J. Donald Lee Center for Entrepreneurship 2025 Business Plan Competition
The J. Donald Lee Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition prepares students to start a new business by developing a thorough written business plan for a new product or service. A business plan is an important step towards starting a new venture, as it allows entrepreneurs to analyze how their company will operate and brings together many areas of the business environment.
By participating in the competition, students will gain experience through:
- Identifying business opportunities, developing a business model and writing a formal business plan
- Performing market research and feasibility analysis using primary and/or secondary data
- Developing communication and organizational skills
- Working as part of a team
2025 J. DONALD LEE CENTER for ENTREPRENEURSHIP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Registrations for the J. Donald Lee Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition (JDL BPC) 2025 will open December 4, 2024.
Once the registration is available, you can start the registration.
Only one member from each team should complete the registration form.
The J Donald Lee Business Plan Competition will be held in person, at Valdosta State University, Georgia on April 25 (Friday).
The Competition is open to VSU students and local high school students. VSU participants are highly encouraged to form teams with at least one student from the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration.
Your team must have at least two students, a maximum of four members. All participants must be current students. “Current” means currently seeking a degree from VSU or a diploma from a high school.
Finalists are required to attend the whole competition, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm on April 25, to be eligible for any prizes. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the competition.
Please read the required information below for the registration before you start the registration.
- First Name
- Last Name
- Are you a VSU student? (if Yes, go to 4, otherwise go to 5).
- Please provide your Major/Department/College (e.g. Management/Management and Marketing/LCOBA) and grade level (e.g. Senior, Graduate)
- If not a VSU student, please provide your school’s name and grade level (e.g. Valdosta High, Junior)
- Team Name
- Number of members (2-4 members)
- Phone number
- Provide information for each member including First Name, Last Name, Phone #, Email, Major/Department/College or Name of High School, Grade Level. Make sure to include this information for every team member to ensure all participants are accounted for.
- In 100 words or fewer, describe your startup by explaining the technology or idea behind it, the problem it solves, and what makes it stand out. Focus on how your solution is different and why it matters to your customers or community. Use clear, simple language to share your innovation, goals, and how your startup makes a positive impact, etc.
- How did you hear about the J. Donald Lee Business Plan Competition? Choose all that apply.
Register here:
Please submit an executive summary of your team. Suggested contents for the summary are available at the provided link. While the template is recommended, you are welcome to modify and organize it to suit your needs. The deadline for submission is February 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM (EST). The email address for submissions will be shared here at a later date.
This information will be communicated to the semi-finalists. Please note that you may wish to expand your executive summary into a comprehensive business plan.
Dec 4 (Wednesday), 2024 - Registration Begins
Feb 16 (Sunday), 2025 - Registration ends & Last day to submit executive summaries
March 2 (Sunday), 2025 - Semi-Finalists notified
March 23 (Sunday), 2025 - Deadline for full business plan submission
March 31 (Monday), 2025 - Finalists notified
April 25 (Friday), 2025 - Final pitch event
TBA
A total of $20,000 awarded to top competitors.
2025 Competition Sponsors
Hwashin Georgia, a specialized manufacturer of chassis and body parts for automobiles. Hwashin was established in Korea in 1975. Following its successful expansion into Greenville, Alabama in 2003, the company is now making a significant new investment in Dublin, Georgia, with a goal to begin mass production by December 2025.
J. Donald Lee Center for Entrepreneurship
If you have questions about the competition, please contact the director of the J. Donald Lee Center for Entrepreneurship, at jdlcenter@valdosta.edu
Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration
-
Rea and Lillian Steele
North Campus
Corner of Patterson & Pendleton Streets -
Mailing Address
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698 - Phone: 229.333.5991
- Monday-Thursday
8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Friday
8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.