WVU's Women's Business Center and LaunchLab are partnering in the 2017 InnovateHer Challenge.
The WVU Women’s Business Center and the WVU LaunchLab are partnering to offer West Virginians a chance to win in the 2017 InnovateHer Challenge.
Sponsored by the U. S. Small Business Administration, InnovateHer is a nationwide competition for more than $70,000 in prize money in which entrepreneurs propose products or services that positively impact women and families. Successful entries will fill a need in the marketplace and have the potential for commercialization.
The initial rounds of the InnovateHer Challenge are hosted by local organizations such as the WBC and the LaunchLab. Winners at the local level then submit a complete business plan to compete in the national semi-finals. The winner of the WVU InnovateHer Challenge will receive assistance in drafting this business plan and preparing a pitch presentation; if the WVU winner is selected as a national finalist, TechConnect WV will provide up to $500 to assist with travel expenses to the finals in Washington DC.
To enter the WVU InnovateHer Challenge, submit a three-to-five page document that:
· describes your idea;
· identifies the problem for women and families your idea solves and how;
· tells how your idea fills a need in the marketplace;
· describes the ideal customer of your product or service;
· identifies your competition and why the ideal customer will choose you.
This document must be sent by email to wbc@mail.wvu.edu by midnight on Thursday, April 20. Up to six finalists will be selected for a pitch competition to be held at the WVU LaunchLab on May 1. For more information, email wbc@mail.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
am/ac/04/11/17
CONTACT: Andrea
McCardle; Director, WVU Women’s Business Center
304.293.8206; andrea.mccardle@mail.wvu.edu