Rising Tide Capital, a Jersey City based non-profit helping entrepreneurs through training programs, will again host its annual Start Something Challenge with entry submissions open as of June 13th. The Start Something Challenge is a state-wide competition in which New Jersey small business owners, across 5 industry-related categories, have the opportunity to compete for prizes in the form of professional consultations, ipads and a grand prize of $10,000. Contestants will have the opportunity to impress judges through multiple mediums including, but not limited to, a video and a short business pitch.
Entrepreneurs and innovators interested in participating in the Start Something Challenge have several steps to enter. First, contestants must create a Youtube video about their business through Animoto, a user-friendly video-development application. Then, contestants must construct a concise business pitch consisting of no more than 150 words and then submit their idea into 1 of the 5 industry-related sectors on the Start Something Challenge website. The entry period ends June 27th.
Participants must then be sure to promote their Animoto video to generate as many views as possible by July 5th. The Start Something Challenge will then have its official kickoff on July 7th which all contestants must attend. At that event they will find out if they have made it into the next round. Six contestants in each sector will be chosen, either individuals or teams.The sectors are: food, fashion and beauty, arts and entertainment, social and health, and other professional services.
All participants must be a New Jersey resident of 18-years or older with an annual revenue not exceeding $250,000.
After the kickoff event, contestants will move on to the semi-final round between July 11th and July 17th. On July 28th, the remaining participants will then compete in the grand finale to win valuable prizes in addition to the $10K grand prize.
