The Monterey Bay Regional Business Plan Competition, an annual competition held each spring, is a chance for start-up and emerging companies to showcase their ideas and their business. It starts with a short application and a five-minute first-round pitch presented to our judges. From there applicants are chosen to expand on their idea into a full twelve-page business plan, which is presented to an investor panel at the main event.

Congratulations to all our Monterey Bay Regional Business Plan Competition participants. The 2013 winners are:

• Student Division: ShowerPonic Produce
• Main Street Division: Open Ground Studios
• Venture Division: Tablet Command

WATCH INTERVIEW OF BEN HOLBER AND RYAN HAMBLEY OF YODERM, THE 2012 COMPETITION WINNERS

     The 2013 Monterey Regional Business Plan Competition is a chance for regional start-ups and emerging companies to showcase their ideas and business concepts to regional and local angels and venture capitalists. It is also a vehicle to connect regional entrepreneurs to serial entrepreneurs, funders, consultants and support programs in the region. The competition is intended to be a tool that strengthens our regional start-ups and emerging businesses by providing entrepreneurs with the best foundation possible.

     The competition begins with informational workshops throughout the region during February and early March. Applications are due on March 18th. The first round of presentations will take place on March 29th at CSU Monterey Bay. Finalists selected from the first round presentations will be asked to submit a 12-page business play by April 22nd, and the competition culminates with a final presentation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies on May 3rd.

     The competition has three divisions: a Student Division open to students at any level, a Main Street Division for businesses that are not intended to scale or provide a significant return to outside investors, and a Venture Division for businesses that are intended to scale and projected to provide a significant return to outside investors within a 3-5 year time frame.

     Prizes for the competition are: $1,000 cash to the winning Student Division team, $10,000 in cash and professional services to the winning Main Street Division company, and $50,000 in cash and professional services to the winning Venture Division company.

For More Information Call: (831) 582-3230