Eagle Works

Step 1 - Be a registered TN Tech Student

• You must be currently enrolled as a Tennessee Tech University student to compete.
• Participation is open to all majors, disciplines, and colleges, as well as undergraduate and graduate students.
• Tennessee Tech faculty, staff, administration, and the general public are not eligible to compete; however, they may serve as mentors.
• If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact us here. 

Step 2 - Register Yourself by March 29, 2024

• Registering is simply required to let us know that you are interested in competing.
• You do not need to have a team formed or a business idea to register.

REGISTER NOW

Step 3 - Form or Join a Team

• Brainstorm innovative business ideas which could produce a viable business venture.
  • Don't have an idea, but still want to compete? No problem. We encourage you to network with other students to find a team which can utilize your expertise.
• Form or join a team. Register by Friday, March 29. 
• Review the IP policy with your team.
  • If you are competing, you will be sharing information about your idea with Eagle Works staff, judges, and potentially the general public. If you have concerns about your intellectual property, please contact us so we can connect you with someone who can assist. 
• Contestants should seek to form interdisciplinary teams. This refers to students from different majors and colleges working together. Interdisciplinary teams are not required, but provide contestants opportunities to utilize collective strengths, meet new people, and learn from diverse backgrounds. Here are a couple examples of interdisciplinary teams (these are only random scenarios, you are encouraged to think creatively and critically about your unique needs when forming a team):
  • A nursing student has an innovative idea for an over-the-counter medical device. He/she seeks out an engineering student who can design a prototype, a business student who can produce financial statements, and a webdesign student who can create a web and social media plan.
  • An engineering student has an idea for a filtration system that provides clean water to impoverished people in international locations. He/she seeks out an earth sciences student who can assist with environmental concerns and biological testing, an education student to create an easy way to teach end users how to use the system, and an international business and cultures major to prepare business practices for global transactions.

Step 4 - Validate Your Idea and Create a Business Model/Plan

• Review the video from the Business Model Canvas pop-up.

• It is important to begin initial work on your idea and plan as early as possible.
• TN Tech will offer numerous events including informational meetings, networking opportunities, workshops, classes and more.
• The idea must originate from Tech students.
• The idea or company must be majority owned by Tech students (at least 51% of the idea or company must be owned by current Tech students). Contact us if you need clarification about this requirement.

Step 5 - Compete

• This is the rubric which will be used by the judges. Make sure to read and understand each category.
• Student teams will submit their business plan by 11:59 p.m. on March 29, 2024. Late submissions will be docked 20 points. No exceptions! Changes will not be accepted without penalty after the deadline. Submission form will open on March 22.
• All teams will participate in a tradeshow from 12-1:30 p.m. on April 6 in Bell Hall. More information coming soon.
• Finalists will compete on Saturday,  April 6 at 2 p.m. in the Bell Hall auditorium! More information coming soon.
• See the FAQ page for frequently asked questions, templates, and additional guidelines and rules.