• Am I eligible to compete in MUEC?
Anyone can enter MUEC!  Just remember, at least one (1) of your Team members must be a full-time student of a Victorian University in the year of entry.
  • Can I enter if my team/company has already received outside funding?
Your team cannot submit business ideas that have received outside funding from private investors, venture capital firms or other industry sources. Teams can enter the competition if they have received any sort of government funding.
  • Is there a limit to the number of people in a team? Can 1 person enter alone?
There is a minimum of 2 people (at least 1 student) and maximum of 6 people per team required.

The minimum is suggested to ensure the spirit of the competition is met and the workload to prepare the business case is shared. The maximum is suggested as this is generally acknowledged to be the best number to work with in a team.
  • I’m very busy; will it be too much work?
Competing in MUEC is structured to facilitate the involvement of full-time and part-time students, at all levels. It is not like taking an ‘extra subject’.

The first stage of the competition involves the formation of a team and the completion of a questionnaire detailing their idea. A selection of the most promising teams will then be invited to submit a more comprehensive business plan (no longer than 20 pages) and present that plan to the judging panel.

Of these Round 2 participants, up to 6 teams will be invited to present their plans at the Grand Finals.
  • Why would I want to compete?
Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors MUEC gives away up to $85,000 in cash and prizes each year. But for most, the benefits extend far beyond money.

All competitors are exposed to a range of workshops from leading practitioners in the fields of IP protections, idea generation, legal issues and so on. Teams that make it past the first round will also receive ‘Mentorship’ from successful and seasoned professionals.

Teams will receive targeted feedback from leading entrepreneurs, investors, and business professionals comprising the MUEC Judging Panel.
  • What if I don’t have a big idea?
Remember, it’s not always the “big” ideas that win.  MUEC is an opportunity to learn, to compete, and to refine your skills!

In the past, it has been teams that have drawn from different functional areas that have performed best. Those with innovative backgrounds and research should seek out students with commercialisation experience (such as the students of the Melbourne Business School), and vice versa.
  • How can I protect the confidentiality of intellectual property?
The MUEC Terms and Conditions govern the conduct of the competition.

If you have concerns that issues of confidentiality may arise as part of your participation, you should ensure that your team have discussed and agreed how this will be handled in advance. The best approach is to confine your business plan and pitch to non-confidential information as far as possible.

Whilst judges and mentors are explicitly required to acknowledge their obligations of confidentiality associated with the competition, teams are encouraged not to rely solely on this. In particular, you should not include information in your entry to a level of detail, which might subsequently affect your capacity to protect your Intellectual Property through mechanisms such as patents. If your business intends to make use of patented or patentable intellectual property that belongs to someone other than the team (e.g. an institution) you may be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement with that institution prior to having details of the intellectual property disclosed to you, and you may not be free to disclose that information as part of your entry.

In all cases you should seek professional advice if you think that disclosure or use of the intellectual property may compromise future patentability.
  • Who owns the intellectual property in my entry?
Copyright in the business plan remains with the team that created it. Note, however, that the use by your proposed business of other intellectual property which may be subject to copyright or other forms of protection (e.g. patents) may require you to secure appropriate licenses or assignments of that Intellectual Property. You should ensure that you have appropriate arrangements with the owner(s) of such Intellectual Property prior to using it as part of your entry. For more information about Intellectual Property more generally, visit www.ipaustralia.gov.au
  • How do I enter?
You must download the entry form from the website and submit the required form and idea pitch before the due date.
  • Can I enter more than once with separate students (on different projects)?
Of course!  There is no limit to the number of teams you can participate in.

Just be aware that if you enter more than once, and both your teams make it to the second round, you’ll have to do two business plans, two presentations to the judges, etc…
  • Do I submit one entry form (questionnaire) per member or one for the group?
Only 1 questionnaire for the team is required.
  • Can we add or remove members up until the second stage business plan submission?
You can add/remove team members up until you submit your business plan.