In this fast-pace world, we only have so much time to sell an idea. An elevator pitch is the perfect way to overcome these time constraints. The Launch Pad, the University of Miami’s interdisciplinary entrepreneurship resource center based at the Toppel Career Center, will once again present their Elevator Pitch Contest for 2010. The contest will aim to educate and nurture individuals or groups who want to pitch an idea for a product, service, or company.
Last year, the student grand prize winner was Sean Goldfaden of www.playfare.com. In the alumnus category, the grand prize winner was Matt Rosenberg of GameJuice. Thanks to sponsors, over $85,000 in prizes was distributed between four winners.
This year the contest is open community-wide and will award over $100,000 in prizes to the winners in the student and community categories. Prizes include legal services, public relations counseling, market research, web and logo design, and office space, all designed to boost an entrepreneur to the next level. Four preliminary rounds with judging begin Monday, October 25, with contests throughout South Florida. The finale will take place during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2010 in November.
At the Launch Pad, which opened at the beginning of the Fall 2008 semester, participants learn that entrepreneurship is a career choice, and one that can be started right away. The center offers guidance in learning business basics, developing ideas, networking with industry experts, and strategizing to take a venture to the next level. The Launch Pad believes that entrepreneurship training is for everyone including but not limited to scientists, engineers, and artists.
The events surrounding this contest are open to the public and are sponsored by The Miami Herald. Additional information can be found online at http://www.thelaunchpad.org/elevatorpitch.