Calling all Team Managers & First year teams

[Kenneth]

It is time for another first year team topic! And I think this might help out future first year teams as well!

We are having a bit of an issue obtaining funds. We HAVE approached several companies and we have obtained various sponsors (Bearings sponsors, discounted laser cutting services, discounted racewear, sponsored rapid-prototyping, sponsored aluminum for manufacturing various components). I think for a first year team, we have done decently well in obtaining sponsors. However, our college still would like for us to get more sponsors on board before they are on board. They are looking for sponsors that want to support us financially, and being a first year team, we have had a hard time selling the team to these big corps (InBev, Honda, Suncor, Magna etc.) without having previously competed.

They were able to get us registered for Michigan and we are extremely thankful for that. However, things like an engine need to be purchased in the next couple of weeks in order for us to stick to our already altered schedule. A push at this time for us to get more sponsors makes things difficult. Design has reached the point where we can no longer go forth without the engine (though it doesn't mean we can stop; things can and have been altered, though sadly, alterations are not progress). And I'll stop my rant here haha!


What sort of support, financially and "In-kind" so to speak (faculty members on board etc.), do your colleges/universities provide you with? If you are able, I am also looking for their support for your team's first year in competition. I just want to show our Deans that there is (if it exists of course) a correlation between the support received from the school, and the success & longevity of the team. I realize that some of that information will be sensitive, so if you are willing to share it, you can most definitely send me a PM.

I figure this might be a tough ask, but if anyone could help us out, this would be a great help!

[Kenneth]

It is time for another first year team topic! And I think this might help out future first year teams as well!

We are having a bit of an issue obtaining funds. We HAVE approached several companies and we have obtained various sponsors (Bearings sponsors, discounted laser cutting services, discounted racewear, sponsored rapid-prototyping, sponsored aluminum for manufacturing various components). I think for a first year team, we have done decently well in obtaining sponsors. However, our college still would like for us to get more sponsors on board before they are on board. They are looking for sponsors that want to support us financially, and being a first year team, we have had a hard time selling the team to these big corps (InBev, Honda, Suncor, Magna etc.) without having previously competed.

They were able to get us registered for Michigan and we are extremely thankful for that. However, things like an engine need to be purchased in the next couple of weeks in order for us to stick to our already altered schedule. A push at this time for us to get more sponsors makes things difficult. Design has reached the point where we can no longer go forth without the engine (though it doesn't mean we can stop; things can and have been altered, though sadly, alterations are not progress). And I'll stop my rant here haha!


What sort of support, financially and "In-kind" so to speak (faculty members on board etc.), do your colleges/universities provide you with? If you are able, I am also looking for their support for your team's first year in competition. I just want to show our Deans that there is (if it exists of course) a correlation between the support received from the school, and the success & longevity of the team. I realize that some of that information will be sensitive, so if you are willing to share it, you can most definitely send me a PM.

I figure this might be a tough ask, but if anyone could help us out, this would be a great help!

[Gaanja]

Kenneth,

From our first year we have been approaching our university management like this,

The team, considering the total strength, pitches in a total amount say X INR (Indian Rupees). An equal share is put in by every team member. We approach the management to contribute the same X INR.

The fact that the team members themselves put in a bit of cash for the team shows the management that the team members are serious and are committed to see the project through. We have been successful in obtaining monetary support from the university in this way. This has been working for the last 8 years and I guess it will continue for years to come.
In the end of the season we show the management the amount of money brought in through the corporate sponsors as well.

If the facilities at the workshop need to be upgraded, the management takes a 50% share in this expense as well

I dunno if this will work for you but but I guess it is worth a shot.

PS: The fact that the team members end up spending a lot more than the official seed money is another issue.

[Canuck Racing]

How do you make a small fortune in racing?

Start with a large one.


Have you tried to contact the dean or whomever and set up a meeting with them to explain your plans? Take a day off and make a nice presentation about the competition, what you have accomplished, what you want to and most importantly, HOW you are going to. If possible, bring in some stuff you have done, even if it's just a purchased steering wheel. Have the meeting over lunch and don't let them leave until they're on board.

[Kenneth]

Thanks for the response Gaanja!

@Canuck Racing...Oh man, we have tried. I think we've had something like 4 (5 by the time most people read this) meetings. They keep wanting us to get more sponsors which is definitely fair, but at the same time, resistance to providing us with funds will not help the team. The college needs this team more than anything. My designs are my designs, I will gladly hang on to them and use them when I move on past this institute. But this car is an excellent opportunity, we have given them excellent reasons, they just don't seem convinced yet. Boggles my mind I tell you.

[Rex Chan]

We seem to get our sponsorship's initially through personal contacts. Last year, our team leader had a contact in Valvoline, so got them onbaord as a sponsor, and they seem happy to continue into the future.

Our uni gives us $20,000 in cash per year (includes our huge ass FSAE-A comp fees of like $4000). To access this money, we have to go through the official uni invoice system, but it saves us GST. We also get $20k in "workshop" budget. We are not allowed many powered machines (lathes, mills, etc) in our own space, so this Engineering faculty workshop budget allows us to get stuff made throguh the uni techies/workshop.

We get allocated space by the faculty (workshop right at the back of the main engineering building, on a campus in an inner city suburb). And we have office space. We thought our space was small, until we went to visit Monash and saw how tight their space is.

[BrendonD]

Try to speak with your school's alumni relations department. They may know of an alumnus who is interested in the work you are doing or sees a lot of value in the program you are creating. If said individual exists he may be willing to give you a sort of "seed grant" to get you to the first competition.

Pro-tip, you have to sell your alumni relations department on this idea first, don't expect them to just do it because you asked. You have to show them the value they provide by attempting to make this connection.

Best of luck, I know what a pain it is to get funding.

[cvargas]

I would suggest talking to people you know. If you don't know people who are industry its time to go make friends. Best advice, hit up your local professional asme, aiaa, and ieee chapters and go hang out for a while. Start talking to them telling them what you're doing and how your team needs sponsors.

The "easiest" way to get money and support is through people you know.

[Kenneth]

Thanks for the responses! I've been spamming this to anyone and everyone. I'm sure the method of talking to everyone we know will work out sooner or later. The problem is when that happens, will we have enough time to finish whatever's not done.