Driving to work, taking a shower, fixing a snack. Good ideas can be born at anytime and those individuals who have been struck with the creative impulse to invent now have an opportunity to showcase their idea at the San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge for a shot at $20,000 in cash and services.
Modeled after the popular style of "American Idol," the challenge is a multi-round business competition presented by the San Joaquin Angels investor group. By partnering with regional economic and academic development organizations, the Challenge serves as a local place at which individuals can pitch their ideas and possibly see them become a reality.
The competition is open to residents and businesses in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. All of the applicants will be screened and a maximum of 20 applicants will be selected to compete in the first round of the San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge which will take place on March 18. The 20 individuals will be asked to make a two-minute presentation at Round 1 where judges and audience members will select those advancing on to Round 2 on April 8.
In an effort to prepare competitors for the event, several free pre-application workshops will be held to allow the applicants to understand exactly what the judges are looking for, receive ground rules and the event format ahead of time, and receive specific feedback on how to compile a winning application.
The first workshop will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Alliance Small Business Development Center/Kirk Lindsey Center located at 1020 10 Street Suite 102, in Modesto. For reservations call 567-4910.
The second workshop will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Northeastern Small Business Development Center at San Joaquin Delta College located at 56 S. Lincoln Street in Stockton. For reservations call 954-5089.
Interested individuals can also register for either workshop by accessing http://www.alliancesbdc.com/san-joaquin-entrepreneur-challenge/.
To apply complete the entry form found at http://sjchallenge.homestead.com/EnterChallenge.html and email it as an attachment to sanjoaquinchallenge@gmail.com.
