Who can participate? All SJSU Students –Individuals or in teams –As part of a class project –As members of a student club –As an extracurricular activity A student can submit more than one entry Alumni, Faculty & Staff entries will be accepted IF space permits

Why participate? Win cash and in-kind prizes of up to $5,000 Improve your communication and presentation skills Get feedback on your ideas for new products and services Meet students from other disciplines to help turn your idea into a reality Network with entrepreneurs and business professionals Secure industry mentors to develop your idea into a business plan Enter your Business Plan into the SVCE’s Business Plan Competition in Spring 2010: you could win $10,000!

What is a Neat Idea? A neat idea is any practical idea that can change the world for the better It can be a new product, process or service, or simply a new application of existing technology We expect a neat idea to be innovative in some way, but not necessarily radical A new approach to implementing a standard computer program would fit if it created new benefits

How to present your idea? –A poster board display is required for each idea It can be supplemented by a model or prototype, and/or a computer display –In addition, participants can sign up for: The Elevator Pitch Contest Executive Summary contest

What to compete in? There are FOUR Competition areas: –Best Exhibit: participation is mandatory Judged on quality of poster board exhibit & supporting display (if any) –Best written summary 1-page idea summary submitted on-line –Best Elevator Pitch 2-minutes oral presentation –Social Innovation Award For projects that have societal value

How to sign-up? Register on-line at the SVNIF website: Registration deadline: November 18, 2009

For more information on the Neat Ideas Fair, project guidelines, judging criteria, previous winners, etc. go to: Contact Dr. Bobbi Makani, Interim Director, SVCE at Contact Dr. Anu Basu, Director, SVCE (on leave during Fall 2009) at The Silicon Valley Neat Ideas Fair is hosted by the Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship:

Ways for Faculty to encourage student participation Inform your students about the Fair and highlight the reasons why they should participate. Include the NIF project in your syllabus. Include a link to the SVNIF website on your faculty website. Mention the speaker events in your class or syllabus. Schedule a short presentation in your class by an NIF volunteer. Give credit or extra credit for speaker event attendance Give credit or extra credit for participating in the Fair Take your students to visit the Fair on Dec. 2 nd 2009.