Skip to main content
ACADEMICS | INSTITUTES & CENTERS

IDEA CHALLENGE INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES

file

The Idea Challenge inspires creativity amongst first-year Villanova students by asking a simple question: What new product or service, big or small, could change the world? Each fall semester, first-year business, computer science, engineering, and nursing students pitch ideas in their introductory courses. The top teams present at the Idea Challenge Finals on Wednesday, November 20 and compete for a grand prize of $1,000. 

NOTE: This Instructor Resource Page contains links to confidential voting information and is for instructor use only. Links containing confidential information are labeled "INSTRUCTORS ONLY" The student-facing version of this website is on the IIE website and linked here. 

  • Students work on teams of 3-6. 
  • Pitches may be no more than two minutes in length. 
  • No presentation aids are permitted. This includes slide decks, handouts, prototypes, etc. 
  • Pitches should answer the following questions:
    • What problem or opportunity have you identified?
    • What is your solution?
    • How big is the potential market?
    • How will you generate revenue?
  • Pitches are evaluated on the following:
    • Clarity of the idea
      • How clearly was the idea communicated? 
    • Problem solution fit
      • Does the solution solve the stated problem?
    • Understanding of feasibility
      • This doesn’t mean the idea needs to be 100% feasible; rather, does the team understand what it will take to bring the idea to market? 
    • Quality of presentation
      • Were the presenters prepared and engaging? 
  • Instructors host pitches in their sections whenever works best, so long as IIE receives the results via the Winners Form no later than Sunday, November 3.
  • The top team from each section competes at the Idea Challenge Finals on Wednesday, November 20 @ 5pm in the Villanova Room.
  • New for 2024: Each school is responsible for recruiting one alumni judge, ideally an inovator and entrepreneur in the field. Please send judge information to IIE Assistant Director, Stephen Green, no later than Sunday, 11/3. 
  • There is no competition-wide theme; however, individual instructors may choose to implement one for their section. We encourage students to THINK BIG. 
  • Contact IIE Assistant Director, Stephen Green, with any questions. 
  • Introduce the Idea Challenge. Feel free to use this Idea Challenge Introduction Deck. 
  • Ensure students understand the basics of how to pitch. We've created a Pitch Composition Resource Deck to help frame this conversation.
  • Here's an example pitch from the winners of the 2022 Idea Challenge, Metal No More. 
  • Prior to in-class pitches, each team must register their team by completing the Idea Challenge Registration Form. 
  • You can see which teams have registered and who is on each team by navigating to this Teams View (INSTRUCTORS ONLY). 
    • When you enter the view, click "Grouped by 1 field" at the top of the screen and select "Collapse all." 
    • Click the arrow to the left of your section to view the teams who have registered in your section. 
    • Check out this tutorial video for a demonstration of how this works. 
  • You're welcome to host in-class pitches whenever is most convenient so long as IIE receives the results via the Winners Form no later than Sunday, November 3.
    • In lieu of in class pitches, nursing students pitch at the Idea Challenge Nursing Semifinals on 11/4. 
  • After each team pitches, students will evaluate them on the criteria stated above by filling out this Voting Form. 
    • Students will complete the voting form once for each team.
    • Students will not complete a form for their own team.
  • If time allows, we recommend allowing a minute or two for Q&A following each pitch. 
  • You can view tallies in real time by navigating to this Votes View (INSTRUCTORS ONLY). 
    • When you enter the view, click "Grouped by 1 field" at the top of the screen and select "Collapse all." 
    • Click the arrow to the left of your section. 
    • Each team's point averages are at the top of each team's block in the "Total Points" column. 
    • Instructors can also see individual student votes and comments by clicking the arrow next to the team name. 
    • Check out this Idea Challenge Voting Tutorial video for a demonstration of how this works. 
  • The team with the highest average wins and the team with the second highest average is runner up.
    • If there is tie, instructors cast the final vote.
    • If a student votes for themselves, instructors should disqualify their votes.  
  • Once you've determined the winner and the runner up, fill out this Winners Form (INSTRUCTORS ONLY) and IIE will be notified. 
  • Students can view their tallies and comments by navigating to this Feedback Portal. 
  • IIE will send information to the winning and runner-up teams about when to pick up their Villanoava swag item and the winning team information about pitching at the Idea Challenge Finals on Wednesday, November 20 @ 5pm in the Villanova Room. 
  • Section Prizes:
    • Every member of the winning and runner up team from each section receives Villanova swag. 
    • The top team from each section is invited to compete at the Idea Challenge Finals on Wednesday, November 20 @ 5pm in the Villanova Room. 
  • Idea Challenge Finals Prizes
    • Grand prize: $1,000
    • 2nd, 3rd, and crowd choice winners: $100 university bookstore gift cards. 

Students will receive the following emails from IIE. Additional direction comes from instructors. 

  • Welcome to the Idea Challenge
    • Description of competition
    • Institute resources
    • Prize information
    • Idea Challenge Finals info
  • Idea Challenge Finals Reminder
  • Overview Deck
    • A resource for instructors to introduce the Challenge to students.
  • Pitch Composition Resource Deck
    • Tips for students on how to construct their pitch.
  • Team Registration Form
    • Each team must register prior to pitching!
  • Team Summary View (INSTRUCTORS ONLY)
    • Instructors can see which teams registered and who is on each team.
  • Voting Form
    • Students fill out a voting form for each team. They'll evaluate students on the three criteria and leave comments. 
  • Votes View (INSTRUCTORS ONLY)
    • Instructors can see the tally in real time. They can also see who voted by expanding the team view. 
  • Winners Form (INSTRUCTORS ONLY)
    • Instructors fill out this winners form to let IIE know who won in each section. IIE will contact winners after this form is submitted. 
  • Feedback Portal
    • Students can view their tallies and comments by logging in with the last four digits of the tallest team member's phone number (provided during registration). 
  • Registration, Voting, & Portal Tutorial Video
    • Watch a demonstration of how the registration, voting, and feedback features work. 

IDEA LAB

Meet our team!