Local Entrepreneurs Compete to Win NJEN’s Elimination Challenge for the Business Savvy

Nov. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- PRINCETON, N.J. – November 23, 2011 – On December 7, the New Jersey Entrepreneurial Network (NJEN), a non-profit organization providing educational and informational services to entrepreneurs and investors, will host New Jersey’s own “Dancing with the Stars” from noon to 3 p.m. at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal in Princeton, N.J. During the competition, select entrepreneurs will present their companies’ business proposals to a panel of distinguished entrepreneurs and savvy investors who will evaluate and rank each presentation. The highest scoring business owner will win a prize worth more than $1,000.

A twist on the MIT Enterprise Forum, a program that builds connections among technology entrepreneurs and the communities in which they reside, and the ABC television series “Dancing with the Stars” and “Shark Tank,” a reality show in which a panel of venture capitalists evaluates and negotiates investment proposals from entrepreneurs, NJEN’s “Dancing with the Stars” will give three local businesses in the technology, pharmaceutical, biotechnology or professional services industries the opportunity to have their business plans reviewed by a prize-winning panel, including a venture capitalist, an angel investor and a marketing executive.

During the event, a group of three pre-selected business owners will be asked to give an overview of their company and presentation of their business plan. They will be judged on the plan’s overall attractiveness, content, quality of writing, design, the marketing plan in the business plan itself, quality of ideas, and the quality of the presentation made. Each panelist will then provide 3 to 4 minutes of commentary and a score of 1 to 10. The NJEN audience will also receive an opportunity to weigh in at the end of each presentation. Once the scores are tallied, the winning competitor will receive a grand prize. In addition, everyone will get to see what makes a great business plan.

Hosted by Robert Frawley, Chairman of NJEN, the “Dancing with the Stars” panel includes Chris Sugden, Managing Partner of Edison Ventures; Flint Lane, CEO of Bill Trust; Mario Casabona, CEO of Casabona Ventures; and Thor Harris, President of Percepture Public Relations.

The event is sponsored by the New Jersey Entrepreneurial Network. Supporting organizations include Einstein's Alley, the New Jersey Institute of Technology Enterprise Development Center, the New Jersey Technology Council, the New Jersey Business Incubator Network, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Innovation NJ and the New Jersey Small Business Development Center (Rutgers), and Young Professionals in Healthcare.

“Dancing with the Stars” will be held December 7 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal (100 College Road East) in Princeton, N.J. Cost is $45 per person, pre-paid by 5 p.m. on December 2, or $55 at the door. A full buffet lunch and dessert will be provided. Pre-register by credit card at www.njen.com or by check mailed to NJEN, 11 Honey Lake Drive, Princeton, N.J., 08540.  

ABOUT NJEN

The NJEN is a non-profit organization providing educational and informational services to entrepreneurs, investors, persons in related fields and the public in general. Our meetings are attended by a select group of entrepreneurs, company executives, venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, and professional services providers. The meetings are held at noon on the first Wednesday of every other month from September through May or June, most often at the Princeton Marriott Conference Center, 100 College Road East off Route 1 in Princeton, New Jersey. Learn more at www.njen.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Robert Frawley, Chairman (rdf@law-corp.com)
Lou Wagman, President (lou.wagman@gmail.com)
Thor Harris (media contact: tharris@percepture.com)
161 Autumn Hill Road
Princeton, NJ 08540