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California State University,
Fresno entrepreneurship students are raising the stakes for the Lyles
Center’s fourth annual Business Plan Competition, offering $25,000 in
cash awards this year, compared to $10,000 in 2008.
Students in the Entrepreneur Mentorship Program at the Lyles Center for
Innovation and Entrepreneurship are organizing the competition and
raising funds for the prizes. The students have been selected as the top
20 entrepreneur students and receive credit and a grade for the course.
The competition serves as their final project.
“This competition was created to represent the most innovative and
groundbreaking business ideas collegiate students and entrepreneurs have
to offer,” said Marc Jamieson, a student helping to plan the
competition. “This opportunity allows students and community members
throughout the Central Valley to demonstrate their leadership skills and
to share their visions for creating new jobs and stimulating the
economy.”
To enter the competition, teams must submit a summary of their business
idea by March 13. At least one Fresno State or community college student must be on each team. A
semifinal round will take place in April and a final round in May.
Winners will receive $15,000. The second-place team gets $7,500 and
third place is worth $2,500. The prize is to help develop the ideas into
businesses.
The winners also will receive one of the eight spaces in the Lyles
Center Hatchery, where they can house their business and receive
intensive mentoring and other assistance from Lyles Center staff,
university faculty, community leaders and entrepreneurs.
In addition, the winning team is entered into the Draper Fisher
Jurvetson $250,000 Venture Competition and receive a scholarship valued
at $1,500 to attend a two-day E-Myth Leadership Intensive Seminar.
To help students with their business plans, the Lyles Center will host
workshops, beginning Thursday, Feb. 5, with “How to Write a Business
Plan.” Workshops will continue through April with topics such as “Legal
issues to Starting a Business,” “Marketing Your Business,” “Financing
Your Business” and “Pitching Your Business.”
All workshops will be held at the Lyles Center from 6-7:30 p.m.
For more information or to register, please visit
www.lylescenter.com or call
559.294.2045.
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