Business plan and pitch competition—entirely virtual this year—open to Santa Barbara County college and high school students for a chance to win awards for the best business idea.
It’s not too late for college and high school students from throughout Santa Barbara County to submit their entries to the 10th annual Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge business plan and pitch competition. The competition is entirely virtual this year to protect the health and well-being of all, in compliance with California’s COVID-19 stay at home order. Hosted by the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at SBCC, the call for entries opened on March 1 and the deadline for submission is midnight on Thursday, April 16.
The Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge timeline and submission dates remain unchanged, but the live pitch competition on April 24 will be replaced with judges selecting the winners based on the finalists’ electronic submissions. “Now more than ever, cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset and resilience is a positive focus for students. Bringing great ideas to life is a counterbalance to current harsh realities, and there’s no better time to honor the hard work of student entrepreneurs throughout Santa Barbara County,” said Julie Samson, Director of the Scheinfeld Center. ”We welcome submissions from all Santa Barbara County college and high school students, and we look forward to a rewarding competition for all.”
The Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge is divided into two separate tiers: One for high school students and another for college students. Entrants submit their business plans, and ten finalists will be chosen from each tier and invited to submit their pitch electronically. Judges will review the submissions and post the winners on the Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge website on April 24th. Local business executives, bankers, investors, and entrepreneurs will identify finalists and winners
“Thanks to the generous donation from Union Bank, the winning students will be awarded startup seed funding, as well as scholarships, and in-kind opportunities totaling over $15,000,” said Samson. “Additionally, a student military veteran with the highest scoring business plan will receive a $4,500 award and tailored mentoring for their venture. We encourage student military veterans to submit their entries.”
Fill out the registration form completely, obtain necessary signatures, and prepare necessary attachments including your business plan.
Contact Julie Samson, Executive Director
Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, SBCC
(805) 965-0581, ext 3643
jasamson@sbcc.edu
