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The Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge, the richest annual business pitch competition in Colorado, announced today that it is now accepting applications from collegiate entrepreneurs, startups seeking capital, and existing businesses seeking expansion capital to compete for a grand prize package of $250,000 in funding, intensive strategy and operations support, and a 12-month business mentoring program.
The Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge is a celebration of innovation, leadership development, and job creation presented by Blue Ocean Enterprises and the Colorado State University College of Business. The competition will be a transformational opportunity for competitors to accelerate their businesses with entrepreneurship experts and advisers guiding them.
Competitors may learn more and submit their applications at www.blueoceanchallenge.com.
The competition features two tracks:
• Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge: open to startups and established companies in any industry from anywhere in the world. Applicants in this track must be operating for a minimum of one year, be based in the United States, and be generating revenue or have raised a minimum of $100,000 in capital for research and development, and
• Blue Ocean Enterprises Collegiate Challenge: open to active undergraduate or graduate student entrepreneurs attending any university or college in Colorado.
A panel of distinguished judges from CSU’s College of Business, Blue Ocean Enterprises, and the national business community will select finalists from qualified applications in each track to participate in a three-month business coaching and pitch consultation program leading up to the main event on May 24, 2014.
The winner of the Blue Ocean Enterprises Collegiate Challenge, to be announced in Fort Collins on May 2, 2014, will receive $20,000 in startup funding and compete in the main competition. The grand prize winner may receive additional capital from Blue Ocean Holdings, an affiliate of Blue Ocean Enterprises, which has a proven model for building businesses and growing young companies in the Northern Colorado region.
The deadline to apply for the Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge (both tracks) is December 15, 2013.
Additional information for applicants, potential sponsors, and interested volunteers is available at www.blueoceanchallenge.com.