The Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has launched a National Business Plan Competition that will award $100,000 in prizes to veteran entrepreneurs, and Syracuse University veteran entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply. IVMF’s VetSmallBiz Growth Challenge is a Business Plan Competition developed for veteran entrepreneurs who are ready to take their business to the next level. This unique competition offers elite growth and pitch coaching prior to the competition finals. Winners will receive exposure to a distinguished judging panel, access to capital – with $100,000 in total to be awarded – and three months of individualized coaching. This Challenge is offered through the generous support of The Marcus Foundation.
PRIZES:
1st – $50,000
2nd – $25,000
3rd – $10,000
Best Venture Impacting Veterans – $5,000
Most Innovative – $5,000
Best Social Venture – $5,000
Semifinalists – Receive Pitch Coaching
Finalists – Receive Growth Coaching
APPLICATIONS DUE: December 18, 2016. Apply on-line at vetbizchallenge.com
GRAND FINALE: Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, GA on Friday, March 3, 2017, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WHO: Open to U.S. service member and veteran entrepreneurs of all eras of service.
What to Expect: Over the course of this challenge, semifinalists will receive three weeks of elite growth coaching with their fellow competitors in an online group setting before they get to the finale, and winners will receive three months of individualized elite coaching after the competition comes to a close. This will culminate in a one-day challenge event that will expose the finalists to a distinguished group of judges and the opportunity to learn from each other during their 20-minute venture pitch round. This one-day event will also have keynote and panel opportunities, all focused on business growth, built in.
Learn more and apply at vetbizchallenge.com
Event Contact: Kim Street, Program Manager, kmstreet@syr.edu, (315) 443-9512
About IVMF: Supported by a world-calss advisry board, and public and private partners committed to advancing the post-service lives of America’s service members, veterans and their families, IVMF is a unique national asset based at Syracuse University.IVMF delivers world-class programs in career, vocational and entrepreneurship education and training. Among its entrepreneurship offerings are:
- Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans and Disabilities (EBV)
- Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veteran’s Fammiles (EBV-F)
- Veteran Women Igniting the Spirt of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)
- Boots to Business (B2B)
- Boots to Business Reboot
- Coalition for Veteran Owned Business (CVOB)
- Center of Excellence (CoE) for Veteran Entrepreneurship
Learn more: http://ivmf.syracuse.edu/