The annual Startup St. Bernard Competition is seeking innovative entrepreneurs to compete for a prize package worth $110,000, including a mix of cash and in-kind donations. Now in its second year, the competition is accepting applications through January 24 (deadline extended from original January 17 date).
The Challenge is open to any startup business that will:
- Locate base of operations to St. Bernard Parish for at least 2 years
- Improve St. Bernard Parish
- Become part of the St. Bernard Parish entrepreneur ecosystem
- To qualify, entrants must be in business for 5 years or less or an existing business creating a new division or entity, must have yearly revenue under $1,000,000, must have 5 employees or less, and cannot be a non-profit.
Judges will also score entries based on how the startups improve St. Bernard by creating jobs, investing capital into the parish, improving the image of St. Bernard, and/or contributing to growing the core Startup St. Bernard sectors: creative digital media, cultural arts/cultural economy, arts/entertainment, advanced manufacturing/value-added manufacturing, logistics, and the seafood industry.
Selected entrepreneurs will get to pitch their business to a panel of judges at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) in March. NOEW is an annual conference of entrepreneurship that engages a dynamic global network of entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, nonprofits, students, and professionals throughout a week of events, networking, competition, discussion and celebration.
“Startup St. Bernard gives top-notch entrepreneurs a chance to compete for a prize package designed to help them scale their businesses. It entices scores of startups to consider locating their businesses in St. Bernard,” said Andrew Jacques, the executive director of St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, a partner host of the event along with the Meraux Foundation and The Idea Village.
“This competition not only gives entrepreneurs a chance to grow their business, it puts St. Bernard center stage,” said Rita Gue, president of the Meraux Foundation.
For more information or to enter, visit startupstbernard.com.