Budding entrepreneurs and aspiring small business owners are invited to participate in Launch Appalachia, a regional business idea competition for Tazewell (VA) and Mercer (WV) counties sponsored by the Bluefield College Donald W. Caudill School of Business.
Participants must be residents of Tazewell or Mercer county, and ideas must be “new, independent proposed ventures in the conceptual, seed or start-up stages.” Idea submissions must include a one-to-five-page summary, including a description of the product/service, a marketing plan, an explanation of obstacles faced, and a list of resources required.
Submissions will be evaluated beginning March 22 with the top 10 finalists announced on March 30. Finalists will then be asked to present their ideas through an oral presentation during a recognition banquet, Thursday, April 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Fincastle on the Mountain in Bluefield, Virginia. Oral presentations can be up to 10 minutes, followed by a five-minute question-and-answer session with judges, and must include visual aids, such as PowerPoint or Prezi slides.
“We’re searching for entrepreneurs with great ideas,” said Dr. David Hite, a BC assistant professor of business. “This includes students, existing entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs. If you have a good business idea, we invite you to participate in Launch Appalachia.”
Prizes for Launch Appalachia will include thousands of dollars in cash, physical space to start a business, and free marketing, accounting and legal services for businesses. To apply or for more information, visit launchappalachia.com or contact Bluefield College’s Caleb Robbins by phone at 276-326-4223 or by email at [email protected]