Individuals, teams, and small businesses may apply. Teams and businesses must assign one point of contact for communication and administration. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and reside in North Central Pennsylvania (counties of Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter).

The ideas should meet the following criteria:

• Be ORIGINAL (conceived by the applicant or team)
• Have UTILITY (do something useful)
• Have APPEAL (satisfies a market need)
• Commercially viable (eventually lead to sales, profit, and employment)