2021 Shark Tank of Wellness Student Global Competition
The “Shark Tank of Wellness” student competition is a unique global challenge that
rewards students for their most innovative, impactful ideas for the wellness industry.
The Global Wellness Summit defines the wellness industry broadly and welcomes innovations in sectors as varied as architecture/design, beauty, education, fitness, hospitality, investment, medicine, nutrition, real estate, spa, technology, travel, tourism and more.
Students are invited to submit a Concept Submission Form detailing their idea along with a one-to-two-minute video presentation. The wellness economy is currently valued at over $4.5 trillion, thus providing ample opportunity for students with great ideas!
Three finalists will be flown, along with their professors, to the annual Global Wellness Summit (GWS) being held November 30–December 3, 2021, in Boston, US. Here, they will pitch their business idea to the attending Summit delegates—a “who’s who” in the global wellness world. Several business leaders will act as “Wellness Sharks” and ask questions of the students, who will defend their innovations and make a business case for its feasibility. The first, second and third place winners will then be announced on stage during the Summit. Learn more about the prizes awarded to the competition winners.
Submission Process
1. Register for the Competition
REGISTER for the contest online: Anyone interested in participating in the competition must register by completing this Entry Form. Only registered contestants will receive the necessary information to complete the submission process.
2. Submit Your Entry
SUBMIT a Concept Submission Form AND video
no later than July 31, 2021
(Deadline Extended from June 30, 2021).
The information necessary to submit these items will only be sent to those who register for the competition.
Deadlines
July 31, 2021 (11:59 p.m. US Eastern Time) (Deadline Extended from June 30, 2021): Competition closes. All submissions, both the Concept Submission Form and video, must be completed by this time. Late submissions will not be accepted.
August 17, 2021: The top three concept submissions, as decided by the judges, will be announced by email to all registered participants. Arrangements will then be made to fly each of the three student finalists and their professors to the annual Global Wellness Summit (GWS) being held November 30–December 3, 2021, in Boston, US.
November 2021: The Shark Tank of Wellness finalists will present their ideas on stage at the 2021 Global Wellness Summit. Students will pitch their ideas to the judges (a.k.a. “Wellness Sharks”) and the Summit delegates. The first, second and third place winners will then be announced on stage, at which time, the prizes will be awarded. The winners will be listed on the Global Wellness Summit website and promoted on social media post-Summit.
Guidelines & Tips
The Concept Submission Form consists of several questions regarding the wellness idea and its viability, such as:
- Give a general description of your wellness idea.
- Identify and explain your target market and potential customers.
- Identify companies, products or services that compete with your innovation or those that could pose a barrier to entering the marketplace.
- What sets your concept submission apart? How does your innovative idea differentiate from similar products or services already in the marketplace?
The video should include a presentation of the wellness idea, focusing on why the innovation could positively impact the wellness industry. Please see Official Rules for more information.
- The video must be one-two minutes in length; any videos outside this length will be disqualified.
- Videos must be uploaded to a public platform, such as YouTube, Vimeo or Dailymotion.
- The video must contain only original work and not be subject to any copyright restrictions.
Eligibility
- The competition is open to both individual students and teams of students over the age of 18 from anywhere in the world. There is no entry fee. Note: If participating as a team and the team is chosen as one of the top three finalists, only the team leader will be eligible to attend the Global Wellness Summit with their professor.
- The participant(s) must be an undergraduate college or university student (working toward a one- or two-year diploma, a four-year Bachelor’s degree, or a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification) or a graduate/postgraduate student (working toward a Master’s, MBA, JD, MD or PhD degree) in a university or college of distinction at the time they develop and submit their concept.
- The participant(s) must be either a full-time or part-time student at the university or college.
- The participant(s) must have a professor or faculty advisor who serves as a mentor for their project.
- All contestants must be available to attend the Global Wellness Summit, November 30–December 3, in Boston, US, to present their idea in person.
Shark Tank of Wellness FAQs
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about the Shark Tank of Wellness global student competition.
Prizes
First Prize: One (1) first-prize winner will receive US$5,000.
Second Prize: One (1) second-prize winner will receive US$3,000.
Third Prize: One (1) third-prize winner will receive US$2,000.
Total value of all prizes is US$10,000.
Additional noncash prizes include airfare and hotel accommodations in Boston, US, for the top three student finalists (individual or team leader) and their professors. Also included is access to the three-day Summit (a $4,560 value), including all general sessions, breakout discussions and industry forums, featuring global industry leaders. A myriad of social events and a final evening gala are included. This is a priceless opportunity to meet and learn from global visionaries.
See Previous Shark Tank of Wellness Top Finalists Here.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged on the following criteria, which will hold equal weight:
-
- Project innovation
- Visual appeal or design
- Relevance and importance to the wellness industry
- Viability as a business (customer/market analysis and competitors)
- Quality of the project presentation
Judges’ decisions are final.
Judging Process
The competition judging panel is comprised of the Summits’ sponsors, who will play the role of “Wellness Sharks” while students are presenting their business ideas on stage. All “Wellness Sharks” are leading experts in the wellness industry.
For additional information, please review the Shark Tank of Wellness FAQs or contact Kendra Kobler.
Thank You to the 2021 Global Wellness Summit Sponsors
