How long is the competition?
Applications are scheduled from 30th March to 10th June 2010. The Final Awards Ceremony is scheduled for November 2010. You will find more details under News & Events.

How do I enter the competition?
Go to Apply Now (The competition is now closed) to secure an ID and a password. Then fill out the online application form. You can save you answers and review them as many times as you wish before submitting it for grading.

Can I participate with more than one plan?
We strongly recommend that you participate with only one plan. You should keep in mind that winning plans are well developed and thoroughly prepared to take to market. However, we do allow multiple plans to be submitted as long as each plan is registered as a separate participating team.

Is my idea legally protected during MENA100?
The MENA100 staff members are bound by confidentiality. Some judges sign non-disclosure agreements prior to the competition, but the majority of them will not because it inhibits their ability to invest in a variety of businesses and can create false expectations for entrepreneurs. Keep in mind that the significant damage to a professional reputation that results from abusing the privilege of reading your plan is the primary reason judges and coaches do not discuss plans outside of our proceedings. The best protection of your intellectual property is speed to market, and we encourage you to bring your ideas to market at the earliest opportunity to ensure success in your business.

What are the judging criteria?
In general, competitors in the new business category are judged on the quality of their business ideas and potential for growth. Existing businesses are judged on the strength of their business models and evidence of high-growth strategies.

Is there an age limit for participation?
The competition does not have age restriction. We welcome entries from all candidates across the MENA region.

I am a fulltime employee elsewhere, can I still participate in the competition?
Yes. Provided this job does not affect your efforts on concretizing your business plan in case you are one of the three winners.

My business partners are not MENA region permanent residents. Can we still enter?
Yes. However, at least 2/3 of the members must be a national of participating countries. You will find more details under about the competition/eligibility.

What are judges looking for?
The judges will choose as the winning plan, a business that understands its market, provides detailed evidence of potential success, and has an experienced, motivated, and dedicated management team. A submitting team need not fill all of the key positions in the proposed plan. For example, you may indicate the need to recruit a key manager following capital acquisition. Other deficiencies may be met through the use of an advisory board. The following are a few helpful suggestions:

►	Compete on technology and quality, not price.
►	Write clearly and succinctly. Catch the judge’s attention quickly and prove that you are capable of superb communication.bsp;
►	Present realistic financial projections. Do not write your plan in the “best case scenario.” Our judges are realists. Avoid mistakes like leaving out taxes on your financial statements.
►	Know your market, what types of individuals comprise it, what can you predict about potential changes.
►	Prove your company’s ability to sustain a competitive advantage (barriers to entry, proprietary technology or information, etc.)
►	Build a strong team with both technical and business skills.
►	Gather advice from everyone around you, family, neighbors, friends, professors, employers, etc.
►	Attend the educational Workshops. The top teams last year attended and greatly benefited from the educational Workshops.

What should be included in financials?
The function of the finance section in your business plan is to indicate the percentages of particular costs as well as gains. It should indicate how much money is going where and for how long. It should include any planned investments, savings, and necessary expenditures. It should address a simple projection of sales and revenues. It, like the business plan, should be concise and easy to follow. Charts and graphs are an exceptional manner of presentation. It should support and defend all information presented in the Business Plan.

What should be included in content?
The business plan should be easily readable, concise, and interesting. It should address specific strategies, goals, prospective markets and investors and the actions needed to accomplish or obtain them. It is to the point and contains no unnecessary information. It is a detailed expansion of the Executive Summary. It should include market research and growth projections for the next five years.

The necessary function of a business plan is to achieve the following:

• Present the organizational structure of the business, including procedure for necessary restructuring due to growth, merger etc. 
• Present the resources needed to accomplish day-to-day business.
• Explain the market for the goods or services presented.  This must include a detailed result of a profound market research.  The market research may include market size, anticipated growth; key changes, driving forces of the market, detailed research on the competition, unique capabilities of your company, market penetration, etc.
• If applicable, present the findings of thorough patent research.
• Determine and prepare for the risks and benefits of the operating business.
• Include detailed information about key individuals in your organization and the ability your team has of working well together.
• Present a positive reason for investors to take interest.

Is it possible to submit the application in a language other than English?
Yes: in French. Hence we require that applications and any subsequent materials be submitted in English or French. Our selection process involves multiple reviewers, and we are not able to support this process in languages other than English and French.