Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — For many entrepreneurs ready to step up to the next level, the only thing that stands in the way of success is finding the right opportunity to tell their story. The next wave of local startup hopefuls will get that opportunity at the 8th Annual SBCC Scheinfeld Center New Venture Challenge on Friday, April 27. Entries for the Shark Tank-like competition will be accepted through midnight April 19.
The annual business plan and pitch competition is open to Santa Barbara County college and high school students, and gives entrepreneurs a chance to present their business ideas to a prestigious panel of judges from the local business community and an audience eager to see what the brightest local students have in the works. The students will compete for over $15,000 in cash and scholarship awards.
“It’s always a thrill to see what these inspiring students have to share with us, especially when you consider the incredible amount of time and effort they’ve poured into their ventures,” said Scheinfeld Center Executive Director Julie Samson. “So many of our New Venture Challenge finalists have gone on to find success, and it’s an honor to be a part of that process and witness the early stages of their journey.”
Santa Barbara County high school and college students can submit their entries through the April 19 submission deadline. Finalists will be announced on April 24, and the NVC pitch competition will take place on Friday, April 27 at Santa Barbara City College in the Fé Bland Auditorium on West Campus.
Collegiate tier pitches will run from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, and winners announced at 4:20 pm. High school tier pitches run from 4:45 – 6:45 pm, and winners announced at 7:00 pm.
Click here to register for the free event and support local student entrepreneurs. For more information about the event, visit scheinfeldnewventurechallenge.org
Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge participants have gone on to launch or grow successful and innovative businesses in a wide range of industries such as apparel, specialty foods, assistive technologies and more, including FuelBox, Oil Slick Beach Tar Remover, Save Them Now and [IN]Larkin (apparel), and 2017 winners Thomas Lundgard / VNTR Underwear (Meraki Surf), Sylvia Franco Comer / Casa de Comer Salsa, and Piper Lovegreen / Piper Swimwear.
About the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: The SBCC Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a hub for entrepreneurial development within the South Central Coast community and is a resource for model programs for other California community college districts. The Scheinfeld Center, part of the Jack & Julie Nadel School of Business & Entrepreneurship at SBCC, trains global entrepreneurs using a comprehensive approach to academics, hands-on experience, and support. Participants can build their business in the classroom and shore up gaps in their entrepreneurial skill set through the Scheinfeld Center’s distinctive combination of coursework, business plan and pitch competitions, industry internships, no-cost business consulting, mentoring, networking, and post-start-up support through the Small Business Development Center. To learn more, visit www.scheinfeld.sbcc.edu or call 805.965.0581 ext. 3643.
About Santa Barbara City College: Founded in 1909, Santa Barbara City College currently serves approximately 15,000 students each semester who enroll in courses for transfer preparation, career education, and foundational skills. SBCC was the 2013-2015 national co-winner of the prestigious Aspen Institute Prize for Community College Excellence. The college was recognized for its quality and focus in four areas: facilitating underrepresented and minority student success, student learning outcomes, degree completion and transfer rates, and labor market success in securing good jobs after college.
Our Mission: As a public community college dedicated to the success of each student…
Santa Barbara City College provides students a diverse learning environment that inspires curiosity and discovery, promotes global responsibility and fosters opportunity for all.
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