IDEA Competition Back for Another Year
New Applications Accepted September 1 - November 30
Successful businesses start with a flash of inspiration, hard work, and the right connections. If you have a breakthrough idea and want to turn it into a profitable business, the IDEA Competition can help. Whether you’ve never started a company or you’re already in business, the competition can add momentum to your business strategy.
IDEA (which stands for Ingenuity Drives Entrepreneur Acceleration) is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose – to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace.
Although IDEA can be described as a competition, it is a lot more. IDEA is about assisting the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.
Last year, 61 participants were narrowed to just four winners. Each was awarded $10,000 cash along with another $10,000 in technical assistance to help develop their business ideas.
The winners are very pleased with the impact of the recognition, beyond the cash awards. Eric Thorsgard of the Forte Keyboard Company in Bemidji said, “The exposure my business has received from the IDEA Competition has been incredible.” East Grand Forks resident Don Zejdlik, designer of a snowboard component for improved performance said, “The IDEA group genuinely wants you to succeed, and they’re willing to help you any way they can.”
This unique competition offers you:
Ø Access to valuable business development tools and resources
Ø The opportunity to refine your investor pitch
Ø Attention in the media
Ø A chance to pitch your idea to qualified potential investors and leaders in the business community
Ø The chance to win substantial funding for launching your innovative idea, including individual funding awards of $10,000 each for up to five winners.
There are a lot of good ideas out there, but only a handful of business people who are able to take a breakthrough idea and turn it into a profitable business. Whether you’ve never started a company or you’re already in business and generating revenue, if you’ve got a breakthrough idea, consider logging on to www.ideacompetition.org today to learn more about the exciting opportunities offered through the IDEA competition. Applications will be accepted beginning September 1st.
IDEA sponsors are Bremer Bank, Crookston and Warren, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 360 Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, University of Minnesota, Crookston, and Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center. Partners include Ingenuity Frontier, Bemidji State University, Center for Research and Innovation/Custom College, Enterprise Minnesota, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Innovate ND, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Northland Community and Technical College.
IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.
Successful businesses start with a flash of inspiration, hard work, and the right connections. If you have a breakthrough idea and want to turn it into a profitable business, the IDEA Competition can help. Whether you’ve never started a company or you’re already in business, the competition can add momentum to your business strategy.
IDEA (which stands for Ingenuity Drives Entrepreneur Acceleration) is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose – to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace.
Although IDEA can be described as a competition, it is a lot more. IDEA is about assisting the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.
Last year, 61 participants were narrowed to just four winners. Each was awarded $10,000 cash along with another $10,000 in technical assistance to help develop their business ideas.
The winners are very pleased with the impact of the recognition, beyond the cash awards. Eric Thorsgard of the Forte Keyboard Company in Bemidji said, “The exposure my business has received from the IDEA Competition has been incredible.” East Grand Forks resident Don Zejdlik, designer of a snowboard component for improved performance said, “The IDEA group genuinely wants you to succeed, and they’re willing to help you any way they can.”
This unique competition offers you:
Ø Access to valuable business development tools and resources
Ø The opportunity to refine your investor pitch
Ø Attention in the media
Ø A chance to pitch your idea to qualified potential investors and leaders in the business community
Ø The chance to win substantial funding for launching your innovative idea, including individual funding awards of $10,000 each for up to five winners.
There are a lot of good ideas out there, but only a handful of business people who are able to take a breakthrough idea and turn it into a profitable business. Whether you’ve never started a company or you’re already in business and generating revenue, if you’ve got a breakthrough idea, consider logging on to www.ideacompetition.org today to learn more about the exciting opportunities offered through the IDEA competition. Applications will be accepted beginning September 1st.
IDEA sponsors are Bremer Bank, Crookston and Warren, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 360 Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, University of Minnesota, Crookston, and Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center. Partners include Ingenuity Frontier, Bemidji State University, Center for Research and Innovation/Custom College, Enterprise Minnesota, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Innovate ND, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Northland Community and Technical College.
IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.
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posted by Katie Carter at
12:42 PM
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