Judging Criteria
Live presentations will take place in two rounds. All live presentations will be a maximum of 10 minutes in length, with 10 minutes of questions from the judging panel. Judging will not be biased based on the type of business and their inherent pivoting timeframe (i.e. web-based businesses are able to pivot inherently more quickly compared to physical product-based businesses).
First Round
Semifinalist teams will be required to present their presentations live at the University of Windsor. Teams will present in front of a panel of highly experienced and qualified business experts. Each team will be assessed based on the judging criteria below. The top 5 teams with the highest score will move to the finalist round. All semi-finalists will be eligible for the Postmedia People’s Choice Award and KPMG Financial Competence Award.
Second Round
The final presentations will take place in front of a new panel of judges where the winner and runner-up of the RBC EPIC BMCC will be determined. Each finalist team will be judged on the Main Judging Criteria.
Each of the following criteria will be scored on a scale from 1 – 5, with 1 being poorly explained and 5 being exceptional.
Main Judging Criteria
Semi-Final and Final Competition will be judged on the following:
- Did the team clearly state their initial hypotheses and how they were developed?
- Is the customer problem a ‘significant’ problem and was ‘significant’ defined?
- Did the team identify which hypotheses are most crucial for their business success and therefore should be tested first?
- Did the team create fast, low cost, and effective methods for testing their hypotheses?
- Did the teams use the testing methods they developed in a reliable and effective manner?
- Did the team develop conclusions from the results of their testing, and did they clearly state whether their hypotheses were validated or invalidated?
- Did the team pivot based on supporting evidence from their testing?
- Did the team develop a minimum viable product, as opposed to immediately creating a full product, which addressed their hypotheses for further testing?
- Did the team use a business model canvas to record their progress?
- Did the team provide evidence that their business model/solution to a customer problem was validated?
Postmedia People’s Choice Award
All teams are eligible for this award
- Did the team demonstrate excellent presentation skills?
- Did the team effectively use and illustrate the business model canvas?
- Did the team demonstrate a general tenacity, drive and commitment to their venture?
KPMG Financial Competency Award
All teams are eligible for this award
- Did the team utilize their financial resources wisely in making their MVP (prototype)?
- Did the team present a sound revenue model?
- Did the team able to demonstrate a sustainable financial model that can take the business to the next level?
2019 Judges

Aaron Mailloux
Associate
Capital Assist Valuation Inc.

Adam Castle
Director of Venture Services
WEtech Alliance

Ali AbdulHussein
MEM Program Coordinator
University of Windsor

Debbie Landers
COO
Georgian Partners

Diane Reko
CEO
Reko International Group

Duane Acorn
Senior Manager
Postmedia

Janis Windsor
Organizational Change Management Consultant
SuccessTown

Joseph Heraldo
CEO
Measuredlive

Lauren Makaric
Business Account Manager
RBC

Lynda Heij
President
LP45 Consulting

Myrtle Amrita Donnipad
Youth & Entrepreneurship Advisor
WindsorEssex Small Business Centre

Nicole Anderson
Business Consultant

Paul Schlosser
Client Relationship Manager
Active Care Management

Robert Whent
Industrial Technical Advisor IRAP
National Research Council Canada

Roger Kirkness
CEO
Convictional

Shelly Fellows
VP Communications
AIS Technologies Group

Terra Cadeau
Director & PMO
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare