The competition is a project of
the Central Upstate Regional Alliance, a 12 county public/private
consortium that works on a variety of regional issues and
opportunities.
Business Plan Competition is designed to:
Stimulate
job creation and business development by providing financial and
in-kind resources to companies in the Central Upstate New York region.
Increase the entrepreneurial culture and visibility of entrepreneurial activity in the Creative Core.
Increase investment-grade deal flow in the Creative Core.
Identify several high growth potential business opportunities in Central Upstate & connect these opportunities to a wide range of business development and capital resources both during the
competition and beyond.
We're looking for the most innovative and growth-oriented entrepreneur or emerging business in the Creative Core!
The competition will run in three categories: Emerging Business, 15K innovations in agri-business, and the $5,000 Business Idea. The 1st place winner in the Emerging Business category will win $200,000, making this event one of the largest business plan competitions in the country. The Business Idea competition will award one talented high school or college student a $5,000 cash prize for a great business idea essay. An additional $1,000 will be awarded to a professor, school, or business club associated with the student winner.
Applications are due by Friday, January 22, 2010
at 5:00 pm EST.
Participation in the competition is limited to individuals or entry teams from the Central Upstate New York region (defined as: Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence, and Tompkins Counties). Judging will be based on three categories as selected by the individual or entry team:
$200,000 Emerging Business Competition
Company currently in existence – formally incorporated by January 22nd, 2010. Revenue stream between $0 and $5 million
$150 application fee ($200,000 prize)
$15,000 Innovations in Agri-Business Competition
Recognizes a company that has developed and implemented an innovative product, process, or technology that has significantly impacted their competitiveness and the competitiveness of the region’s agricultural community. No Application Fee ($15,000 prize)
$6,000 Business Idea Competition
Open to High School and College Students only. $5000 is awarded to the student and $1000 is awarded to the institution the student attends.
Finalists in the $200,000 competition will make their final pitch before a panel of judges, with the winner being announced at the MDA annual meeting in the spring.
About the Competition
The competition is a project of the Central Upstate Regional Alliance, a 12 county public/private consortium that works on a variety of regional issues and opportunities.
Business Plan Competition is designed to:
Stimulate job creation and business development by providing financial and in-kind resources to companies in the Central Upstate New York region.
Increase the entrepreneurial culture and visibility of entrepreneurial activity in the Creative Core.
Increase investment-grade deal flow in the Creative Core.
Identify several high growth potential business opportunities in Central Upstate & connect these opportunities to a wide range of business development and capital resources both during the
competition and beyond.
Sponsorship
Advantage Capital Partners
Easton Hunt Capital Partners
FA Technology Ventures
High Peaks Venture Partners
Stonehenge Growth Capital
Summer Street Capital Partners
Trillium Group, LLC.
Company currently in existence – formally incorporated by
January 22nd, 2010
