$15,000 in Prizes Offered to South Coast Students with Top Business Plans
At an April 12 news conference, Melissa Moreno, director of the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, said prize money donors include the Bank of Santa Barbara, lynda.com, Deckers Outdoor Corp., Montecito Bank & Trust and the NAWBO-SB Foundation.
Sponsored by Santa Barbara City College’s Scheinfeld Center, the New Venture Challenge is a two-tiered business plan competition for SBCC and Antioch University students, as well as South Coast high school students, to promote youth entrepreneurs.
“The New Venture Challenge gives our local high school and college students an opportunity to showcase their business concepts to the community,” Moreno said.
The prize money was raised by the National Association of Women Business Owners-Santa Barbara Foundation, which will present the second annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards Dinner on May 11 at the Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort & Hotel, 633 Cabrillo Blvd. New Venture Challenge student winners will received their awards at the dinner as well. The dinner raises funds for next year’s contest, said foundation leader Cathy Feldman, NAWBO-SB Foundation board chair.
Information about tickets and sponsorships for the NAWBO-SB Foundation Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards dinner is available at www.nawbo-sbfoundation.org, or by contacting Feldman at (805) 682-8380.
New Venture Challenge collegiate judges include: Lynda Weinman, co-founder of Lynda.com, who is the keynote speaker at a May11 NAWBO-SB awards dinner for the students and eight women business owners; hi-tech entrepreneur Jacques Habra; and Christopher Morales of Montecito Bank & Trust.
Small Business Development Center volunteers first judge students on their application. About 15 finalists will be invited to pitch their plans in the New Venture Challenge on May 4 on the SBCC west campus in the Fe Bland Forum at 2:30 p.m. Moreno said the community is invited to attend
For more information about the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s New Venture Challenge, go to http://scheinfeld.sbcc.edu.