NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- There is still time to enter the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge 2007, www.gwinnettinnovationchallenge.com, a business plan contest with over $105,000 in prize money, services and software. Entrepreneurs, inventors, students and management teams have over three weeks left to submit their plan by the March 11, 2007 deadline. The Challenge, designed to encourage and recognize innovative new business ventures, is open to companies and business plan teams with ties to Gwinnett County and less than two million in annual revenues.
The Gwinnett Innovation Challenge is championed by a number of local leaders with a long history of support for innovation, entrepreneurship and civic service in Gwinnett County. Trailblazer sponsors are Scientific Atlanta, Sage Software, Intelligent Systems and the Gwinnett Business Journal. Catalyst sponsors include the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and Gwinnett Innovation Park; and the Innovation Network sponsors include Andersen, Tate & Carr; Carabiner Communications; Day & Associates; Moore Stephens Tiller; Morris, Manning & Martin; PrimeNewswire; TechCFO and WeathersDesign.com.
Interested entrepreneurs can enter the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge with the submission of a five page executive summary by midnight March 11, 2007. Finalists will present to a panel of judges consisting of experienced investors, entrepreneurs and executives on April 13, 2007. Winners will be chosen in both Seed Stage and Growth Stage categories and will be recognized in an award ceremony on April 17, 2007 at the Gwinnett Technology Forum. Complete contest details and a Challenge Entry Kit are available at www.gwinnettinnovationchallenge.com.
Winners of the business plan competition will be awarded cash prizes totaling $35,000. In addition, winners will receive Innovation Value Cards redeemable for over $70,000 in services and products particularly tailored for early and growth stage companies. Includes are services such as website design, accounting, tax, legal, financial planning/consulting, office rent, public relations, newswire services and printing, in addition to organization memberships and small business software products. The Innovation Network members are local companies that have served Gwinnett County businesses for a number of years.
About the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge
The Gwinnett Innovation Challenge is an annual business plan competition designed to recognize and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. The Challenge is open to companies and business plan teams with ties to Gwinnett County and less than two million in annual revenue. Winners in both the Seed Stage and Growth Stage category will share a prize package worth over $105,000 in cash, products and services. Initiated in 2006 by Trailblazer sponsor Intelligent Systems Corporation, the 2007 Challenge is also sponsored by Trailblazers, Scientific Atlanta, Sage Software and Gwinnett Business Journal; Catalyst sponsors Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and Gwinnett Innovation Park; and the Innovation Network sponsors of Andersen, Tate & Carr; Carabiner Communications; Day & Associates; Moore Stephens Tiller; Morris, Manning & Martin; PrimeNewswire; TechCFO and WeathersDesign. For more information, visit www.gwinnettinnovationchallenge.com.