1. Submit an Executive Summary.
2. Pay the $100 non-refundable processing fee via PayPal at the time of submission.
DEADLINE: 5 p.m., Thursday, July 31, 2008.
Individuals or teams that submit incomplete packages will automatically be disqualified. No applications or executive summaries will be accepted after July 31.
Up to 20 individuals or teams will be invited to advance to Round 2. These semifinalists will be notified via phone or e-mail no later than August 15. All other entrants will be notified in writing by August 15.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Click here to download a copy of the competition Rules and Regulations
The top 20 individuals and/or teams selected for Round 2 will be invited to participate in a videoconference call in which they will be asked, by a small panel of judges, to answer basic questions about their business plan. This information will be used to select the top 10 finalists. This lucky 10 will be invited to Fresno, California, to compete - in front of an audience - for the $250,000 grand prize and the distinction of being named the winner of Fresno's first Start It Up Entrepreneur Challenge. The 10 selected finalists will be notified via phone by September 1. Feedback will be provided to the remaining 10 no later than September 15.
The 10 finalists will be required to submit a detailed business plan according to specific guidelines set forth in the competition "Rules and Regulations." These guidelines clearly outline the content to be included in the business plan and the preferred format. The business plan must be postmarked by September 12 and mailed to:
Start It Up — Fresno's $250K Entrepreneur Challenge
The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
5010 N Woodrow Ave, MS W/C 142
Fresno, CA 93740
No late submissions will be accepted. Individuals or teams that fail to submit a complete business plan on or before the specified date will automatically be disqualified.
Now the real competition begins! Each of the 10 finalists will be asked to present their business plan before a live audience and a distinguished panel of judges. Judges will include business executives, economic development and civic leaders, venture capitalists, elected officials, media and more. Presentations will be held on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, at Fresno City Hall, Council Chamber. They should last no more than 20 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes allocated for Q&A.
A special cocktail reception will be held Friday evening to meet the top ten finalists, sponsors, and judges.
A special ceremony will be held during halftime at the October 4, 2008 - Fresno State Bulldog Football home game - to publicly recognize the "Top Ten" Start It Up finalists and to announce - for the first time - the $250K grand prize winner.