You'll be given a maximum TWELVE-MINUTE time slot to share details about your business and to answer questions from the judges. The best way to prepare for this is to pretend you are pitching your idea/concept/business to potential investors. Use those crucial first-impression moments to excite the investors, so they want to know morel Put your best foot forward- in many cases, that will be how your particular small business stands out from the others in some way, or shape, or form... be yourself, and let your passion shine through!

Below are some questions the judges may ask.

1.Please describe a typical customer experience in/with your business.

2.How will you keep payroll costs efficient?

3.What attributes will you look for in new employees?

4.What will your hours be?

5.How will you stand out from others... specifically competitors? lOW, what might be your "edge," or

"differential advantage?

6.Is the market for this idea meaningful, marketable, and measurable?

7.How will you "seed" viral word-of-mouth?

8.Briefly, share an overview of your income and expenses? How might you deal with a negative cash-flow, particularly in the beginning stages?

9.Do you think in five years, you'll still leap out of bed in the morning to go to work at this business?

10.'Any thoughts or aspirations on expansion... franchising perhaps, or going public?

11.Why should an individual invest in your business? Why would YOU invest in your business? Are you mi comfortable with "angel investors," or "venture capitalists," or family loans, or bank loans, or..

12.How soon will your business be profitable and how will you manage until then?