The TiE-ISB Connect 2008 has two categories Bright Ideas & Cool Start Ups in which teams can present. Each team must designate which category it is entering. The following are the category-specific Rules.

Bright Ideas (Download template)

To qualify for the Presentation in this category, a proposed venture must:

• plan to be financially sustainable or profitable; whether it is a commercial business or a tax-exempt organization, it must be self sufficient on its earned revenue.

• be scalable. This criterion will be unique for each business plan. Scalability will take into account the potential for growth of the business
• have a Product or Service idea which has growth potential.
• have an innovative Concept and have commercial viability and job generating potential.
• must not have been in operation for more than 6 months, with the start of the venture marked by the date of registration.
• have proof of concept
• have business plans & executive summaries written in English.

Cool StartUps (Download template)

To qualify for the Presentation in this category, a proposed venture must:

• plan to be financially sustainable or profitable; whether it is a commercial business or a tax-exempt organization, it must be self sufficient on its earned revenue.
• be scalable. This criterion will be unique for each business plan. Scalability will take into account the potential for growth of the business
• must have been in operation for at least 6 months, with the start of the venture marked by the date of registration.
• be registered
• have a team with adequate technical/management education or business experience to exploit the technology
• have taken the first steps for revenue generation