Entry deadline for teams or individuals is March 6<\/p>\n
OXFORD,
\nMiss. – University of Mississippi students, regardless of major, who
\nthink they have a great idea for an innovative business are invited to
\nenter a competition that could help turn their dream into a reality.<\/p>\n
Sponsored
\nby the School of Business Administration, the fifth annual Gillespie
\nBusiness Plan Competition includes two divisions, with prizes of $5,000
\nat stake for the best business plan and the best business concept.
\nThough students can submit only one business plan, they are allowed to
\ncompete as a team of up to five members. It is possible for one person
\nto win both categories.<\/p>\n
Deadline to enter the competition is 5 p.m. March 6, when a two-page executive summary must be e-mailed to bcooper@bus.olemiss.edu. Twenty semifinalists are to be announced March 20. On April 3, the semifinalists give five-minute pitches to judges, and six finalists are to be selected. On April 17, finalists present their in-depth plans and winners are chosen.<\/p>\n
The competition is a unique opportunity for UM students to combine the tools they develop in their coursework with their entrepreneurial vision, in order to explore exciting new business possibilities, said Charles Noble, director of MBA programs and associate professor of marketing.<\/p>\n
“After the contest itself, several past student-competitors have used this event as a springboard to launch their own ventures, several of which have been quite successful,” Noble said. “The Gillespie competition nurtures and celebrates the kind of entrepreneurial vision that is not just valued when going alone but also by today’s innovative and forward-thinking companies.”<\/p>\n
Since business school students are expected to know how to write a business plan upon graduation, the contest is an excellent way for them to hone their skills, he said.<\/p>\n
The Gillespie business challenge is the essence of the entrepreneurial spirit of business, Dean Ken Cyree said.<\/p>\n
“Students will need to synthesize their understanding of marketing, finance, management and accounting and effectively communicate their vision to a select group of real-world judges,” Cyree said. “The successful student will have a business plan that is poised to help launch the business of their dreams and ambitions. We are grateful for the support that allows us to educate our students with this integrated competition across many business disciplines.”<\/p>\n
The judges participating in the Gillespie Business Plan Competition are bank officials and other financial investment professionals.<\/p>\n
The endowment for the competition was provided in honor of Edwin C. Gillespie, a 1943 business administration graduate. His widow, Jean Gillespie, and brother, Joe Gillespie, a 1950 liberal arts graduate, helped establish the endowment to assist students in promoting concepts in entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
For more information, call 662-915-6708 or visit http:\/\/www.olemissbusiness.com\/bizplan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"