All events will be conducted in person during the Autumn 2023 semester, including the BOSS Kick-Off, workshops, first-round pitches, and BOSS Finale. This is subject to change in the event Ohio State changes COVID-19 policies.
Best of Student Startups (BOSS) Frequently Asked Questions
All dates and times can be found at go.osu.edu/boss. It is strongly recommended to attend all the workshops live unless there is an academic conflict. Outside of workshops, it is up to the participants on how much time to spend on the pitch and business venture.
Please let the program facilitator know if you cannot attend a workshop due to an academic conflict or excused absence (e.g., personal illness or family emergency). Participants will also receive PowerPoint slides from each workshop.
Students may enter as an individual or can add team members throughout the program (optional).
There is no limit to number of students per team.
Only one member of the team needs to be currently enrolled in an Ohio State degree program. BOSS is open to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
Participants can schedule virtual or in-person meetings with Keenan Center staff to review their pitch deck and answer questions. Also, the program provides example pitches that teams can leverage for additional insight.
There is no right or wrong starting point for BOSS. Participants vary in entering at the idea stage or being farther along as a business. Since this is a pitch competition, scoring is based on ideas that have potential and the team’s ability to successfully explain the “next steps” of the business venture. Individuals applying can leverage the BOSS Kick-off to meet potential teammates.
Starting the first week of November, all BOSS teams that complete the workshops will have the opportunity to pitch to a panel of judges (i.e., Keenan Center staff and community partners). Each pitch is limited to seven minutes. The panel of judges will select five teams to compete in the BOSS Finale. More information about the pitches will be provided throughout the program.
Prize winnings are:
- First place - $2,000
- Second place - $1,500
- Third Place (People’s Choice) - $500.
The winning team will also receive a spot in the President’s Buckeye Accelerator Pitch Finale.
The winning team from the BOSS Finale will receive a direct ticket to the President’s Buckeye Accelerator Pitch Finale. To qualify, the winning team must meet the eligibility and expectations of the President’s Buckeye Accelerator, including completing the pre-accelerator Boost Camp. Six student ventures are selected at the end of the finale to be part of the year-long President’s Buckeye Accelerator and advance their startup to launch with a $50,000 award.