NORCROSS, Ga., March 30, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Gwinnett Innovation Challenge 2007, www.gwinnettinnovationchallenge.com, a business plan contest designed to encourage and recognize innovative new business ventures with ties to Gwinnett County, Georgia, announced the business plan teams selected to compete in the Final Round of the competition on April 13, 2007. Finalists include Business Oriented Software Solutions (BOSS), ContactAtOnce!, Data Profits, InteleHealth, Records Bank, RBO Concepts, Sharp Schools and Special Circuits.
The eight finalists are vying to be named as the First and Second place winners in the second year of the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge. The top company will be awarded cash and services totaling over $55,000 and the second place winner will take home cash and services of more than $45,000.
The eight finalists were chosen from almost 35 entrants in the competition, about the same number as entered the inaugural competition in 2006. All qualified entries are early stage companies with less than $2 million in revenue and with ties to Gwinnett County, Georgia. The eight companies competing in the Final Round on April 13, 2007 will submit an expanded business plan and present in front of a panel of judges comprised of investors, entrepreneurs and business executives with expertise in early stage companies. Judges will evaluate each company's business plan and presentation against a number of criteria before selecting the top two winners.
Winners of the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge 2007 will be presented with their awards on April 17 at the Gwinnett Technology Forum at Gwinnett Technical Institute at 7:30 AM. The two winners will receive cash prizes totaling $35,000 and Innovation Value Cards redeemable for more than $65,000 in services and products. In addition, all finalists receive copies of Peachtree by Sage Complete Accounting 2007 software.
About the Gwinnett Innovation Challenge
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, Georgia. 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. For more information, visit www.gwinnettinnovationchallenge.com.