Ben Franklin’s BIG IDEA Contest Will Award Four Cash Prizes!

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$tech #benfranklin–Have you been thinking about developing or commercializing an innovative
product, process, or new software application? Then, you need to think
about Ben Franklin Technology Partners! We are looking for budding
entrepreneurs, researchers, software developers, or even small existing
businesses. Our risk-free BIG IDEA contests have been helping
folks start or grow their businesses for nearly 20 years.

This year’s cash prizes will be awarded to four winners. First Place:
$25,000 – Second Place: $15,000 – Third Place: $7,500 and a People’s
Choice Award: $2,500.

A simple online application could be the first step in taking you from
StartUP to UP and running. Check out http://bigidea.benfranklin.org.
No need to share your “secret sauce” or any detail you believe is
proprietary. The deadline to apply is October 2, 2017 at 5:00 PM.

What are the eligible counties? Cambria, Fulton, Indiana,
Somerset, Jefferson, Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Centre, Juniata,
Mifflin, and Clearfield.

This year’s First Place Winner will receive:

• $25,000 in cash
• Priority access to a Pre-Seed Grant from Ben Franklin valued at up to
  $10,000
• A one-year pass to seminars offered by Ben Franklin’s eMarketing
  Learning Center http://emarketinglearningcenter.org
  valued at $3,000
• A free consult (and proposal prep), valued at $3,000 on how to access
  Federal R&D grant money from the Innovation Partnership http://innovationpartnership.net

You are eligible to apply to the BIG IDEA contest IF:

• You are located in one of the participating counties
• You are developing/commercializing a new, innovative tech-based product
• You have not previously received an investment from Ben Franklin
• Your business is either pre-revenue or did not have sales that
  exceeded $500,000 in 2016.

For questions, contact [email protected]
or phone 717-948-6625.

About Ben Franklin Technology Partners:

The largest early-stage seed investor in our region, Ben Franklin
Technology Partners/CNP, (an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department
of Community and Economic Development and funded by the Ben Franklin
Technology Development Authority) provides funding, operational
assistance, and business support services to emerging tech-based
companies and small, existing manufacturers for the purpose of creating
and retaining jobs in Pennsylvania. Visit Ben Franklin’s website at www.cnp.benfranklin.org.

We Inve$t in Innovation

Contacts

Ben Franklin Technology Partners/CNP
Liz Wilson, 814-898-6650
Director
of Marketing
[email protected]