Announcing the Second Annual University of Maryland Business Plan Competition

Have a great idea for a company? The University of Maryland's Business Plan Competition, the largest of its kind in the country, can help you make it a reality. The competition, now in its second year, is offering $100,000 in prize money during its TWO rounds of competition—the Fall Semifinal Round and Spring Finals.

The Competition will connect you with expert support for developing your idea and give you several networking opportunities to meet people such as venture capitalists and intellectual property lawyers—the kinds of people who could help you launch a successful enterprise.

This year's competition will have $100,000 in prizes awarded over TWO rounds of competition—the Fall Semifinal Round and the Spring Finals. The competition is open campus-wide to University of Maryland undergraduate and graduate students, as well as UM alumni who graduated in the last five years. A team is eligible so long as one team member, who plays a "material role," is a current University of Maryland student or an eligible graduate.

CRITICAL DATES

November 11 , 2001: Submission of Executive Summaries electronically

November 14, 2001: Announcement of $1K awards for the semifinalists (15 awards expected)

February 18, 2002: Submission of Full Business Plans electronically

March 6, 2002: 2-5 PM - Oral Presentations by Finalists; 5:30-7 PM Reception and Awards Ceremony

For information about last year's Business Plan Competition winners with a link to this year's rules and dates: http://www.hinmanceos.umd.edu/Business_Plan

CONTACT INFORMATION

Karen Thornton

Hinman CEOs Program

301.405.3677

karent@eng.umd.edu

The University of Maryland Business Plan Competition is managed by the Hinman CEOs Program.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS IDEA OR HAVE QUESTIONS?

The Hinman CEOs Program manages a MENTORING PROGRAM to help all University of Maryland students and faculty with questions about starting a business.

WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT THE MENTORING PROGRAM

STUDENT CONTACT:

Tom Karounos

tkarouno2002@rhsmith.umd.edu