A total of $10,000 in prize money is on the line for the upcoming IdeaFest event to be held in Danville, Virginia, just over the North Carolina - Virginia border. IdeaFest is a Business Pitch Competition where 20 finalists pitch their startup idea to a panel of judges and a live audience.
The top three competitors will be awarded $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place. Winners will also be eligible to receive twenty-five hours of free business consulting from The Launch Place.
The deadline to apply for IdeaFest is Feb. 18.
The competition will be held starting at 1 p.m. on March 21 at Cottontail Weddings & Events, 600 Craghead St., Danville, Virginia.
IdeaFest is free and open to the public. Community members of all ages and professions are invited to attend to learn about the region's startup development resources, to network with a wide range of business professionals and to explore entrepreneurship as a career option. Attend the entire event, or come the reception at Ballad Brewing at 5 p.m.
This will be the event’s sixth year and it is being hosted by The Launch Place, which assists with business formation, job creation and retention through its business consulting services and investment funding, while having a dual responsibility to recruit and retain entrepreneurs to the Dan River Region.
The IdeaFest competition exposes The Launch Place’s services and funds to start-up companies that are ready to establish or seeking early stage capital. The Launch Place could potentially invest in the company from its Seed and Pre-Seed Funds.
Last year’s winners included:
- 1st Place $5,000 - Cascade Rapid Response
- 2nd Place $3,000 - Ventri Health
- 3rd Place - $1,500 Efficient Innovations
- Audience Choice $500 - SaniBrands
Check out the recap from the 2018 IdeaFest.
