Have an idea on how to improve or change the world? Burning up with ideas to help the environment, society, business, your friends, social media or anything else you can dream up? UMBC wants to give you up to $750 for telling us your idea! How can you win cash for your innovative solution? Read on!

The UMBC Idea competition is designed to challenge you to think about problems and opportunities facing society. If UMBC is one of the most innovative schools in the nation, then UMBC students are just the kind of innovators that can really change the world. Now’s your chance to make it happen.

• Analytical- When making a deal you want to make sure you are analytical and know all aspects that could affect a deal. For example, if someone offers to sell you 100 bananas for $5,000 would you take the deal? Probably not because you know that 100 bananas are worth around $100. But if you did not know the market value of bananas, and considered bananas your favorite food, they might be worth $5,000 to you.
• Emotion- It’s important to keep your emotions in check when making a deal with friends and family. How do you communicate with someone you don’t want to make a deal with and not ruin a relationship? This is something important to think about.
• Critical- When making a deal remember to be critical and think about why you are making it. If you are making a deal with a new partner or investor you want to ask yourself, why are you doing this, what can they offer you? You want to think about what leverage you have and what you can and cannot offer.
• Savvy- When you first start a business you have a limited number of assets. Make sure the deals you make are savvy and creative, with low risk and high opportunity. For example, you are starting a new business and need some where to work. Instead of renting a whole building for yourself maybe contact ABCE and see if they will let you work full time in the entreSpace for a significantly lower price. That is a deal you want to make.