Another way Project 17 links small business with technology, development and financing opportunities and establish mentoring and networking opportunities with seasoned entrepreneurs is through the Monterey Bay Regional Business Plan Competition. Between May, 2009, and May, 2010, Barich Business Services (BBS) and our academic, business and government partners designed and produced the first ever Monterey Bay Regional Business Plan Competition, convening more than 30 regional partners and sponsors from government, academia and business to culminate in oral presentations, judging and award of first prize to the winner of $50,000 in cash and services at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
2013 Competition
The fourth annual Monterey Bay Regional Business Plan Competition (http://www.MBRCompetition.com) has begun with workshops to assist entrepreneurs in filling out the one-page, Band of Angels application being presented throughout the Monterey Bay Area in February and March. Applications are due Monday, March 18, 2013. The Fever Pitch elimination round will be held at CSUMB on Friday, March 29th.
The competition brings together entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship students with serial entrepreneurs, investors, start-up attorneys and regional business people to assist entrepreneurs in learning the nuts and bolts of business start-up. In addition, the convening of all these parties and their networking and learning to know one another build a robust regional business community. Susan Barich is the chair and founder of the competition.
Ag-company sponsors include Driscoll's Berries, Ocean Mist and Wilbur-Ellis.
Members of the Monterey Bay Regional Business Plan Competition Steering Committee:
- Dr. Brad Barbeau, Chair, Faculty, California State University at Monterey Bay, School of Business
- Susan Barich, Founding Chair, Partner, Barich Business Services
- Adam Davis, Barich Business Services
- Alan Barich, Partner, Barich Business Services
- Erik Cushman, Publisher, The Monterey County Weekly Newspaper
- Ernest Scalberg, Dean, The Fisher International MBA Program at the Monterey Institute of International Studies
- Chuck Boggs, Paladin Ventures
- Chuck Erickson Consulting
- Dr. Rock Clapper, Angel Investor, Band of Angels
- Damon Danielson, Angel Investor, Pebble Beach Partners
- Mark Peterson, Principal, Experience Communications
- Jon Mikkelsen, Faculty, Monterey Peninsula College
The business plan competition held a category for agricultural technologies. Finalists in that category ranged from corn-based films for preservation of cut seed potatoes to increase yields and reduce waste to organic compost tea for conditioning of soils and renovation of depleted soils. As part of Project 17, the business plan competition is able to put a greater emphasis on the agricultural sector and business ideas that support the advancement of agriculture, greater profitability and the creation of permanent, higher paying jobs.