Competition Co-chair David Mitchell, dean of the College of Business at Johnson and Wales University, said, Building a business depends on engaging the right people and being able to tell your story in a compelling way. This is a critical success factor. We believe our workshops will help in this regard.
Each of the 90-minute workshops will be held 5 6:30 p.m. at the RI Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at One Davol Square, Providence. They are:
Feb. 24 How to Write a Business Plan. Co-sponsored with the Brown Forum for Enterprise, this workshop will provide a hands-on overview of what goes into a well-written business plan that will get read by investors and other people that entrepreneurs need to reach. It will be led by Jack Derby, president of Derby Management Consultants in Boston, one of New England's foremost business development experts.
March 10 How to Develop a Green Business. This workshop will help attendees understand what it takes to fund and build a green business and will be especially useful for people considering applying to the competition's new Green Track.
March 18 How to Present a Business Plan. Co-sponsored with Tech Collective, Rhode Island's technology industry association, the session will provide insights and tips on what works and what to avoid when presenting to investors and potential business partners.
The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition will award more than $130,000 in prizes to this years winners. The deadline to apply is April 5, and winners will be announced May 4.
SPONSORS OF THE 2010 RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition is the leading community-supported business plan competition in the Northeast, and currently is supported by 33 sponsoring organizations that span private businesses, colleges and universities, and public and nonprofit entities.
Sponsors of the 2010 Rhode Island Business Plan Competition include: Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd., Embolden, Johnson & Wales University, and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.
Also supporting the competition are: AM 790, Business Development Company of Rhode Island, Brown University, Bryant University, Cherrystone Angel Group, Citizens Bank, Coastway Community Bank, CVS/Caremark, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, LLP, Federal Electronics, Inc., Foresight Science and Technology, Goodwin Procter LLP, InsureMyTrip.com, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Point Judith Capital, Providence Business News, Rhode Island Medical Society, Rhode Island Commodores, Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants, the RI Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Shazaam, Starkweather & Shepley, Slater Technology Fund, Tech Collective, The Mergis Group, University of Rhode Island, and Webster Bank, Ximedica.
Complete information, including rules, application procedures, guidelines, and business plan resources, is available at www.ri-bizplan.com.