In a continuing effort to nurture and promote an environment of entrepreneurship across Central Florida, Cox Business is offering start-ups an opportunity to showcase their idea, product, or service. The company added it hopes to continue to foster innovation and support the Gainesville entrepreneur community. Cox Business is partnering with StartupGNV and the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention to bring the Gainesville Start-up Showcase to the 2019 CelebrateGNV year-end event.
Area start-ups and entrepreneurs are invited to apply to showcase their savvy business plan or new idea at CelebrateGNV. Those selected as finalists will also be given the opportunity to pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to win a cash prize of $10,000. Gainesville Start-up Showcase, in conjunction with CelebrateGNV, will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 5:30pm at the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention.
“Gainesville is rich with start-up talent, and we want to be there to help these entrepreneurs achieve their goals,” said Harbin Bolton, vice president of Cox Business in Florida and Georgia. “The Gainesville Start-up Showcase will allow those just starting out an opportunity for advice, promotion and, best of all, funding.”
Up to ten finalists will pitch to a panel of judges including business leaders and community influencers prior to showcasing their business during the CelebrateGNV networking reception. The judges will score each finalist then select a winner based on success measures like competitive advantage, revenue model, and solution to a problem or need. The winning presentation will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000 and an automatic entry into the Semi-final round of the 2020 Cade Prize.
In addition, audience members will get to vote for one finalist as the people’s choice winner. That winner will receive an iPad Pro, courtesy of Cox Business.
Local entrepreneurs interested in competing can enter at www.gainesvillestartupshowcase.com, where they must provide a 250-word description of the idea or business plan to be pitched. Applications will close at 5pm EST Friday, October 4, 2019. Entrants will be notified by Friday, November 1, 2019 if they have been selected as a finalist. The Gainesville Start-up Showcase finalists will receive coaching sessions in advance of the competition to prepare.
CelebrateGNV brings together StartupGNV, the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, and Cox Business to applaud the Gainesville startup community and honor those who continuously work to promote entrepreneurship in Gainesville. The celebration will be held at the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention and includes dinner, drinks and networking.
