The Manchester Young Professionals Network announced five semi-finalists who will participate in the MYPN New Hampshire Start Up Challenge business plan competition and compete for $25,000.
The participants are (in alphabetical order):
- Bartlomiej Sapeta - Creator of laser cut teaching templates for architectural design education.
- Jute eCoCuffs, Neelima Gogumalla, Annelise Pitt - Maker of an affordable, functional and sustainable alternative to cardboard sleeves used to insulate hot beverage cups. www.JuteeCoCuffs.com.
- Nearby Registry, Allison Grappone - Provider of online gift registry service for independent retailers and service providers.
- Say IT Write Communications, Danielle R. Grant - Communications firm specializing in web content strategy and management services to help organizations to improve their web content quality. sayITwriteNH.com
- TRX Sports, Cameron Miner - Creator of "FLEYE" a video and GPS products and systems that allow sports enthusiasts to capture their experiences and share them online.
MYPN members and the public are invited to meet the semi-finalists and learn more about the competition on April 7 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the newly rebranded abi Innovation Hub located 33 South Commercial Street in Manchester. Register online at mypn.org.
The 3rd annual MYPN NH Start Up Challenge is a statewide business plan competition that encourages entrepreneurship and social innovation. The competition was created in 2008 by MYPN, the state's first and largest young professional networking organization with more than 3,000 members.
The five semi-finalists received scholarships and attended the Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurial Institute. Along with the scholarship, they will also receive guidance and support regarding important aspects of their business plan from SCORE mentors. The participant's final business plans will be due on May 5. Of the submitted business plans, two finalists will be chosen to present their business plan to the challenge judges. Ultimately, one winner will be chosen to receive a $25,000 cash award and in-kind professional services and products donated by New Hampshire-area businesses to launch their business. The winner will be unveiled at a reception on June 2 at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown.
"Entrepreneurship is alive and well in New Hampshire," said E.J. Powers, MYPN chair and member of the Start Up Challenge committee. "We received many applications from across New Hampshire and were encouraged by the quality of ideas. We congratulate the semi-finalists and look forward to seeing their business plans take shape over the next few months."
In less than three years, MYPN has awarded more than $50,000 to NH startups. The 2010 competition winner was Play @ Work whose goal is to help busy parents balance family, work and life by providing office space while their young children enjoy a supervised playgroup in a welcoming, child-friendly atmosphere.
The 2009 Start Up Challenge winner was Float Left Labs, a nonprofit that assists other nonprofits with marketing and web design needs. Float Left Labs has been open for business for over a year and is achieving its goal of providing marketing services to nonprofits such as New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibilities, based out of Concord, Families in Transition in Manchester and the Nashua Senior Center in Nashua.
Public Service of New Hampshire is the presenting sponsor of the MYPN New Hampshire Start Up Challenge. Other sponsors include, FairPoint Communications, DYN Inc., abi Innovation Hub, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, Howe Riley and Howe, and Business NH Magazine. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Past and current judges include, Phil Ryan, Merchants Automotive Group; Kathleen Cook, Bean Foundation; Jamie Coughlin, abi Innovation Hub; Jeremy Hitchcock, Dynamic Network Services; Richard (Dick) Kimball, Bigelow & Company; Kenneth Buttermore, Liberty Lane Partners; Steve Webb, TD Bank; and Matt Benson, Cook, Little, Rosenblatt & Manson.
For more information and complete rules of the competition, visit www.mypn.org/nh-start-up-challenge.