TiE Ohio Brings TiEQuest Business Plan Competition to Ohio
Entrepreneurs Compete at State Level; Winners Advance to Global Competition December 27, 2011 - TiE Ohio is pleased to announce an exciting business competition with a prize packagevalued at $25,000 (consisting of cash and services) for emerging entrepreneurs. In addition to the emergingentrepreneur prize, current entrepreneurs will compete for the chance to represent TiE Ohio at the globalTiEQuest competition in Toronto on April 11, 2012. There, they have a chance to win a prize package valuedat $150,000 and up to $1 million in investment. Current and aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to enterthe competition, which consists of three rounds of submissions: an executive summary, a video pitch, and abusiness plan. Contestants may work with their current mentors or may be provided with a TiE Ohiomentor. Coaching sessions and networking events are part of the competition process. Judges representingthe investment community will select three to five finalists to present at the competition in March 2012. Forthe second year, Charter One will be the lead sponsor. "We are thrilled to be able to encourage entrepreneurship, engage emerging entrepreneurial talent, andcreate an ecosystem of entrepreneurship through this high profile competition," said Réka Barabás, ExecutiveDirector of TiE Ohio. "TiEQuest is committed to providing mentoring and coaching to the contestants asthey prepare their executive summary, elevator pitch, and business plan. Entrants will receive feedback andcoaching from TiE Ohio entrepreneurs who are all volunteering their time to this initiative; finalists willreceive ongoing mentorship and connections as they develop their new enterprises." "TiEQuest will definitely strengthen your business tools and put you in the room with potential contacts,mentors, investors, and fellow entrepreneurs. It gives you a chance to hear much needed support for beingout there as an entrepreneur." Says Anthony Sterns of iRxReminder, winner of last year's competition. "Thepreparation of each stage of the competition provided all the essentials required to put the business in front ofinvestors." TiEQuest Business Venture Competition will accept entries from January 1, 2012 through January 31, 2012.The competition is open to all foreign-born entrepreneurs or local born entrepreneurs with a significantinternational element in their business. The Ohio finals will be held in March 2012. Ohio winners willcompete in the global competition to be held in Toronto on April 11, 2012. Full details are atwww.tieohio.org. About TiE OhioThe International Entrepreneurs (TiE) Ohio was founded in 2008 as the 50th chapter of the global TiE network, theworld's largest organization for fostering entrepreneurship. TiE Ohio is poised to fulfill a critical niche in Ohio'sbusiness development landscape by focusing specifically on immigrant, international, and minority entrepreneurs withinthe region, and by encouraging other such entrepreneurs to consider the region as a place to launch their businesses. TiEOhio provides focused support to entrepreneurs through mentoring, networking, and business education programming. Learn more at www.tieohio.org. Contact: Réka BarabásExecutive Director216-929-0677 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it