After completing your Action Plan, you will be asked to give a ten-minute presentation about the potential Venture before a Selection Panel. A Selection Panel is a group of youth and adult community members who use the Youth Venture Selection Criteria to determine whether an Action Plan should be launched as an official Youth Venture Team. Selection Panels also determine the amount of the Youth Venture grant awarded to selected teams. At a Selection Panel, teams are expected to present their Venture idea, and Action Plan, and to answer questions posed by the Selection Panel.
Presentation: The potential Venture Teams present their Venture idea for approximately ten minutes, which will then be followed by approximately ten minutes of questions and answers with the Selection Panel. Once presentations are complete, the teams depart so the Panel can deliberate and make their decisions about each team that presented. Teams will be notified of the Panelists’ decision within a day or two of the panel.
Audience: Teams should direct their presentations to the Selection Panel; however, other people may be present such as other teams, Allies, and a facilitator. Community members, parents, representatives from Youth Venture or the local media may be present as well.
Acceptance: Teams can be selected “unconditionally” or “with conditions.” If a team is selected “unconditionally,” then they are ready to launch their Venture immediately, and should receive their grant check within two weeks of the panel. If a team is selected “with conditions,” the team must first respond to these conditions before officially launching their Venture and before receiving Youth Venture funding. Teams that do not meet the selection criteria will not be accepted as Youth Venturers.