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City’s JumpStart
BizPlan Award
Announces
Prize Package
for Winning Firm
Presented by
Deloitte and
U.S. Bank,
citywide
business plan
competition will
award $30,000 to
top early-stage
firm, and $5,000
to top teen
DENVER, CO — Monday,
July 13, 2015 —
The Denver
Office of
Economic
Development
(OED) will honor
the best and
brightest ideas
in small
business again
this year
through the
JumpStart
BizPlan Awards,
presented by
Deloitte and
U.S. Bank. The
volunteer-based
application
process will
select three
start-up and
early-stage
finalists who
pitch their
concepts at a
live event on
September 28
during Denver
Startup Week.
The top prize package
includes $30,000
cash, legal
counsel provided
by Polsinelli,
and strategic
marketing
services from
dovetail
solutions. A
$5,000 cash
prize will also
go that day to a
top teen
entrepreneur,
sponsored by
Junior
Achievement-Rocky
Mountain, Inc.
“Incredible innovations,
products and
services are
sprouting from
firms of all
levels and
across many
industries
throughout
Denver,” said
Mayor Michael B.
Hancock. “By
spotlighting
these rising
stars, we hope
to spur
investment
opportunities,
open up access
to new markets,
and ultimately
help the
finalists to
attain their
growth plans.”
Identified as a key
initiative in
OED’s JumpStart
2015 strategic
plan, the
BizPlan Awards
are open to
start-up firms
as well as
established
businesses with
up to 25
employees that
have been in
operation for up
to five years.
Applicant
businesses must
reside or have
plans to reside
in Denver.
The program builds off
of two previous
business plan
competitions
offered by OED
in 2012 and
2013. Past top
winners include
AppIt Ventures
and Waste
Farmers.
“The JumpStart BizPlan
Award is an
opportunity to
publicly
recognize and
celebrate our
strong culture
of innovation,”
said Paul
Washington, OED
executive
director. “We’re
challenging
entrepreneurs to
bring forth
their best
ideas, from
which we can
help grow jobs,
expand the tax
base, and make
Denver a better
place to live,
work and play.”
Applications will be
reviewed
initially via
the Business
Catapult online
platform by OED
staff and
volunteers from
TiE Rockies. Ten
semifinalist
companies will
be asked to
provide a
complete
business plan;
the subsequent
three finalists
will present to
a panel of
venture capital
professionals
who select a
sole winner.
The awards program is
open to the
first 150
entries.
Applications are
being accepted
now through
August 14, 2015,
or until 150
entries have
been received.
Added in 2015, the Teen
BizPlan Award
developed with
Junior
Achievement-Rocky
Mountain, Inc.
will be given at
the same event
following short
presentations
and a popular
vote of
attendees.
For more information or
to apply, visit
Denvergov.org/biz.
OED is responsible for
the application
process and
award outcome.
The presenting
sponsors are
Deloitte and
U.S. Bank, with
Junior
Achievement-Rocky
Mountain, Inc.
sponsoring the
Teen BizPlan
Award.
The Denver Office of
Economic
Development
(OED) is
dedicated to
advancing
economic
prosperity for
the City of
Denver, its
businesses,
neighborhoods
and residents.
Working with a
wide variety of
community
partners, OED
operates to
create a local
environment that
stimulates
balanced growth
through job
creation,
business
assistance,
housing options,
neighborhood
redevelopment
and the
development of a
skilled
workforce.
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