Start Up Challenge Monterey Bay announces upcoming workshops and launch of the program’s application period for 2016. Applications are due by midnight, Monday, March 14 for the 2016 Startup Challenge Monterey Bay. Entrepreneurs and startup companies in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties should apply to the competition at www.thestartupchallenge.org.
Startup Challenge Monterey Bay is a new business competition and accelerator program that supports the founding, funding and growth of new and innovative businesses in the Monterey Bay region. It offers workshops, feedback, and mentoring to empower entrepreneurs in a competitive process. Nothing inspires and prepares entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to market like Startup Challenge Monterey Bay.
The competition has three divisions: The Venture Division for businesses designed to grow into large businesses, the Main Street Division for small businesses, sole proprietorships and non-profits, and the Student Division for student teams at all levels from high school through graduate school.
Prizes offered by the Challenge include $1,500 cash for the winning Student Division team, $10,000 cash and $2,500 in professional services for the winning Main Street company, and a $20,000 grand prize in cash and $10,000 in professional services for the winning Venture Division company.
The Challenge offers pitch workshops to all applicants. These free workshops will run during the month of March; a complete schedule is available at http://www.thestartupchallenge.org/workshops.html.
Key dates for the Challenge are the application deadline on March 14, the Qualifying Round pitches on April 1, and the Final Round and Venture Showcase on May 6.
Applications are to be completed online at www.thestartupchallenge.org and are due March 14. The first 50 completed applications for the Challenge will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win a free iPad Mini 2. For further information, see the website, call (831) 582-3230 or email startupchallenge@csumb.edu.
The Startup Challenge Monterey Bay is organized by a committee of community members and managed by the Institute for Innovation & Economic Development (iiED). The iiED supports the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem to provide resources entrepreneurs need to be successful. The Institute also offers programs that engage entrepreneurs and managers worldwide in learning about innovation and entrepreneurial practice. The iiED is an institute of the College of Business at CSU Monterey Bay.