CENTRAL PA – Have you been thinking about developing or commercializing an innovative product, process, or new software application? Then, you need to think about Ben Franklin Technology Partners! We are looking for budding entrepreneurs, researchers, software developers, or even small existing businesses. Our risk-free BIG IDEA contests have been helping folks start or grow their businesses for nearly 20 years.
BEN FRANKLIN’S BIG IDEA CONTEST WILL AWARD FOUR CASH PRIZES!
First Place: $25,000 – Second Place: $15,000 – Third Place: $7,500 – and a People’s Choice Award: $2,500.
A simple online application could be the first step in taking you from StartUP to UP and running. Check out http://bigidea.benfranklin.org No need to share your “secret sauce” or any detail you believe is proprietary. The deadline to apply is October 2, 2017 at 5:00 PM
What are the eligible counties? Cambria, Fulton, Indiana, Somerset, Jefferson, Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Centre, Juniata, Mifflin, and Clearfield.
This year’s First Place Winner will receive:
- $25,000 in cash
- Priority access to a Pre-Seed Grant from Ben Franklin valued at up to $10,000
- A one-year pass to seminars offered by Ben Franklin’s eMarketing Learning Center http://emarketinglearningcenter.org valued at $3,000
- A free consult (and proposal prep), valued at $3,000 on how to access Federal R&D grant money from the Innovation Partnership http://innovationpartnership.net
You are eligible to apply to the BIG IDEA contest IF:
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- You are located in one of the participating counties
- You are developing/commercializing a new, innovative tech-based product
- You have not previously received an investment from Ben Franklin
- Your business is either pre-revenue or did not have sales that exceeded $500,000 in 2016.
For questions, contact jilledwards@psu.edu or phone 717-948-6625.
