STOCKTON – A regional investment group is gearing up for the third annual competition to help entrepreneurs live their dreams.
San Joaquin Angels, along with regional educational institutions and economic development groups, are offering at least $10,000 in cash and $14,000 in professional services to the two entrepreneurs who win the “American Idol”- style San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge.
“San Joaquin Angels is a private syndicate of angel investors whose goal is to help develop promising start-up and early stage companies in the San Joaquin region,” Mark Plovnick, San Joaquin Angels president and University of the Pacific director of economic development, said.
“We hope that the San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge will help stimulate business development in our region by encouraging aspiring local entrepreneurs to pursue their goals through an entertaining business plan competition that offers mentoring, cash prizes and access to investors,” Plovnick said.
“By winning the San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge I was able to meet with marketing, legal, management and financial advisors who knew how to help a start-up business succeed and grow,” said John Paoluccio, winner of the 2012 challenge.
“The funding and professional assistance that we received from the (Entrepreneur) Challenge helped to put our product in the marketplace spotlight,” Paoluccio said.
Organizers are seeking people or startup companies with great ideas to compete during two public events for selection. Audience and judges will select two finalists eligible for the top prizes and the opportunity to meet with potential investors and advisers.
Application deadline for the competition is Feb. 3. Those applications will be screened to narrow the field for the first pubic round of competition.
Those making the first cut will be required to attend public events on Feb. 27 and March 20 to describe and pitch their ideas, with the winner being selected March 20.
Visit San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge for an application and more details on the competition.
