Clemson's Spiro Institute offers $19,000 in prizes in business idea competition

Published: September 6, 2011

CLEMSON — Clemson University students and South Carolina residents who have ideas for new businesses can get support from the Launch Pad competition created by the Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson University.

This is the second year of the competition, which is for new, independent ventures in the seed, startup or early growth stages. The competition is open to all full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students in South Carolina as well as any residents of South Carolina who want to participate. Applicants may be individuals or teams of up to four members.

Launch Pad recognizes the need to provide experiences beyond the classroom for young entrepreneurs, inventors and developers. The program helps individuals or teams develop new business concepts and move toward the formation of new companies.

The contest is divided into two categories: Clemson students and South Carolina residents. The grand prize winner for each category will receive $5,000 in cash awards and a BrightStart Bundle of Services (valued at $4,750) which includes legal, marketing and information technology advice for startup executives; help developing a business plan; access to an all-star mentoring network; and introduction to Angel Capital investors and SC Launch! funding. Other finalists will receive Honorable Mention awards. 

To enter, submit a five-minute, six-slide PowerPoint presentation outlining the new business concept to spiro@clemson.edu. The entry deadline is Oct. 28. A team of business leaders will select five finalists from each section to present their business concepts at Clemson at the Falls in Greenville on Dec. 9.

For more information, go to http://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/spiro/launchpadsc/index.html.

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