Enter Now: $100,000 Startup St. Bernard
Pitch Competition
|
|
The entry period is open for the 6th annual Startup St. Bernard competition, presented by the Meraux Foundation and the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation. Startup St. Bernard seeks out dedicated, enthusiastic entrepreneurs who want to grow their business to the next level. Entrepreneurs are invited to apply for the opportunity to pitch their business to a panel of judges during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. The entry period closes at 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) on February 24, 2020.
|
|
The prize package is valued at more than $100,000* in cash and in-kind services.
All three finalists will receive a cash prize of at least $5,000. The winner will receive the grand prize package including a mix of cash and in-kind donations. In-kind donations include services ranging from legal and accounting to marketing and public relations.
The Startup St. Bernard Challenge is open to any business that will:
- Locate their base of operations to St. Bernard Parish for at least 2 years
- Improve St. Bernard Parish
- Actively participate in the St. Bernard Parish entrepreneur ecosystem
To qualify, entrants must be in business for five years or less or be an existing business creating a new division or entity, have yearly revenue under $1,000,000, and have five employees or less. Past Startup St. Bernard cash winners and nonprofit organizations are not eligible to enter.
The “Shark Tank” style public event is open to any business that meets the entry criteria and is passionate about joining St. Bernard Parish’s growing business community. Previous winners have been 40 Arpent Brewing Company, Christie’s Dreams Seafood, Reactive Digital Systems, LLC, Clean Course Meals, and Schmelly's Dirt Farm.
Judges will score entries based on the quality of the business plans and how the startups will improve St. Bernard by creating jobs, investing capital into the parish, providing needed products or services to the region, and/or contributing to the growth of the core Startup St. Bernard sectors: creative digital media, cultural arts/cultural economy, health and wellness, advanced manufacturing/value-added manufacturing, logistics, and the seafood industry.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Submit Your Business Plan Online
Entrepreneurs must complete the entry form and submit a business plan at www.startupstbernard.com by 11:59 PM on Feb. 24, 2020.
2. Committee Selects Finalists
A selection committee with business expertise will review the submissions and narrow the field. An independent scoring committee from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University will choose three finalists that will be selected to “pitch.”
3. Finalists Pitch for a Chance to Win
Finalists will pitch their businesses to a panel of judges in a TED Talks-style presentation format. The live public event will take place during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week on March 23, 2020 at Docville Farm.
Questions about the competition or entry criteria can be directed to info@merauxfoundation.org.
About the Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation
The Meraux Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established by Arlene Meraux to benefit the community of St. Bernard Parish by leveraging its landholdings. Today, the Foundation’s board of directors is presided over by Arlene’s niece, Rita Gue, and consists of members Floyd Gue, Bill Haines, Chris Haines, and Sidney Torres, III. Guided by Arlene’s vision, the Board is implementing an innovative strategy to create lasting change and build a better St. Bernard. The Meraux Foundation is the founding organizer of Startup St. Bernard and its presenting sponsor.
About St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation
St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to retain and create jobs, build prosperity, and improve the quality of life in St. Bernard Parish. The Board of Directors consists of 29 voting members and 8 non-voting honorary members and public officials, all of which serve as volunteers to the organization. SBEDF's work is made possible through the general support of St. Bernard Parish Government and its donors the Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation and Port of New Orleans at the Lead Investors Level, St. Bernard Port, Harbor, and Terminal District, Cox Communications, Chalmette Refining, and Valero at the Impact Champion Level, the Law Offices of Sidney Torres, III, Associated Terminals, Ochsner Health Systems, Gulf Coast Bank and Trust at the Pillars Level, and Atmos Energy, Palmisano Group, Boasso Global, Park Investments LLC, Adams and Reese LLP, and Capital One at the Community Leaders Level.
About New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) is the premier event celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of our city, showcasing emerging trends and innovations, and connecting the New Orleans startup community to the cutting edge of global business. The the 12th annual NOEW presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co. is March 23-27. Notable speakers include Co-CEO of Away, Former Destiny’s Child Manager and Ex-White House Social Secretary Turned Global Beauty Brand Mogul.
*The Prize Package is still being developed and is not a guaranteed value. The Prize Package is not an entirely cash package. The Prize Package includes in-kind products and services that have been assigned a fair market value. The total value of past Prize Packages have been estimated to be valued at $100,000. Startup St. Bernard, the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, its agents, and affiliates, and the organizers and partners of Startup St. Bernard are not responsible for the commitments made by those who donated cash, products, and services to the prize package.
|
|
|
|
|