Guidelines Template

Event Name: What standard elements should be present? 

Example: “Event names must follow the naming convention, ‘Madison County 2028 E-Challenge - <City Name>’ 

Time Frame: What restrictions do you have on when the events can occur? Be sure to consider preparation time for any finalist competition. 

Physical Location: What restrictions do you have for where the events can occur? Are virtual events eligible?

Participant Eligibility: Age, residence, educational status (i.e. high school v. college), business status (revenue generating, concept stage, etc.)

Guidelines Example:

2021-2022 YEC Series Requirements & Important Dates

Communities hosting local-level entrepreneurship competitions may apply for a sanction to have their event be part of the “Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series” culminating in a statewide youth entrepreneurship competition (KEC). Community entrepreneurship competitions must meet certain guidelines in order to qualify as part of the Series and to be eligible to use E-Community grant funds* (see p. 3) to pay for part or all of the competition.

Important Dates

November 12, 2021 – Deadline for YEC Series online sanction applications due to NetWork Kansas

March 25, 2022 – Cut-off for sanctioned community entrepreneurship competitions to be held 

March 31, 2022 – Executive Summaries for KEC State Championship Due to KSU

April 8, 2022 – KEC Finalists announced

April 28, 2022 – KEC State Championship

Requirements for all Events

Local entrepreneurship competitions must meet all of the following requirements in order to qualify as part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series.

1. The physical location of the competition must be in Kansas. If needed, competitions may go virtual.
2. The participating students must reside in Kansas. (Any exceptions must be approved by NetWork Kansas in advance).
3. The competition must be open to students enrolled in one or more grades between 9-12 or an equivalent. The competition may be open to others but at least one of these grades must be represented. Ex. 7-12th, 9-12th, 10th grade only, or 6-9th grades are all acceptable competition structures.
4. The competition must include a written Executive Summary following the provided “Executive Summary Guidelines” and a 4-minute Presentation, which can be delivered in the tradeshow, or in a separate phase of competition. The competition may also include one or more of the following in-person components: elevator pitch, tradeshow, and/or other event.
5. The competition must reserve at least one judging spot for an active member of the Kansas Masons. 6.) The competition should follow the Marketing Guide listed on VentureDash.
6. Prizes are not mandatory, but competitions offering prizes must not exceed a total of $3,500 in prizes, and must not exceed $1,500 for first place, $1,250 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. No other prize should exceed $1,000. This cap does not include the $250 prize sponsored by the Kansas Masonic Foundation for the first place business, conditional upon participating in the KEC, and to be awarded after the KEC.
7. The competition must apply for a sanction from NetWork Kansas, either by the deadline of November 12, 2021 or before the event is held, if an event occurs prior to November 12. Only events awarded a sanction by NetWork Kansas will be considered part of the YEC Series.
8. The competition must take place between August 1, 2021 and March 25, 2022.
9. The competition host must agree to pay a fee of $1,500 to NetWork Kansas if the event is awarded a sanction. If an E-Community organizes the event, the fee of $1,500 is waived for the 2021-2022 YEC Series as a benefit of the E-Community Partnership.
10. A student may compete in only one local event per 2021-2022 YEC Series. A student may only submit one business concept per competition.
11. Communities may only organize or participate in one local event per the 2021-2022 YEC Series, unless compelling reasons for more than one competition exist. Approval must be given by NetWork Kansas in advance.