Participants will have 60 seconds to pitch their venture, and winners will be determined by the audience, which will include many members of the local entrepreneurial community and investors.
To register or for more information, visit NWAEA.net/Blog, or check out Amerine's Innovate Arkansas blog at Blog.InnovateArkansas.org. The competition is Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at Fayetteville's new Buck Nekkid BBQ. The competition is open to any Arkansas entrepreneurs, aspiring or otherwise, and is modeled after the elevator pitch competition held at the annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup.
Here's the rest of the story By Mark Carter
"Gone in 60 Seconds" is the brainchild of Innovate Arkansas advisor and University of Arkansas entrepreneurship instructor Jeff Amerine.
The Northwest Arkansas Entrepreneurship Alliance, Northwest Arkansas Young Professionals, 101-Ventures, and Innovate Arkansas are sponsors, and several other NWA entrepreneurship-related firms are expected to be involved.
Amerine said the inaugural event will serve as a pilot to see what works and what doesn't, but the idea is to make the contest a monthly event. Winners will receive cash prizes, and ideally, the attention of potential investors.
"The elevator pitch can make all the difference in the world to an early-stage startup," Amerine said. "You have to be able to sell your idea in a way that's enticing yet concise."
Amerine said the competition itself will last no longer than an hour, and hopes entrepreneurs and investors will be encouraged to stick around afterwards and mingle.
"The primary objective is to use the contest to drive networking and interaction between entrepreneurs, angels, and service providers," he said.
Buck Nekkid, building a reputation for its dry-rub ribs, is a UA startup venture that was a finalist in the 2011 Governor's Cup competition held this past spring in Little Rock.
To register or for more information, visit NWAEA.net/Blog, or check out Amerine's Innovate Arkansas blog at Blog.InnovateArkansas.org.
Reposted by NWAB2B.com
