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.wayfarerworld.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 begins with workshops in September by Melissa Krinzman. Melissa has a 20-year history of starting, growing and advising private companies and non-profit organizations and is a frequent speaker on the topic of business plan development. Preliminary rounds with judging will then take place in October throughout several locations in 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.
Additional information can be found online at http://www.thelaunchpad.org/ .
Get Launched! Join The Launch Pad at the University of Miami and the Miami Herald for the Elevator Pitch Contest
What is the Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch is a brief overview of a company, product, service or project, delivered in the time span of an elevator ride (less than 90 seconds). All South Florida entrepreneurs with existing for-profit businesses are invited to participate in the contest and entry is free. Winners will be awarded with generous prize packages as this competition is designed to boost companies to the next level!
Perfect Your Pitch – Free Workshop Series
The Perfect Your Pitch workshop will prepare entrepreneurs for the Elevator Pitch contest. The workshop will be two hours, including a 30-45 minute presentation, a break-out session for the participants to work in small groups for practice, followed by feedback.
The workshop will be lead by Melissa Krinzman, Senior Entrepreneurial Fellow, who has a twenty-year history of starting, growing and advising private companies and non-profit organizations and is a frequent speaker on the topic of business plan development. Ms. Krinzman is the Managing Director of Venture Architects LLC, and positions private companies for success in the capital-raising process through the development of business plans, financial projections and investor presentations. Since 1998, Venture Architects has worked with over 500 companies that have raised approximately $750 million in investment capital.
Workshops will be held as follows, and are free and open to all South Florida community members:
*Thursday Sept 30 at 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
*Thursday Sept 30 at 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. University of Miami Hurricane-100 Room
Friday, October 1, 8:30 a.m. – at Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, October 2, 2 p.m. – at Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce
Preliminary Rounds – Throughout South Florida
Week of Monday, October 18 – Exact dates and times to-be-announced
At University of Miami Coral Gables campus, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce
The Launch Pad Elevator Pitch Contest series – presented by The Miami Herald
- In 2009, over $85,000 awarded in prizes to finalists
- Contest open to the South Florida community of entrepreneurs with existing for-profit businesses
- Perfect Your Pitch during workshops lead by Senior Entrepreneurial Fellow, Melissa Krinzman
- Five preliminary rounds to be hosted throughout South Florida in October
- Finalists compete in two categories with prizes awarded to the winners of the student and community divisions
- Finale to be held during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) at the University of Miami
The Launch Pad serves both beginning and experienced entrepreneurs, assisting with opportunity recognition, feasibility assessment, and strategy for starting and growing companies or non-profits. They specialize in just-in-time delivery of resources – what you need, when you need it. Visit www.TheLaunchPad.org or call 305-284-2789 for more information.