Imagine Cup 2009 > Software Design Invitational > Rounds

Software Design Invitational Rounds

Qualifying Round Deliverables – Must be Submitted no later than January 22nd, 2009 11:59pm pst

Required Supporting Materials (Templates will be provided for each of these at www.microsoft4me.com/imaginecup)

• Starter Business Plan
• Design Requirements Document
• Development Schedule
• Description of your solution, how it adheres to the 2009 Imagine Cup Theme, introductions of your team members.

National Semi-Finals Deliverables – Must be Submitted no later than March 8th 2009, 11:59pm pst

Your Team must create and submit the materials described below: Templates will be provided for: Current Development Schedule and The Semi-Finals Business Plan at www.microsoft4me.com/imaginecup

Required Materials

• Working prototype, in "Alpha Mode". Submitted as a Visual Studio project file.
• Current development schedule (use template)
• The Semi Final Business Plan which has much more detail, may show positive feedback from potential users, and has some preliminary information that the product can be financially successful. (use template)
• 3-5 minute video that: (A) introduces each member of the Team; and (B) describes your application by providing: (i) background and context; (ii) an explanation of why the problem that your application is designed to address is interesting; (iii) a description of how the application works; and (C) a thorough demonstration of the application in alpha. The video must be less than 30MB and submitted as a .avi, .mpeg, or .wmv file.

National Semi-Finals Judging Elements

• 10% Problem Definition: How precise and relevant is the real world problem chosen by the team? Describe why you selected the specific problem and why it is more compelling than other issues. This is the needs or market analysis section of your business plan
• 10% Consistency: How well does the project adhere to the Imagine Cup theme? Who is your solution better than any current options. This is the competitive analysis and positioning section of the business plan
• 10% Innovation: Does the application approach a new problem, or look at an old problem in a new way? Is your product or service evolutionary or revolutionary. This is the product section of the business plan that covers the proprietary nature of your offering.
• 10% Impact: Does the application either impact a large number of people very broadly, or impact a smaller number of people very deeply? What is the impact or value of your solution. This is the part of the business plan that quantifies Return on Investment or why someone should invest in your project
• 10% Effectiveness: To what degree does the application solve the problem in question? Document your target consumer's satisfaction with your solution. What customer retention or repeat purchase assumptions have you made. This is the consumer market research section of the business plan that enables you to justify your sales forecast.
• 10% User Experience: To what degree are the HCI (Human Computer Interfaces) intuitive, ergonomic, and user friendly? What HCI research did you conduct. What feedback did you receive and what modifications did you make from the concept stage to your final product. This is the product section of your business plan
• 10% Extendibility: Is the project technically open for evolution? Will the launch of your product result in competition and how will you maintain your competitive advantage after the first year. This is the future product development and financial forecast sections of your business plan
• 10% Complexity Management: How well does the solution assemble and handle all the technologies and techniques used to solve the problem? Is your product ready for market. What alpha and beta tests have you run and what experience have target consumers reported. This is the product section of the business plan
• 10% Functional Completeness: Is the project implemented, working, and "demonstration-ready"? How realistic are your sales projections. What consumer feedback do you have from current users and potential target consumers to justify the sales projections. This is another part of the financial section of the business plan
• 10% Video Presentation: Does your video T provide background and context to the project, explain why the problem is an interesting one, highlight how the system works, and include an insightful demonstration.