SESSY 2023
the competition
Become the Student Startup or the Student Project of the year!
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Two Different Awards
Two Different Procedures
Beyond recognition, honors and awarness boosts, all finalists will have access to the UStart Alumni’s networking opportunities. All finalists will be among a national organisation of change-makers and future leaders that have demonstrated drive, passion, and dedication to achieving outstanding positive impact on the society and remarkably growth feat by any measure.
Do you want to know if you have what it takes to qualify for one or two of these awards? There’s only one way to find out.
Student Startup Of The Year (SSY)
Open to everyone!
With the Student Startup Of The Year Award 2023, UStart wants to give a significant boost to the most promising student startup of 2023, to help them with achieving their trajectory from Passion To Impact!
Prize : 5000 euros in cash
Join the closed circle of previous years’ big winners:
Spentys, Tulipal, Greenzy, Becycled
Student Project Of The Year (SPY)
Open to everyone!
With the Student Projects of the Year Award, UStart aims at providing visibility and advices to the most ambitious and promising student project of 2023. If you do not fulfil the eligibility criteria for the SSY, this new category is made for you.
Prize : 2500 euros in kind
The contest
If your growing startup, company or non-profit organization has a positive impact, or shows great promise for the next few years to come, get a national recognition of your hard-earned triumphs and a structural boost for your startup by participating in the Student Startup (SSY) award, the hallmark of student entrepreneurial success.
If you are about to launch your start-up or your non-profit organisation and you would like to confront your ideas with a jury of experts, don’t hesitate anymore and apply for the Student Project of the Year (SPY).
Apply and celebrate your achievements.
Submit your application at the latest by February 12th, 2023.
The Eligibility Criteria are set out below.
THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THE STUDENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR (SPY)
The pre-selection of the Student Project of the Year’s (SPY) semi-finalists
Based on your application form, a jury of experts will select the 10 most promising student projects based on various criteria, namely : The originality, innovation and thoughtfulness of your project (company or non-profit organization). The differentiation from the existing competition. The identification and addressing of major relevant risks, and inclusion of contingency plans.
The Semi-Final and selection of the 4 SPY finalists who will attend the final of the SESSY Awards 2023
Thereafter, those 10 Student Projects will be invited to pitch their project at the SESSY Awards semi-final on the 15th March, 2023, as semi-finalists. The 4 SPY finalists will be announced at the end of the semi-final and will be able to participate in the grand final on the 29th March, 2023.
THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THE STUDENT STARTUP OF THE YEAR (SSY)
The pre-selection of the Student Startup of the Year’s (SSY) semi-finalists
Based on your application form, a jury of experts will select the 10 most promising student startups based on various criteria, namely : The originality, innovation and thoughtfulness of your startup (company or non-profit organization). The differentiation from the existing competition. The identification and addressing of major relevant risks, and inclusion of contingency plans.
Thereafter, the 10 most promising startups will be able to attend the semi-finals, where they will be able to pitch their project with professional coaching.
Those 10 semi-finalists will be officially announced on social media by March, the 1st, 2022, and the semi-final will take place on the 15th March 2023.
The 10 semi-finalists from the SSY category, they will be invited to pitch at SESSY Awards semi-final in front of a jury panel composed of our partners and experienced entrepreneurs. These experts will elect the 4 SSY finalists, based on the following different criteria:
The target market, customer identification and segmentation. The business model and revenue streams. The marketing strategy and sales strategy, with a plan to scale. The product development and traction-to-date. The future measurable, achievable milestones. And the expertise of founding team and commitment, and motivation of founding team.
The Semi-Final and selection of the 4 SSY finalists who will attend the final of the SESSY Awards 2023
The 4 SSY finalists will be announced at the end of the semi-final and will be able to participate in the grand final on the 29th March, 2023.
At the Award Ceremony :
> the 4 SSY Finalists will be asked to pitch their project, this time in front of a professional, high profile 8-headed jury panel and the full audience of the event. After a 2-minute video of introduction, the 5-minute pitch of each candidate will be followed by a 3-minute Q&A Session. Then the audience will vote live for the Student Start-up of the Year winner.
> the 4 SPY Finalists will be asked to pitch their project, followed by a Q&A session, this time in front of a professional, high profile 8-headed jury panel and the full audience of the event. Then the audience will vote live for the Student Project of the Year winner.
The jury will finally decide who will be the winners of the SESSY AWARD 2023!
Eligibility criteria
To be able to apply for the Student Startup of the Year Award (SSY):
- You must currently be enrolled or have been enrolled as an (under)graduate student in a university/college in the academic year 2022-2023. Full-time enrolment is not required; part-time enrolment is acceptable.
- You must be the owner, founder or controlling shareholder of your startup and principally responsible for its operation.
- You must not have been one of the finalists of any of the previous editions of the SESSY Awards.
- The age cap for participation is 27 years of age.
To be able to apply for the Student Project of the Year Award (SPY):
- You must currently be enrolled or have been enrolled as an (under)graduate student in a university/college in the academic year 2022-2023. Full-time enrollment is not required; part-time enrollment is acceptable.
- You must be able to concretely explain the business plan of your future start-up / non-profit organisation.
- Benefitting from the help of an incubator or adviser is a plus.
- The age cap for participation is 27 years of age.
Become the next winner of our SESSY awards
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