Competition details

Participate in the competition by returning an idea description of a maximum of five (5) pages in pdf format. The idea description contains a short summary of the idea (max. 600 characters). There is no need to use the training work base or format of educational institutions in competition work – the format is free. In addition to the idea description, you can send a pitching video. The video is not mandatory but helps to present the idea in a representative and interesting way to the jury, so the video is encouraged. The length of the video may not exceed 1 minute. Idea descriptions and shared video links will be returned primarily in the Moodle course, on 31 March 2024 by 4 p.m.

Competition entry: written description should include information about:

• Uniqueness and added value of the idea
• Market opportunities or demand
• Target group, customers
• The business idea: service or product
• Business, risks
• Know-how and external help needed to put the idea into practice.
• Some plans on how to put the idea to practice / draft execution plan
• Sustainability, how are the principles of sustainable development considered

Description must also include names, schools and contact details (e-mail and phone number) of the participants. Describe also possible external help from people/organisations outside the competition team.

All competition material must be delivered in time. Any material delivered late is not accepted at all. Participants are responsible for delivering the competition entries. Ideas that are received to the competition will be acknowledged by replying.

From the entries of the first stage of the competition, the jury will choose 3 ideas from each competition category for the finale stage by the following criteria.

Evaluation criteria:

Competition entries will be evaluated in the scale of 1-5, in the following criteria:

Added value / innovativeness / novelty value

• Idea offers new kind of practices / perspectives as an innovative product, service or solution in the agri-food sector

Sustainable food solutions

• Principles and possibilities of sustainability are considered in the product/service/idea in appropriate ways (responsibility, ethicality, traceability, food safety, climate etc.)

Customer orientation

• Product/service/idea answers to the need of consumers and/or business sector

Feasibility

• The competition idea has business opportunities described in the entry and the idea is feasible either with the participant’s/team’s own competence or, in addition to the team, external knowledge described in the idea. Feasibility is considered/planned in the competition entry.

Prize of the competition:

In both competition categories, the prizes are:

• Winners of the category: 500€
• 2.place: 300€
• 3.place: 150€

Prize will be taxable income for the recipients, comparable to paycheck of work. If the competition

Judges:

Judges of the competition represent the expert organisations of business and agri-food sector. They have wide and diverse knowledge of both agri-food sector and entrepreneurship.

Judges will evaluate the competition entries according to the competition criteria and choose 3 finalists from both categories. In the finale stage, the finalists will present their ideas to the judges, after which the judges choose and announce the winner and give feedback.

Judges have the right to decide dividing the prize money differently than written in these rules of the competition. They can also decide not to award the prize partly or at all, if they see that none of the competition entries answer to the competition objectives.

Rights and obligations of the organizer:

The total liability of the organizer of the competition to any participant may not exceed the amount and value of the support and prize mentioned in these official rules. Participants in the competition exempt the organizer from any liability that may or says to be caused by participation in this competition, piloting,

redeeming or using the prize. The organizer of the competition has the right to suspend the competition due to the low number of participants and in this case also not to award the prize at all.

Rights and obligations of participants:

Copyrights and other intellectual property rights of their ideas will remain with the participants. Participants assure ownership of rights to the idea, product or service and its implementation, and that the competition idea does not violate any third-party rights. The organizers reserve the right to publish selected materials from the competition without any other compensation. If the entries contain innovations, inventions or business secrets, the individual terms and conditions contained in the entry may be declared secret by the participant. However, the business idea involved in the competition must be public in general terms. The participant shall clearly note the confidentiality of the information in writing and shall state the reasons for the confidentiality.

Organizer of the competition:

Food Business Challenge is organized by Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK) in cooperation with other actors in the region. The competition concept has been created as part of AB Seinäjoki project, which has developed the innovation community in the food sector. The project has received funding from the Council of Tampere Region, the European Regional Development Fund and the City of Seinäjoki. The concept has been developed by SeAMK, University Consortium of Seinäjoki, Into Seinäjoki and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The 2024 competition is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Seinäjoki Urban Ecosystem Agreement and Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

Additional information

The organizer informs about the progress of the competition on the Food Business Challenge Facebook profile. The participants who enter the finals, receive the information by e-mail.

Questions about the competition by e-mail: fbc@seamk.fi

Additional information:

Lotta Haapala | lotta.haapala@seamk.fi  | +358408302034

Sanni Nikumatti | sanni.nikumatti@seamk.fi | +358408304014