Official Entry Application Form

1. Eligibility

• The competition is open to young entrepreneurs between the ages of 13 and 30 years.
• Individuals or teams may enter.
• Teams must nominate one spokesperson.
• Applicants under the age of 18 must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

2. Closing Date

• Entries close on 25 September 2026 at midnight.
• Entries received after the closing date may only be considered at the organisers' discretion.

3. Business Plan Submission

Every entrant must submit:

• A completed Official Entry Application Form.
• A business plan in English, which may be handwritten or typed and submitted in Word or another accepted format.
• Any supporting sketches, drawings or illustrations (optional).

Please refer to the Business Plan Template for the recommended content of the business plan.

4. Community Impact

Every business plan must explain how the business intends to make a positive contribution through initiatives such as:

• Job creation.
• Skills development.
• Youth empowerment.
• Environmental sustainability.
• Community upliftment.
• Support for charities or schools.
• Any other meaningful social impact.

Community impact forms part of the judging criteria. Finalists should familiarise themselves with Rotary and Rotaract, and consider how their business could contribute to community projects or future Rotaract involvement.

5. Original Work

• All submissions must be the entrant's own original work.
• Business concepts may not be copied from another person or business.

6. Responsible Use of AI

• AI may be used as a tool for research, brainstorming, language improvement and presentation preparation.
• The business concept, content and understanding of the business plan must be the entrant's own original work, regardless of whether it is handwritten or typed.
• Judges may ask questions to confirm the entrant's understanding of their business.
• Any entry found to rely substantially on AI-generated content or plagiarism may be disqualified.

7. Language Requirements

• The application form and business plan must be completed in English.
• Any finalist requiring an interpreter must notify Rotary BizEast as soon as possible before the final event.
• The use of an interpreter will not disadvantage the entrant during judging.

8. Confidentiality & Intellectual Property

• Every business concept remains the sole intellectual property of the entrant.
• Rotary BizEast, judges, mentors, sponsors and organisers undertake to treat every submission with the strictest confidence.
• No business idea may be copied, reproduced, shared or commercially exploited without the entrant's prior written permission.
• Submission grants Rotary BizEast permission only to evaluate the business concept for the purposes of the Smart Shark Pitch Competition.

9. Judging Criteria

Business concepts will be judged on:

• Problem and customer understanding - 20%
• Business idea and practicality - 20%
• Entrepreneurial thinking and initiative - 20%
• Understanding of how the business makes money - 15%
• Growth potential - 10%
• Community impact - 10%
• Understanding of the business plan - 5%

Finalists are not judged on professional polish, expensive visual aids, perfect English or previous presentation experience. Judges will assess whether entrants understand and can explain their business.

10. Finalists

• Successful entrants will be notified that they have progressed to the final stage of the Smart Shark Pitch Competition.
• Final event details will be communicated directly to finalists once confirmed.
• Each finalist's presentation is five minutes in total.
• An optional video may be included as part of the presentation, limited to two minutes.
• Any video must be supplied in MP4 format on a USB drive, as no internet access will be available on the day.
• Finalists who do not use a video or slides will not be disadvantaged.

11. Code of Conduct

Entrants are expected to:

• Behave respectfully at all times.
• Treat judges and fellow competitors with courtesy.
• Demonstrate honesty and integrity.
• Follow all competition instructions.

Rotary BizEast reserves the right to disqualify entrants whose behaviour brings the competition into disrepute.

12. Media Consent

By entering the competition, participants (and parents/guardians where applicable) grant Rotary BizEast permission to photograph, film and record the competition for promotional purposes unless written notice is given before the event.

13. Judges' Decision

• The decision of the appointed judging panel is final.
• No correspondence regarding the judging process will be entered into.
• Non-cash sponsored prizes may not be transferred or exchanged for cash unless authorised by the sponsor. Any advertised cash prize will be awarded as stated.

14. Acceptance

Submission of an application confirms that the entrant has read, understood and agrees to abide by these Rules and Conditions.

15. Verification of Information

• Rotary BizEast reserves the right to verify any information submitted.
• Any false, misleading or fraudulent information may result in immediate disqualification.

16. Prize Conditions

• Prizes are awarded only to the registered entrant(s).
• Non-cash prizes may not be transferred or exchanged for cash unless authorised by the prize sponsor. Any advertised cash prize will be awarded as stated.
• Certain prizes may be subject to the sponsor's own terms and conditions.

17. Organisers' Rights

• Rotary BizEast reserves the right to amend these Rules and Conditions where necessary.
• The organisers may postpone, modify or cancel the competition if circumstances beyond their control require it.
• The organisers' decisions on matters not specifically covered by these rules shall be final.

18. Conflict of Interest

• Any judge, mentor or organiser with a conflict of interest relating to an entrant must declare that conflict.
• Where appropriate, they may be excluded from assessing that entrant.

19. Child Protection

• Entrants under the age of 18 must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• Parents or guardians remain responsible for minors attending competition activities.

The Smart Shark Promise

We are looking for entrepreneurs, not perfect writers. We want to hear your ideas, your own words and your passion. A simple business plan, expressed in your own words, that demonstrates original thinking and a desire to improve your community is worth far more than a polished AI-generated document.