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Your vision and journey, captured.
Every great endeavor begins with a single idea. Your Ideas are seeds of innovation, and our notebooks are the fertile ground where they take root. Your Space is a sanctuary free from digital distractions, a place where your thoughts can flow naturally onto the page.
Use ZERU to Scale Your Growth, transform concepts into actionable plans and aspirations into achievements.
ZERU Notebooks are secure, reliable, and always there, when tech isn’t.
Empowering Friends of ZERU to build, scale, and get funded.
PRESENT
A BUSINESS IDEA
To cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs by equipping them with real-world business + social innovation skills, culminating in a pitch experience.
Why This Matters:
• ZERU is committed to community and economic empowerment
• Sponsors have a direct opportunity to invest in youth development + innovation
• Seamlessly integrates with existing ZERU workshops to help you make more money for your business (branding, leadership, tech, etc.)
Pitch your idea as a Founding Member and gain support for your business. Your monthly contribution of $25 help us fund this program and provide grant opportunities for budding entrepreneurs.
TEAM COMPOSITION
• High school and college students - Teams of 2–4 ages 14–18 by the submission deadline.
• Bootstrapping/Idea Entrepreneurs - Teams of 1-4 members with no revenue
• Pre-seed Funding Entrepreneurs - Teams of 1-4 members with no revenue
• Seed Funding Entrepreneurs - Teams of 1-4 members with some revenue
Additionally:
• Each team must have one adult advisor (age 21+).
• Only one advisor may be listed officially, though multiple may assist.
• Contact information, including email addresses, must be submitted for all team members and the advisor.
• Each participant may only participate on one team and submit one concept per competition year.
COMPETITION TRACKS (Choose One)
1. Business Innovation
• Focus: Solving a customer problem
• Goal: To generate revenue and profit
2. Social Innovation
• Focus: Solving a social or environmental problem
• Goal: To make a positive impact
PITCH ROUND FORMATS (Choose One)
1. Live Pitch Event
• In-person or hybrid event (location determined by host partner)
• At least one team member must attend the event and present the pitch live
2. Virtual / Pre-Recorded Pitch
• Submit a pitch deck and a 60-second introductory video
• No need to attend an event physically
Once submitted, track and format selections are final and cannot be changed
IMPORTANT RULES
• Do NOT include your school name in the submission unless it’s essential to your concept
•The submitted concept must be entirely created by the team
• If the idea was developed with others not on the team, their full legal names must be disclosed
• The concept must not have generated more than $150,000 in total revenue prior to submission
• Concepts that have advanced to a pitch competition in previous years may not be resubmitted
1. Written Concept Narrative (3–5 Pages, PDF)
The narrative should flow like a mini business plan, and include:
1. The Problem
What issue are you solving? Why does it matter?
2. Target Audience
Who are your customers or beneficiaries? Describe them clearly.
3. The Solution
What is your product/service? How does it solve the problem?
4. Unique Value Proposition
What makes your solution better or different than others?
5. Business Model or Sustainability Plan
How will you generate revenue or maintain the social venture?
6. Team Strength
What makes your team qualified? Mention your skills/resources.
7. Traction (if any)
Any validation? Surveys, feedback, social media engagement, MVP use?
2. Introductory Video (60 Seconds, Public URL)
Video must include:
• Team member names
• Name of the concept
• The problem, audience, and solution
• Maximum 60 seconds
• Publicly accessible link (YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc.)
ZERU Workshop Series on early stage Critical Thinking Frameworks for Entrepreneurs
• Orientation - Introduction to Entrepreneurship and AI
• Marketing - Brand Storytelling
• Finance - Design Thinking
• Operations - MVP + Tech Tools (CMS, CRM, Canva, etc.)
• Innovation - Pitch Development + Confidence Building
Week | Theme | Activities |
Orientation | Ideation & Problem Framing | Problem tree analysis, brainstorm sessions |
1 | Audience & Market Research | Persona creation, surveys, interviews |
2 | Value Proposition & MVP | Use Canva or Google Slides to mockup solution |
3 | Business Model & Revenue | Lean Canvas or mini BMC worksheet |
4 | Narrative Draft & Peer Review | Storytelling + writing workshop |
Presentations | Video Recording & Submission | Practice pitch + film 60-sec intro |
Presentation Format Selection
• Teams will select their presentation round format (Live or Virtual) during their initial submission.
• No changes to presentation format or event location will be accepted after submission.
• If a team is unable to participate in their selected pitch format, they will forfeit their place in the competition.
Live Pitch Event Requirements
• Time Limit: 5 minutes (strict)
• Slides: Maximum of 15 slides
• Q&A: 3 minutes of judges’ questions and team answers
• Only team members who presented may answer during Q&A
Creativity Allowed:
Teams may incorporate:
• Display boards
• Prototypes
• Images
• Motion graphics
• Sounds or embedded media
Tech Notes:
• Internet access and audio-visual equipment are not guaranteed
• If technical difficulties occur, the timer does NOT stop
• Be ready to adapt on the spot
Virtual / Pre-Recorded Pitch Requirements
• Presentation Video:
• Max 5 minutes, must be submitted via a public URL
• Videos over 5 minutes or not viewable will be disqualified
• Presentation Deck:
• Max 15 slides, submitted as a .pdf
• Must be the same deck used in the pitch video
• Deck should be visible in the video (e.g., screen share or background)
Creativity Encouraged:
Teams may use:
• Prototypes
• Images
• Motion graphics
• Display boards
• Sound effects or background music
Note: Pitch videos and decks are judged in Round 2 only.
Teams advancing to the Final Round may update their pitch materials at that time.
All materials are final once submitted through the platform.
How might our community help you today?
With AI-driven tools and hands-on coaching, see your vision come to life. Tell us what you do, your business, and what you're working on. Friends of ZERU access up to $5000 in start-up credits to keep their ventures moving.
Experience what it takes
Empowering ideas, strengthening communities. ZERU fuels more than productivty, it supports a movement
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Fund a Founder
Discover a community-first approach to business growth with Friends of ZERU membership. Designed with young entrepreneurs in mind, our program provides tools and experiences that enrich your path to success. From exclusive discounts on business services to free coffee at local cafés, each benefit is crafted to support your growth in meaningful ways.
Register your notebook now and unlock free coffee, coworking spaces, and tools to grow your business.
Gain the knowledge and skills you need to grow, with access to events hosted by industry experts and mentors.
Need help setting up a website, registering your business, or developing your brand? As a member, enjoy exclusive discounts on essential services tailored to young entrepreneurs.
Enjoy free coffee at local coffee shops and independent bookstores, where you can find inspiration and support nearby businesses that enrich the community.
Use your digital gift card to make discounted purchases at ZERU and participating partners. Load it with funds ($25 minimum) to redeem rewards, access perks, and simplify your journey.
Integrate productivity into your workflow with ZERU’s AI-powered tools
Join a ZERU Workshop and turn your business vision into reality
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