March 12th deadline to enter startup challenge – $20,000 for grand prize winner

Do you have a business idea that you know would be a success, but don’t have the funding to get it off the ground? If so, you might want to hurry and get your application in to the Startup Challenge Monterey Bay.

The challenge is open to everyone. Everybody who enters the challenge will pitch their ideas in April. From there, judges will pick the best ones and each get a mentor and attend workshops about making their pitch. This of course is to prepare them for the finals, and a chance at winning $20,000.

“This is an area really dependent on two different industries; agriculture, and tourism. The economy in this area would be much more resilient if we had a larger variety of business here. We also need to continue renewing the economy here by bringing on new businesses and encouraging that new business formation,” said Executive Director at the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development, Brad Barbeau.

This is the ninth year of the challenge. Two years ago, the small business division was won by a seventh grader from Carmel with the Carmel Honey Company. It is now a thriving family business. The competition is open to everyone, but the deadline is fast approaching.

The deadline to enter the Startup Challenge Monterey Bay is midnight on March 12th. Submit your entry here.