Welcome to the $100,000 EssentialConnections.org Emerging Business Plan Competition!

We're looking for the most innovative and growth-oriented entrepreneur or emerging business in the Creative Core!

The competition will run in two categories: Emerging Business and the $5,000 Business Idea. The 1st place winner in the Emerging Business category will win $100,000, making this event one of the largest business plan competitions in the country. $5,000 Business Idea competition will award one talented high school or college student a cash prize for a great business idea essay.

Eligibility: (see complete rules and regulations when applying)

Participation in the competition is limited to individuals or entry teams from the Central Upstate New York region (defined as: Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence, and Tompkins Counties). Judging will be based on two categories as selected by the individual or entry team:

$100,000 Emerging Business Competition
• Company currently in existence, or formally incorporated by January 18, 2008
• Revenue stream between $0 and $3.5 million
• $150 application fee ($100,000 prize)

$5,000 Business Idea Competition
• Open to High School and College Students only
• No Application Fee ($5,000 prize)

Applications are due by Friday, January 18, 2008 at 5:00 pm EST.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions. Or, if you have any additional questions, please e-mail us at 100K@essentialconnections.org.

About the Competition

The competition is a project of the Central Upstate Regional Alliance, a 12 county public/private consortium that works on a variety of regional issues and opportunities. In keeping with the Regional Alliance's goal- oriented approach to business development, the Creative Core $100,000 Emerging Business Plan Competition is designed to:

• Stimulate job creation and business development by providing financial and in-kind resources to companies in the Central Upstate New York region.
• Increase the entrepreneurial culture and visibility of entrepreneurial activity in the Creative Core.
• Increase investment-grade deal flow in the Creative Core.
• Identify several high growth potential business opportunities in Central Upstate & connect these opportunities to a wide range of business development and capital resources both during the competition and beyond.