Business Plan Competitions for Everyday Entrepreneurs
Sep 14th, 2008 by admin
If you’re looking for alternative ways to raise funding to get your business idea off the ground, consider entering a business plan competition. While some are specifically related to college campuses and those who attend, have attended (alumni) or live in the community, others are designed for entrepreneurs everywhere. Here are several to consider:
Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards: The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards are given to five women, one per continent, who lead creative, sustainable and socially responsible companies and business ideas. The five winners receive $20,000 each in funding, one-year mentoring from Cartier, McKinsey and INSEAD consultants and a trophy.
EnterPrize Business Plan Competition: Presented by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, in order to compete in this niche competition you must be a resident or current full-time student of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. The Web site states: “If you are a technology entrepreneur with a good idea that you want to build into a high-growth business, you should compete in the EnterPrize Business Plan Competition.” Their recent competition gave out cash awards totalling $45,000.
BOSS Business Plan Competition: Open to North Dakota residents and students attending a North Dakota college or university who are looking to start a business in the state. Prizes total $8,000.
Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest (GLEQ): GLEQ provides Michigan’s technology entrepreneurs with training, coaching and investor feedback as part of its annual two-phase business plan competition. The organization presents more than $50,000 in cash awards to technology and life science companies. To compete, an entrepreneur must reside, work or attend school in the state of Michigan.
Global Security Challenge Business Plan Competition: This annual competition is designed to help young start-ups and ideas succeed in the security field. According to the organization, “Last year, 42% of these innovations originated from universities, 12% are corporate spin-outs and 29% came from unaffiliated entrepreneurs working out of their “garages”. Geographically, the split of entries was 23% from Asia, 44% from Europe and 33% from the Americas.” Cash grants exceed $500,000.
Rhode Island Business Plan Competition: Established in 2000, the competition aims to further develop the entrepreneurial spirit in Rhode Island and help create growth companies that will increase local employment. Although you do not need to be a resident to compete, the business must be operated within the state. More than $150,000 in prizes are awarded.
