Last Updated 3.18.2024
EVENT CAPTAINS: Adam Zemke
VENUE: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI, USA
LOCATIONS:
Virtual Event: Hopin Platform
Finalist Event: MIS Media Center
Seminar On Lessons Learned: Main Tent
Relevant Documents:
All relevant documentation can be found under the "Series Resources" section on fsaeonline.com.
- Formula SAE Rules
- Business Presentation Concept
- Business Presentation Scoring Rubric
- Presenter Form
The Presentation:
Competitors are to make a presentation about their Formula SAE team as if it were a business. The presentation should clearly and concisely answer the question(s) defined in the Business Presentation Concept Document. Competitors are asked to frame their presentation around the intended audience, which is also defined in the Concept Document. The presentation should tie together all factors that would influence the marketability, technical complexity, manufacturing feasibility, and profitability of their design. The presentation must meet all the requirements outlined in the Formula SAE Rules and the Business Presentation Concept Document, while maintaining a direct relationship to the team’s original goals and objectives of the vehicle entered in the competition.
Virtual Event:
Each team will be assigned a 30-minute window to log in to the virtual platform, set up, give their 10-minute presentation, and answer up to 5 minutes of questions. The presentation must not exceed 10 minutes, at which point the judges will stop any presentations from continuing. A question-and-answer period of up to five minutes will immediately follow, wherein only judges may ask questions and only presenters may answer. Presenters are defined clearly in the team’s submission of the Presenter Form. It is allowable for a presenter to only participate in the question-and-answer section; however, he/she must be a member of the ‘presentation group,’ as defined by S.2.5.2 of the Formula SAE Rules.
A team of judges will grade the competitors using the Business Presentation Scoring Rubric. A perfect score on the Scoring Rubric will be 50 points, while 25 points is average. The judges’ combined score may be adjusted because some judging teams may grade, on an average, higher or lower than others. If a team misses their allocated period, the team will receive zero (0) Business Presentation points.
Finalst Event:
The top-scoring teams will proceed into an in-person second round of judging onsite at the MIS Media Center conference rooms. Logistical details of this second and final round of judging will be made available on fsaeonline.com.
Presentation Tips from Previous Experience:
- Review the relevant documents pertinent to the Business Presentation event prior to presenting.
- Practice makes perfect. Ensure that you know your content and can convey passion about your product.
- Understand your audience. Framing the presentation with a depth of information appropriate to your audience is crucial to addressing the prompt in its entirety within the allocated time.
- Spell-check all visual aids, presentation tools, etc.
- There is no specific dress code; however, bad first impressions are difficult to remedy.
- Keep in mind that equipment has been known to fail; copies can be ruined in transit, etc. Consider alternatives in-case something should go wrong. Each team is responsible for bringing their own equipment and for being familiar with relevant technology/software (both virtual and onsite). Remember, projectors and extension cords can be important, and laptop speakers may not project sound very well. Only a projector screen will be provided by SAE.
- Have a team member record your presentation and the judges' commentary for your team's future FSAE efforts. Teams may have as many spectators as will reasonably fit into the presentation room. People not associated with the presenting team may view presentations only if the presenting school gives their permission before the start of the presentation. This includes news reporters and photographers.
Seminar On Lessons Learned:
Judges and Event Captain(s) will give a Business Presentation Seminar in the Main Tent on the day after the Business Presentation Finalist Event to convey lessons learned from this year of teams’ presentations. This seminar should cover approach to concept, tips and tricks to presenting, insight into what goes above and beyond, and more. Teams are encouraged to have several members in attendance. Logistical details for this event will be made available on fsaeonline.com.
