Editors: Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend the competition Dec. 13 in rooms 224 and 216 of the business college. Call Susan Kelley, 492-2823, for information.
Prize money for the University of Colorado at Boulder's 2000 business plan competition, scheduled Dec. 13 on campus, is at its highest level ever, putting CU's event in the top tier of business-plan competitions in the nation.
The 2000 Bank One Business Plan Competition gives students the opportunity to present a comprehensive plan supporting an innovative concept for a product or service.
The competition is the culminating event for CU-Boulder College of Business courses on business plan preparation. Competitions will be held in both MBA and undergraduate divisions.
The $47,500 in prizes exceeds last year's all-time high of $45,000, thanks to new funding from local entrepreneurial companies in addition to continued generous support from Bank One, Cornerstone Equities and The Integer Group. New awards include $10,000 in business services from Seagate Technology.
"It would be nice to see the Seagate-sponsored companies succeed in the business world," said senior vice president Charlie Sander. "But even if they don't get to that point, what the students will learn in the process is invaluable. And that's really what this program is all about 聴 and why we choose to support it."
Chrisman, Bynum and Johnson PC, another new sponsor, is funding $2,500 in legal services. "As the largest local law firm in Boulder, we are very much involved with the region's entrepreneurial community," said Dave Cook, a managing partner. "Our firm, CU and young entrepreneurs make a good fit."
Bank One continues its third year of sponsorship with $15,000 in cash prizes. "With each year of our involvement, I have been more and more impressed with the quality of the business plans and the business savvy of this talented group of students," said Wayne Hutchens, president of Bank One, Colo. "We聮re just delighted to be involved."
Cornerstone, a privately owned Colorado venture fund, continues its support of entrepreneurial studies at CU-Boulder with a $5,000 cash award. Integer, Colorado's largest marketing firm, renewed last year's commitment with $10,000 in marketing support and services.
Dramatic increases in cash prizes for the local undergraduate competition and the national competitions for MBAs and undergraduates are supported by the three-year grant from Bank One and an endowment given by Ray and Dottie Joyce of Boulder.
The competition is hosted by The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, a joint program of the colleges of business and engineering at CU-Boulder. The center supports entrepreneurship studies at the graduate and undergraduate levels as part of a living laboratory in the dynamic business environment of Colorado's Front Range.
For information, call Susan Kelley at (303) 492-2823 or Cindy Scheopner at (303) 735-4970.