Judge Best Practices

Constructive Criticism

Please keep in mind the age and maturity level of participants. Especially if these are middle and high school students, please provide criticism that is gentle and constructive rather than harsh and discouraging. Here are some tips:

Focus on the situation – Suggest actions to improve their business, not character traits.
Be specific – Whatever you suggest, be sure to make it as specific as possible.
Don’t make assumptions – If you’re not sure where a participant is coming from, ask so you can understand their motivation and reasoning.
Suggest how to improve – Make sure to suggest specific actions to take.

Judge Expectations and Reminders

Participants in a competition rely on you as part of the learning process. Below are some expectations and reminders for you as a judge:

Have respect for all participants
Pay careful attention to each team you judge
Avoid distractions such as texts, phone calls, etc.
Make your feedback quick and concise
- Make comments that are to-the-point and easy to understand
- Engage students in conversation and ask questions
Provide written feedback about each business team you view
- Participants can keep this for future reference instead of relying on memory
Be patient with participants who are shy or anxious
Make your criticism constructive

We recommend that each judge ask at least one question. This will help the participant get as much as they can out of this learning experience.

Background

What talents do you possess that have helped you in your business?
What are the most/least important characteristics a person needs to start a business?

Business structure

What is the business entity type?
Who will help you run the business? What aspects of the business will they manage?
When did you become interested in entrepreneurship?

Organization/Planning

What is the problem you are trying to solve? How did you come up with your idea?
What is the first step you will take to implement your idea?
How will you make the business grow in the future?

Marketing

How do you plan to market your product or service to potential customers?
What distinguishes your company from your competition?
Who will buy your product or service? How will you reach those people?

Financials

How much money will you need to start? Are you seeking a loan?
What is your projected first year revenue? How did you come to that conclusion?
How much does it cost to make the product or provide the service?
How much profit do you expect to make?