Carson City, NV -
May 11, 2017Nevada based start-up companies
looking for an opportunity to showcase their unique products or services while
competing for cash and prizes should look no further. The Governor’s Conference on Business 2017 is
hosting a business pitch competition as part of the annual business resource and
networking conference.
A two minute pitch in front of a
panel of judges will net two entrepreneurs cash and prizes totaling $30,600. In
addition, an audience vote will determine the winner of the People’s Choice
Award and $1,000.
The competition, sponsored by
AT&T, The Abbi Agency, Microsoft and Vast: Powered by the CFO Group, is
open to Nevada-based businesses with an active state business license, in
operation two years or less and earning less than $250,000 in annual gross
revenue. The competition is open to businesses located throughout the State,
but applicants selected as finalists must be able to attend the conference in
Sparks on August 17 to make a live pitch to a panel of judges.
Prizes:
First place- $5,000 cash; computer hardware, software and
technical support and training from Microsoft valued at $7,500; budgeting and
cash flow management advising and training from VAST valued at $4,800; and customized
social media and public relations services from The Abbi Agency valued at
$3,500.
Second place- $2,500 cash; computer hardware, software and
technical support and training from Microsoft valued at $2,500; budgeting and
cash flow management advising and training from VAST valued at $3,300; and customized
social media and public relations services from The Abbi Agency valued at
$1,500.
People’s Choice- $1,000 cash
Key dates and details:
- To apply, a business must
submit a $40 application fee and a completed application packet to the
Department of Business and Industry by 8 a.m. June 26. The application fee also provides
admission for one to the conference and luncheon.
- Startups with a direct or
indirect operational relationship to an existing large scale corporation,
investment fund or government agency are not eligible to apply.
- Competition judges will independently
review and score all eligible applications to select 10 finalists.
- Up to 10 finalists will make
a two minute in-person pitch in front of a judge’s panel at the Governor’s
Conference on Business 2017 on August 17, 2017 at the Nugget Casino Resort
in Sparks.
- First, Second and People’s
Choice awards and prizes will be announced and presented to the winners during
the conference luncheon program.
Additional information about business
pitch competition eligibility, application, rules and guidelines can be found
at http://business.nv.gov/GCB/Home
or by calling Chris Weiss at (702) 486-5320.
About the Governor’s Conference on Business 2017
The
6th annual Governor’s Conference on Business, hosted by the State of Nevada
Department of Business and Industry, is a comprehensive business resource and
networking event designed for businesses looking to grow, and entrepreneurs
seeking to launch a new venture. The
event is taking place Thursday, August 17 at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks.
Conference
participants will have access to 90+ business service providers, funders, development
authorities, government entities and B2B companies at the Business Resource
Expo. Networking opportunities are available throughout the morning. Exhibitor
registration for companies or organizations that provide direct service to
business clients is open.
For
the third year, the conference will host a Business Pitch Competition. The winning companies will be awarded a
portion of the cash and in-kind services prize packages totaling $31,600 and
recognition at the conference luncheon.
The
conference will conclude with a luncheon featuring a special guest speaker Mridul
Gautam, PhD, University of Nevada Reno Vice President for Research and
Innovation and a keynote address by Governor Brian Sandoval.
Attendee
tickets are $40 in advance. Exhibitor
registration is $275 for nonprofit and $375 for B2B. To learn more or to
register, visit http://business.nv.gov/GCB/Home.
# # # #