Corridor announces Big IDEA Entrepreneurial Challenge
12 Nov 2024
Entrepreneurship, Small Business, News Release, News, Press Release
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) announced the launch of an entrepreneurial challenge called the Big IDEA that supports innovative development of businesses through empowering entrepreneurs and accelerating business growth.
The Big IDEA allows entrepreneurs the chance to submit their dreams to start or expand a business, then encourage friends, family, and customers to vote for them online. Five finalists will present their idea to an audience and judges in a pitch competition with $10,000 in prize money to be awarded.
“There are big ideas in small towns, and the Corridor wants to showcase these ideas and support aspiring entrepreneurs in their endeavors,” said Corridor Senior Vice President Trevor Smith. “Through the Big IDEA challenge, the Corridor is supporting local entrepreneurs sharing their stories and ideas through financial awards to get them started.”
Entrepreneurs and businesses located in the Corridor’s four-county region of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet counties with an idea to develop a new or expand an existing business are eligible to participate. The video submission is to be no longer than 90 seconds briefly sharing their Big IDEA which will be voted upon by the general public. The final pitch competition will have scoring criteria including growth potential, scalability, innovation, and promoting economic development in the region.
Participants are encouraged to meet with Corridor staff prior to the competition to discuss eligibility requirements and guidelines. Video submissions will be accepted starting in January 2025 with a public voting period through February and the final competition in March. For more information, contact Trevor Smith at tsmith@lakescorridor.com or 712-264-3474.
###
ABOUT THE IOWA LAKES CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is the regional economic development agency for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. The Iowa Lakes Corridor’s mission is to foster, encourage, promote, aid or otherwise assist in the economic development growth and development of the four-county region.
More Topics
