Founding Partner

Founding Partner

National Partner

National Corporate Partner

National Sponsors

Equipment Provider
Gold Level Sponsor Silver Level Sponsor

Software Provider
Platinum Level Sponsor Platinum Level Sponsor Silver Level Sponsor Silver Level Sponsor

Resource Provider
Platinum Level Sponsor

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The BEST Award
Marketing Presentation Requirements

For the marketing presentation, the team should view themselves as employees of a
“company” that is marketing their “product” (robot) to a potential buyer (judges). This
marketing team is an integral part of the engineering team that has designed a
specialized robot. The marketing presentation should provide information about their
company, the engineering team involved in the design and construction of the product, and why their product is the best one on the market that can complete the assigned
task. The potential buyer will be assessing the following:

  • The company’s design and manufacturing process (engineering process of “design to market”, including a discussion on the advantages of your company’s robot design)
  • Discuss the technological resources your company used to design and construct the robot
  • Marketing strategies to promote product (e.g., school and community involvement, promotional efforts, etc)
  • The company’s demographics and operations (e.g., diversity of team members involved, team building experiences, displays of sportsmanship, etc)
  • Each BEST Award team will sign up for a presentation time slot to occur at a time designated by the local hub.

 

Marketing Presentation Requirements

  • A minimum of 4 students must actively participate in the presentation. A maximum of 8 representatives for the team may be in the presentation room, including the presenters.
  • At the discretion of the hub or Regional, an audience may be allowed to quietly observe the presentations. The size of the allowed audience is space-dependent and up to each hub to determine.
    • If a hub does choose to allow an audience during the presentations, it is recommended that each presentation room have an official Room Monitor (not a judge) to ensure that the presentation team is not being disturbed or coached by audience members.
    • Audience members are not allowed to ask questions during the Q & A period.
  • Adults are not allowed to participate, including setting up or taking down equipment for the presentation.
  • Representation by student presenters from more than one grade level is encouraged and will be considered in the evaluation as part of the team’s recruitment efforts.
  • Videotaping/photographing by team representatives will be allowed during the presentation, however, the person(s) handling videotaping will be counted in the 8 maximum number allowed.
  • The presentation format is the prerogative of the team.
  • The team must provide any equipment it wishes to use, or check with the local hub for information about what equipment can be provided.

Marketing Presentation Evaluation
Presentations will be evaluated with consideration of:

Company Information
Well-defined roles as company employees/owners/managers;
organization of company departments for product development

Design and Manufacturing Process (Engineering Design Process)
Brainstorming approaches; analytical evaluation of design alternatives;
offensive and defensive strategy evaluation; effective implementation of
the process

Use of Available Technology
CAD or other drawings; Web page development and computer simulations

Marketing Strategies
Publicity efforts to inform school and community of their product (e.g.
school newsletters, presentations to community and/or school groups,
fliers/brochures, posters, press releases, commercials, etc)

Team Demographics and Operations
Company team-building (team-building activities, representation and
percentage of team involved in robot development, methods of team
decision-making, etc.); Company team demographics (evidence of team
diversity – male, female, variety of grades represented, minority
involvement)

Quality of Presentation
Well organized and prepared; met required specifications; communication
skills and professionalism; creativity of format; quality of question and
answer session with judges