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Leatherby Center of Entrepreneurship & Business Ethics

» Panther Cage Match 2022

The Winner of the 2022 Panther Cage Match - Safe Title

Best Overall: Safe Title

Fan Favorite: Collegial

Best Emerging: FUN!D & Collegial

The event would not have been possible without the hardwork and vision of many people in Leatherby Center and the larger Argyros School community. Among that group are the Argyros School faculty members and judges pictured below serving as student mentors leading up to and continuing after the Panther Cage Match.

Key Dates

Future competition dates TBD. 

How to Apply 

Email entrepreneurs@chapman.edu

Requirements for Submission 

Please use the pitch deck found here.

Judging Criteria 

Section 1: Clarity of Individual/Team Presentation

Section 2: Value created by the new product/services

Section 3: Attractiveness of the market opportunity

Section 4: Competitive advantage of the proposed venture

Section 5: Operational and technology viability 

Section 6: Capability of the management team

Section 7: Capital requirements and financial forecast

Section 8: Exit Strategy 

Judges

TBD

Awards

Best Overall   $3000.00 cash

Fan Favorite   $500.00 cash

Best Emerging   $500.00 cash

Corporate Partners

Thank you to our corporate partners that have agreed to donate consulting time to our finalists.

Camuti Law Group

KPMG

Levitt Law

Agency Sherwood

Omni Group 

FAQ 

Q: How much time and what date(s) should they anticipate needing to dedicate to this competition for rehearsals, pre-final competition rounds, etc.

A: The abstract of your business idea should be concise and take very little time to prepare.  The formal presentation will take the time you feel necessary to complete the pitch deck to a quality for venture capital discussion.  A limit of 6 slides has been provided to assist you in presentation development.

 

Q: What exactly they’ll be expected to do or present (is it a PPT, is it a demonstration, proof of concept, do they need to bring the goods and demo them just like on shark tank, etc) – if not in detail until after they apply, at least in general to set expectations

A: The presentation can include short videos, product prototypes.

 

Q: How far along/baked out does their idea need to be? How many years are they allowed to be in business already/if at all?

A: No limit to the stage of business development.  A nascent idea emerging is as valid as an early stage commercialized business for consideration.

 

Q: Do they have to be CU students/alumni?

A: Yes, at a minimum, one member of the team needs to be a current student or alumni of Chapman University.

 

Q: How many team members are required?

A: There is no maximum number of team members allowed for individual business ideas.