<aside> 🔗 Apply Now: Click Here. Prior to applying, we recommend reading through the application questions below (section 2).

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<aside> 🚨 DEADLINE: Monday, March 17, 2025 at 4:00PM EST Deadline Extended to Friday March 21st at 12PM (Noon)

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[1/5] About The Stage 3 Market Readiness Award - $25,000

This award supports students who have completed formal business plans and/or alpha or beta prototypes - as per the Stage 2 Winner expectations. In preparation for the Stage 3 application, the applicant should be in a position to demonstrate that their idea has commercial potential, is able to address the issues identified, and has prepared a well-thought-out go-to-market strategy - in addition, address how their idea supports the donor mandate.

The Stage 3 Award is evaluated based on:

• Quality of your commercialization (Market and Technology) feasibility report or business plan
• Effectiveness of your go-to-market strategy
• Traction, prototype, and/or minimum viable product (MVP)

High-Level Application Advice

• Understand your customer - the key to getting funding is making sure you have a good understanding of the customer, and that you are building something that they will love.
• Less is more - just because there is a word limit, you don’t need to use it all up. We value the conciseness and quality of your thoughts - not how many words you put down.
• Reach out for help - if you are looking for advice on your Esch Application, reach out to [email protected] and we can help answer any questions you may have.

[2/5] Application Preview

All questions found in the application form can be found in this document. We highly recommend answering all the preview questions in a separate document and pasting them into the application form once you’ve answered all the questions.

Esch Application Questions - Stage 3