Calling Carolina’s Most Innovative Students!

 

Announcing the 16th Annual

PDMA Carolinas Student Innovation Competition

Sponsored by:

The Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) – Carolinas Chapter

Calling all student Innovators in the Carolinas! We are excited to announce our 2025 student innovation competition. The competition offers you an opportunity to showcase your ideas and business acumen, network with business leaders, and WIN CASH PRIZES! Plus, by participating you can set yourself up for great career opportunities with an experience that will jump off your resume and set you apart from the crowd.

Key Dates:

Intent to Submit March 7, 2025

Full Submission March 28, 2025

Presentation (virtual) April 18, 2025

Please note that students can participate in both PDMA Carolinas as well as PDMA’s Global Student Innovation Challenge, separately.

Who can participate?

  • Students in North Carolina or South Carolina that are currently enrolled full-time at a university academic program either in an undergraduate or graduate level are eligible to participate.   

  • Great ideas can come from anywhere, and we encourage students from all majors / disciplines to apply; it is even better if you have a team from multiple disciplines!  

Got a great idea?

  • Perhaps it’s a new wearable device that can help prevent medical issues? What about a transportation idea to help to get rid of more cars on the road?  How about something that solves a problem for you or someone you know?  The only limitation is your imagination!


What’s in it for you?

  • An opportunity to win a cash prize (1st prize = $2,000, 2nd prize= $1,000, 3rd prize $500)

  • Major Bragging Rights! Winning the competition will also look for you and your university!

  • Students will receive a free one-year PDMA Student membership

  • Advising Professors will receive a free one-year PDMA Academic membership

  • Receive mentorship and feedback from industry leaders in the innovation space

  • Feedback from local competition can offer the students information to refine their presentations for the PDMA Global Student Innovation Challenge

What do I need to do to participate?

  • Identify your new idea or product.

  • Send your intent to submit by March 7th  (see below requirements)

  • Complete your final, full submission by March 28th (see below requirements)

 Intent to Submit

  • A one-page summary of your service, product, social innovation, etc. 

  • Team name, team member’s names and contact information (email and phone number)

  • Name and contact information of the university professor(s) either teaching the innovation / product design class (if class project) or supervising the work (if independent study)

  • Email to Don Finucane at dfinucan@charlotte.edu by March 7th with the subject line: 2025 PDMA Product Innovation Competition for students

Full Submission

  • One document (PDF) with the team name, product or service name, name and contact information of all team members, university name, and name and contact information of sponsoring professor. This document will remain with the competition coordinator.

  • A separate document (PDF) with the full submission containing all details of the new product concept.  This document will be distributed to a team of judges. The team members’ names or university affiliation should not appear in this submission document.

  • Typical submissions are anywhere from 4-7 pages of well thought and structured information pertaining to each and every element of the Scoring Criteria listed below. 

  • Optional short video (3 to 5 min) explaining the concept or product idea can be included (similar to Shark Tank). The video can be uploaded at Student competition videos.

  • Email to Don Finucane at dfinucan@uncc.edu March 25th, 2025 with the subject line: : 2025 PDMA Product Innovation Competition for students

Scoring Criteria

By the PDMA definition: “Products are bundles of attributes (features, functions, benefits, and uses) and can be either tangible, as in the case of physical goods, or intangible, as in the case of those associated with service benefits, or can be a combination of the two.” Submissions may be of a product, a service, or a combination of the two. Submissions will be judged on three criteria, as listed below.  Ideas previously submitted to PDMA Carolinas student competition will not be accepted.

  • Is it real? Can you demonstrate that the product can be developed and that there is a market for it?

  • Can it win? Can you show how the product would be better than competitive alternatives?

  • Is it worth doing? Can you develop a financial (cost/revenue) plan that makes investment sense?

For detail scoring criteria, please refer the enclosed scoring template at the end of this document.

For more information

Visit us at http://www.innovatecarolina.org/student-competition/

Contact: dfinucan@charlotte.edu