Rhode Island Business Plan Competition to Launch 2013 Competition on Oct. 17

PROVIDENCE – (September 25, 2012) The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition, New England’s leading community supported business plan competition, today announced that its 2013 competition will launch next month and culminate next May with the awarding of prizes to winners and finalists.

A Kick-Off, the first of a series of events and educational workshops—all free and open to the public—will be held Wednesday, Oct. 17, to help people learn about launching a business.

The launch event will be held 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Harborside Academic Center on the Johnson & Wales Harborside Campus in Providence. Pre-registration is required and may be completed online at www.ri-bizplan.com.

Winners from last year’s competition, who, with finalists, last May took home prizes valued at more than $200,000, will speak at the Kick-Off, sharing their experiences and insights on what it takes to apply and win.

Competition Co-Chair Peggy Farrell, partner in the law of firm of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, said, “The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition is all about helping entrepreneurs build the next generation of companies in Rhode Island, and we’re looking forward to another strong year.”

Added Co-Chair Larry Davidson, principal with the accounting firm of Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd., “The competition provides the resources that new and emerging businesses need – connections to business networks, workers, and funding.”

The competition, which is free and open to everyone whether or not they already have started a business, is organized along two tracks: an Entrepreneur Track for those age 18 or over and a Student Track for students enrolled in college or graduate school.

Sponsors of the 2013 Competition

Lead sponsors of the 2013 competition are Edwards Wildman & Palmer LLP, Embolden, Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd. And the Providence Journal Charitable Foundation.

Also supporting the competition are: Bryant University, Business Development Company, Center for Women and Enterprise, Cherrystone Angel Group, Freedom National Bank, Johnson & Wales University, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, New England Institute of Technology, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Slater Technology Fund, and University of Rhode Island.

About the Competition

Established in 2000, the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition has become an important element of the Rhode Island entrepreneurial landscape. To date, it has awarded more than $1.2 million in prizes to competitors developing companies across many industries.

In addition to awarding prizes, the competition hosts educational events in the months leading up to the application deadline in early April. They include business development, financial planning, and presentation skills workshops. In addition, the competition hosts the annual Rhode Island Elevator Pitch Contest in early December, in which participants have 90 seconds to make a presentation to a panel of judges, who then provide constructive feedback and award cash prizes.

Complete competition information, including rules, application procedures, guidelines, and business plan resources, is available at www.ri-bizplan.com.

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Avatar About the Author: The Rhode Island Small Business Journal is a printed monthly magazine and an online resource for the aspiring and start-up entrepreneur and small business owner.

previous arrow
next arrow
Slider