City College is hosting a challenge that gives business-minded students the opportunity to win $15,000.
The competition is accepting participants from City College and high schools in Santa Barbara area. There will be three high school winners and three college winners.
To compete, students turn in a business idea and plan of their own.
“We are just absolutely thrilled and really super excited to give this opportunity to students that they don’t have here in Santa Barbara,” said Melissa Moreno, director of the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Every student at the City College is eligible to participate in the challenge.
“We want the students to make an effort to start their company whether it’ll be in the United States or Sweden,” Moreno said. “We would be thrilled to help a student who’s interested in starting an international business.”
College students compete for the award of $15,000 and high school students for scholarships to City College of the same value.
“One of the real exciting things that are going to make students really excited is that we have money to give away,” Moreno said.
The winners will be presented and honored at the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards hosted by the Santa Barbara chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort on May 13, 2011.
Sponsors include the Bank of Santa Barbara, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship and one anonymous sponsor who donated $5,000 for rewards.
Moreno said there is still room for sponsorship opportunities.
The Scheinfeld Center with NAWBO as a partner hosts the competition for the first time. Registration started on Jan. 3.
“We’re looking for capturing the spirit of entrepreneurship in the community and helping these students become our future and economic engines,” Moreno said.
Students can register by contacting Melissa Moreno at [email protected].
For more information visit http://scheinfeldnewventurechallenge.blogspot.com.
Important dates:
Jan. 3: Registration started
March 4: Mandatory Info Session
March 25: Submission Deadline
April 15: Finalists Announced
April 29: Power Point Slides Due
May 13: New Venture Challenge
