Know-How Exchange : Other

I am going to assume the team is of teenagers. These are smart teenagers with a lot of engineers for parents.

Could any of the parents help you? Or perhaps a parent has connections they could leverage in your favor? That is, getting you in to see the right person or people at their company.

I think it is through the parents you will find your sponsor either directly or indirectly (an employer of one or more). Talk to them in person. Work the phones. Write a letter home, even. Talk to the kids. You need a sponsor and help getting one.

Depending on where you are based and how much you want to raise, you could try approaching some local technology entrepreneurs or companies. They may be a bit easier to approach.

In the proposal you could have a brief bio highlighting each ones strength and accomoplishments, along with info on what you plan to achieve. Have an internet site where a prospective sponsor could go and view a video of past project or something you might have created.

Just curious, how much do you want to raise?

Focus on the benefits to the sponsors. What they want is exposure. Tell them how you'll provide that for them.

Do other robotics teams have sponsors? If so, see who is sponsoring them, and contact those sponsors' competitors. Tell them that Company A is getting exposure, and offer to do the same to Company B.

Make sure you approach the sponsors with a plan. What specifically do you want from them? How will it be used? Why did you contact them - do they have something unique in the field? What do you admire about their company? The more targeted your request, and the more you do your homework, the better the likelihood for a positive result.