two startup investors, two startup founders and one entrepreneurship professor. One of the startup founders is the co-founder of Bite, the meal-delivery app from Lund.”
How do you apply? Do you apply in teams or solo?
“You can apply solo, but we recommend you apply as a team if possible. One of the biggest factors in whether a startup gets investment or not is the team itself.” Elliot accentuates how it’s possible to win solo, however it becomes significantly more challenging compared to having a collaborative and supportive team. Additionally, as part of the application process, you’ll be required to provide a brief description of your business idea, which you intend to present. “Subsequently, within a few days, we will reach out and let you know if you have been selected to participate in the event.”
What should one expect while participating in the eeeBoosted?
Elliot emphasized that whether you participate by pitching or by attending eeeBoosted in the audience, anticipate gaining valuable insights regarding pitching and intricacies of the startup world. “You’ll have the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge typically accessible only to industry insiders. Additionally, after the event you’ll also have the chance to speak and network with all of the sharks to learn from their combined decades of experience in the startup industry.”
What are the highlights of this event? What happens if you win?
“I can’t wait to see everyone’s pitches and the sharks’ reactions to them. If you successfully persuade the panel, you’ll win a mystery prize! Oh and there will also be popcorn provided to all the people watching the pitches.”
It is safe to say that this year’s eeeBoosted stands as the premier event for all LUSEM’s entrepreneurs and dreamers looking to convey their ideas. Perhaps this is the ideal moment to step forward, pitch your idea, and let the world hear it? And who knows, if chances are on the right side perhaps this is the path to their realization? The only thing worse than starting something and failing… is not starting something at all. Therefore, I conclude this article by strongly encouraging you to apply! Seize the opportunity today, to gain the experience of presenting your pitch in front of a panel of professionals who are as eager to listen to you as Elliot is to hear the pitches. And for those of you who are eagerly anticipating the presentations of your friends, or those who simply desire the experience of listening to pitches, don’t let this opportunity slip away!
Apply through this link:
