National Nurses in Business Association
The Voice of Nurse Entrepreneurship
NNBA 2024 Shark Tank Competition
The Announcement and Entry Form
The Shark Tank is back – NNBA is hosting its annual Shark Tank Competition! Definitely a highlight of the conference. The Rules and Guidelines for our nurse entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to enter this event are below. NNBA’s Shark Tank does not require a business plan, financial statements or any supporting documents. It is literally “pure pitch”, with nothing but the value of your idea and presenting skills to support it. Who are the Sharks…stay tuned to find out! Cash Prizes, awards, and VIP consulting sessions will be presented.
NNBA’S Shark Tank Competition takes place in two rounds. The first round, the Qualifying Round, will be based upon completion of the NNBA Shark Tank Application. All competitors must register using the form below by May 1, 2024. This date may change due to having selected five finalists, so get your registration in early! Submitted entries will be judged on: innovative idea, proof of market and competitive advantage (see more below). NNBA’s Shark Tank competition is scheduled for Saturday, July 27th at the Embassy Suites Hotel Lake Buena Vista South. Applications will be reviewed by the deadline and Finalists will be notified. You must register for the conference to be eligible to present your innovative product, service, or program.
Finalists will be notified by May 2nd to ensure that we have your picture and brief bio included in the conference program! NNBA Shark Tank Competition Finalists will have an opportunity to discuss their “pitch” with NNBA Shark Tank Advisor, Michelle Podlesni, before the conference.
Shark Tank Pitch Rules
- Pitches cannot exceed 5 minutes. Finalists are expected to deliver approximately three to five minutes worth of content.
- Each pitch will be followed by a five-minute question/answer session with the judges, who will ask questions or clarification regarding the pitch.
- All pitches will be judged on four criteria: innovative idea, proof of a market, demonstration of competitive advantage, and response to the judges questions.
Shark Tank Judging Guidelines
The definition of the judging criteria is as follows:
- Innovative Idea: Because the NNBA Shark Tank focuses on drawing out new business ideas, the core idea itself is of elevated importance. In this category, a completely new idea with compelling potential will do well, even if the proposed details of its execution seem doubtful.
- Proof of a Market: Even the best products or services fail as businesses if nobody in particular wants to buy them. Therefore, each pitch should identify a profitable group of people with a unique need that the business would address.
- Demonstration of Competitive Advantage: Once the market is identified, if it is truly viable, it will probably already have businesses competing directly or indirectly for it. Each pitch should acknowledge these competitors and explain what would set its own company apart. Sometimes referred to the USP (Unique Selling Proposition). If there are no competitors, the pitch should explain why the market is empty and how they can viably enter it.
- Response to Questions: Each final pitch will be followed by a five-minute question/answer session. The finalists’ ability to respond to the judges’ questions will be considered here, as will the soundness of the pitches under scrutiny.
2024 NNBA Shark Tank Entry Form