Six Entrepreneur Contests Announced for 2012

GROW UTAH VENTURES ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR SIX “CONCEPT TO COMPANY” ENTREPRENEUR CONTESTS AND EVENTS

– Entrepreneurs Around the State to Be Supported with Cash, Prizes and Events –

SALT LAKE CITY, March 26, 2012 – Grow Utah Ventures is pleased to announce an exciting slate of  2012 “Concept to Company” entrepreneur contests and associated CrowdPitch events designed to encourage and support startup companies in Utah.

“This year, we are expanding our highly successful Concept to Company contests to six contests, which is the most we’ve ever held in one year,“ said T. Craig Bott, President and CEO of Grow Utah Ventures. “In addition, we will be combining the popular CrowdPitch events with the contests,” he continued.  “This is exciting because CrowdPitch events give the general audience an opportunity to learn as they watch entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to industry experts.”

The Concept to Company competitions are Utah’s premier ongoing innovation contests. They are held in various regions across the state with each contest focusing on a different industry. Winning entrepreneurs receive significant cash awards as well as mentoring services from leading professional service partners. To date, the “Concept to Company” contests have distributed more than $500,000 in prize money and services and have helped launch over 75 companies.

The following Concept to Company contests and CrowdPitch events have been scheduled for 2012:

Digital Media – Hosted by Utah Valley University

March 18– Application deadline

April 3– CrowdPitch Event at UVU Library Auditorium

Focus is on digital media devices and technology, including, mobile device applications, computer animation, video streaming, gaming, audio and graphics.

General Business – Hosted by Utah State University- Eastern

March 19– Application deadline

March 29– CrowdPitch Event at USU Eastern

Focus is on general business solutions, services and products.

General Technology – Hosted by SEED Dixie and Dixie State College

April 17– Application deadline

May 10– CrowdPitch Event at Dixie State College

Focus is on new product or service ideas in the technology industry. Applicants from Mesquite, Nevada welcome.

Consumer Products – Hosted by North Front Business Resource Center

May 20– Application deadline

June 6– CrowdPitch Event at North Front Business Resource Center

Focus is on new consumer products including outdoor recreation gear, tech gadgets, apparel and accessories.

Medical Devices – Hosted by MD4 Summit

Fall– Application deadline

Focus is on medical devices, drug delivery systems, imaging equipment, monitoring technologies, or any other non-pharmaceutical device.

Mobile Applications – Hosted by Weber State University  

Fall– Application deadline

Fall– CrowdPitch Event

Focus is on mobile applications in such areas as gaming, productivity, entertainment, and social media.

Through these successful contests, early stage entrepreneurs compete against peers and are judged by industry executives and experts. “To compete for a prize is great, but to receive advice and input from experts in my industry is invaluable,” said Jason Prigge, a recent contest winner.  “The quality of the judges was amazing and connecting with them was just as valuable as the prize.”

Another valuable piece of the contests are the corporate sponsors. Not only will they provide general support to the events, but also provide the essential professional services awarded to the contest winners. The major corporate sponsors for the 2012 contests are, Zions Bank, Cisco, Grant Thornton (financial management services), Thorpe North and Western (IP legal services), and Bennett Tueller Johnson (general legal services.)

“We have been pleased with our past success of the contests and events and excited to continue our commitment to encourage Utah’s entrepreneurs,” said Scott Anderson, CEO of Zions Bank- a long standing partner of Grow Utah Ventures and major sponsor of these initiatives.

Other advantages of the Concept to Company contests include the connection with Boom Startup and the Springboard contest. Winners of the Concept to Company contests will get automatic advanced placement into both of these opportunities.

Boom Startup is Utah’s leading mentor accelerator program and funds selected entrepreneurs in an intensive summer program. “We are excited to be associated with Grow Utah Ventures,” said Rob Kunz founder of Boom Startup. “We look forward to quality businesses coming our way through Concept to Company.”

The Springboard contest, recently announced by Alan Hall and sponsored by sister organization Grow America, includes three super entrepreneurial competitions to be held in 2012.  “We’ve have such great success with the Concept to Company contests, that we see even greater opportunity to support Utah’s innovators with a statewide super contest,” said Alan Hall.

Each applicant to the Concept to Company contests can opt to automatically apply for Springboard. “We hope the very best entrepreneurs will learn from their experience at Concept to Company and bring their best game to Springboard,” Hall encouraged.

For specifics about all of the current and upcoming “Concept to Company” contests, and CrowdPitch events, visit www.ConceptToCompany.org and www.GrowUtahVentures.com

About Grow Utah Ventures

Grow Utah Ventures, is a privately funded non-profit organization dedicated to accelerate the creation of innovative, entrepreneur-led, high-growth businesses that will strengthen and expand the future growth of Utah’s economy.

The vision of Grow Utah Ventures is to create a robust entrepreneurial eco-system in Utah that fosters entrepreneurial talent, drives innovation to solve market needs, aligns community resources and support, and ensures funding for products, entrepreneurs and businesses of promise.

Comprised of a team of successful and experienced entrepreneurs, business leaders and private investors, Grow Utah Ventures accomplishes its mission by leading initiatives that fill critical gaps needed for economic and entrepreneurial expansion and encourage others to do the same. As such, Grow Utah Ventures serve as a catalyst to form new partnerships, develop innovative solutions, and capture breaking opportunities that will solve our economic issues today and ensure a sound foundation for our future economy.

For more information about Grow Utah Ventures, visit www.growutahventures.com.

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PR Contacts:

Justin Bott

Grow Utah Ventures

(801) 593-2269

info@growutahventures.com