This bi-annual competition recognizes excellence in entrepreneurship education and showcases innovative business proposals that hold the promise of generating new jobs and spurring increased economic growth for the state. Team leaders and primary presenters must be students at a Connecticut college or university during the current academic year.
Participating colleges and universities include Central Connecticut State University, Fairfield University, Manchester Community College, Quinnipiac University, Southern Connecticut State University, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, University of Bridgeport, University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, University of New Haven, Yale University.
“I salute the quality of the business plans, and I congratulate the applicants for making the finals,” said Mike Roer, president of The Entrepreneurship Foundation. “This competition is based on encouraging entrepreneurial education that teaches students how to start their own companies rather than going to work for somebody else. We can see real economic growth throughout Connecticut when entrepreneurs start companies, create jobs and increase the tax base.”
The student teams will each have three minutes to convince a panel of investors that their business is the best investment. The panel includes: Joe DeMartino, Angel Investor Forum; Konstantine Drakonakis, Launch Capital; Cliff Ennico, author and lecturer on entrepreneurship, Tim Coates, Connecticut Technology Council; Gail Coppage, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (ConnSCU); Larry Gregory, Competegy; and Dr. Hamid Malakpour, TD Bank.
The winners will be awarded cash grants to encourage and assist them with moving forward with their new business ideas:
• Personal Business Category
• Personal Business Plan - $5000 first place, $1000 second place
• Personal Business Oral Presentation - $500
• Personal Online Submission (written Executive Summary) - $500
• Venture Enterprises Category
• Venture Business Plan - $5000 first place, $1000 second place
• Venture Oral Presentation - $500
• Venture Online Submission (written Executive Summary) - $500
• Best Social Enterprise Business Plan - $500
The Connecticut Collegiate Business Plan Competition is supported by the Connecticut Department of Community and Economic Development, Warbros Venture Partners, Launch Capital, Connecticut Innovations and the Angel Investor Forum.
About The Entrepreneurship Foundation
Based in Fairfield, CT, The Entrepreneurship Foundation provides classroom materials on venture planning and financing, an Elevator Pitch Competition for Community Colleges, Fall and Spring full Business Plan Competitions for universities, support for intramural competitions and a forum for educators to share best practices and to stay abreast of current developments in entrepreneurship education. The vision of the Foundation is for Connecticut to become the go-to state for entrepreneurs -- where they can find the resources and encouragement in their own back yard to fulfill their dreams through a seamless transition from entrepreneurship education to entrepreneurship implementation.
http://www.EntrepreneurshipFoundation.org
Contact:
Randy Savicky
Strategy+Communications
(203) 226-6156
randy@strategypluscommunications.com
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About Strategy+Communications
Strategy+Communications is a Connecticut public relations agency that helps companies build their brands and increase traffic, leads and sales by connecting their communications programs to their business goals. We know how to create great stories about how a company's products and services make people live and work better every day and then deliver these stories to their customers and other key audiences using traditional, digital and social media tools.
www.strategypluscommunications.com
