Timeline and Directions for 2025 – 2026
9/17/25 Mayo Business Plan Competition Kick-Off/Information Session – At least one team member is strongly advised to attend the MBPC kick-off & information session. This session will include reviewing the competition timeline, requirements, and resources available to you. The session will take place at 12:00 pm in the Business Building, Room 122. Lunch will be served. Students are required to register (food headcount). Registration may be completed here. Even if you are just thinking about being a part of this competition, attend this session! Please email Stephanie Horner at horners@tcnj.edu with any questions.
9/18/25 Registration opens for Team Registration (Intent to Compete) As Mayo Business Plan Competition teams must be comprised of two to four members. Once your team has been finalized, please have one representative from your team register via the “Intent to Compete” form. Registration is required to ensure we staff sufficient judges to evaluate all submitted plans. If you “think” you might want to complete, please register!
All team members must be currently enrolled TCNJ undergraduate students. Available resources include assistance finding a mentor, sample financial forms, samples of business plans, and multiple optional sessions to prepare teams to write & present their business plans. Visit our Resources page for details.
At the time of registration, all team members must sign the affirmation of policy statement and attach it to the registration form. This affirms that all team members have reviewed the Confidentiality Statement, Prize Money Award Disbursement Statement, and Timeline.
Looking for a team but do not know anyone to ask? Have a concept but do not know where to find teammates? Want to recruit a business student to join your team? Complete the “Students Looking for a Team” form. We will connect students who submit this form via email. Students will be responsible to continue making connections.
11/12/25 Business Plan Basics Workshop –Join us for this one-hour hybrid workshop on Business Plan Basics! Our presenters, Mike Scrudato and Darrel Frater, will share their expertise and insights on what you should include in a business plan. Presenters will present in a hybrid format. Students will attend in person.
Mike Scrudato, Customer Strategy Solutions at Verisk, has over 20 years of experience in his field. He is also an adjunct in the School of Business, teaching the graduate-level “Management Practicum: New Product Development”. Darrel Frater, Co-Founder of the Frater Family Foundation and Advisor at Focus on Words, has years of experience in both the investment and venture capital realms. Darrel is also a double alumna of the School of Business earning both his BA in Management and MBA in Strategy, Innovation and Leadership.
This workshop is open to any interested TCNJ student, however, those participating in the Mayo Business Plan Competition are strongly urged to attend. This event is for *November 12, 2025, at 4:00 pm in the Business Building Lounge. Registration is required. (*dates/times subject to change)
TBA Having Strong Financials Workshop – This one-hour workshop will focus on building strong financials for your business plan! Our presenter will review financial statements, financial planning in business plans, and cash flow, balance sheets, and income statements. This workshop is open to any interested TCNJ student, however, those participating in the Mayo Business Plan Competition are strongly urged to attend. We plan to share more details about this event soon. Please stay tuned! Registration will be required.
12/12/25 Team registration for “Intent to Compete” closes at 11:59 pm –Registration after this date requires an exceptional situation and the Dean’s approval (e.g., an illness or unusual study abroad situation).
As a reminder, each team must consist of two to four current TCNJ undergraduate students. There will be no team changes after this deadline. All team members must also complete and submit the Affirmation of Policy Statement.
1/09/26 ALL team members must complete two LinkedIn Learning modules and submit certificates of completion with their business plan and pitch video. In order to access these modules, you must be logged into a computer with your TCNJ credentials.
1/09/26 Business plans submitted by 11:59 pm – Absolute due date; no exceptions. For the competition, focus is on the aspects of the business and the development and presentation of the business plan, not on the product. Business plans are evaluated by two to three judges using the Evaluation Rubric. Teams will be provided with a link to submit their plans, LinkedIn certificates, and pitch video. Below are the requirements that should be submitted. See the MBPC Guidebook for more detailed information.
- Plan – Maximum plan length: 20 pages, double-spaced 11 or 12 font.
- Additional charts and tables (maximum five pages).
- Plan must be submitted as a PDF (not a Word or Excel file).
- A short pitch video (1 to 3 minutes) describing the concept and likely target market(s) is required.
- Plan must include:
- Executive Summary (usually written last)
- Business Overview
- Operating Plan
- Market Analysis
- Products and/or Services
- Competitive Analysis
- Sales and Marketing
- Management Team
- Financial Plan
- Projections
- Conclusions
2/09/26 Six teams invited to revise business plan and advance to semi-finals – Semi-finalist teams must have a mentor. The mentor could be one of your choosing, or the School of Business could provide suggestions for a mentor. Your mentor’s name must be submitted to the School of Business. A list of available mentors will be shared on the website.
2/11/26 Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Workshop – Made it to the semi-finals? Need help with your presentation skills? Come enhance your public speaking & presentation skills with Sean O’Grady! Sean is an adjunct professor at TCNJ who teaches speaking & leadership development. He also works full-time in advertising, where he trains executives, professional athletes and celebrities for television, radio and public appearances. Sean has coached many teams for the MBPC, teams who have taken both first and second place in the competition. This workshop is open to any interested TCNJ student, and is especially well suited to the Mayo Business Plan Competition teams. This session could help give you an edge in semi-finals/finals! It is strongly suggested that at least one member of each team attend this workshop. This workshop is scheduled for 2/12/26, from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm. Registration is required.
2/23/26 Semi-finalist teams submit revised business plans by 12:00 pm (noon) for judges.
2/25/26 Semi-Finals – Semi-finalist teams give a live 20-minute, uninterrupted presentation before judges, followed by a 10-minute Q&A.
3/2/26 Three of six semi-finalist teams invited to revise plans and advance to finals.
3/23/26 Finalist teams submit revisions for the judges by 12 pm noon Teams will produce a bridge document, along with a revised business plan, that specifically addresses the judges’ feedback, contains updated or new exhibits on design, financials, addressable market, and any other relevant areas of feedback.
3/25/26 Finals – Final presentations before judges, maximum 30 minutes. Judges may interrupt at any time with questions. Additionally, teams must allow time for questions at the end of their presentation.
*Dates subject to change*
Resources
There are many resources available to assist teams. Check out our Resources page to see what is available to you.