NEW ORLEANS – Startup St. Bernard, presented by the Meraux Foundation in conjunction with New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, is seeking out innovative entrepreneurs to compete for a prize package worth $110,000 designed to help propel their business to the next level.
Entrepreneurs are invited to apply for a chance to pitch their business to a panel of judges in St. Bernard Parish during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week on March 23, 2015, and must complete an entry form and submit a business plan at www.startupstbernard.com by Sunday, Jan. 31, 2015.
Startup St. Bernard is looking for innovative entrepreneurs to locate their businesses in St. Bernard Parish. Organizers say the Parish is a land of opportunity for businesses, especially startups. While just minutes away from downtown New Orleans, land, labor, and costs of doing business are low — and the business support network is robust. The challenge is being organized in partnership with the Meraux Foundation, The Idea Village™, The Entrepreneur Center at Nunez Community College, St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership St. Bernard.
The Startup St. Bernard Challenge is open to any business that will locate its base of operations to St. Bernard Parish for at least 1 year, improve St. Bernard Parish and become part of the St. Bernard Parish entrepreneur ecosystem.
The $110,000 prize package includes:
$42,500 in startup funding:
$15,000 donated by the Meraux Foundation
$10,000 donated by Park Investments, Ltd.
$5,000 donated by Mr. Wayne Landry
$2,500 donated by Palms Truck Stop
$2,500 donated by Sidney Torres, III
$1,000 donated by Mrs. Rita Gue
$1,000 donated by Mr. Floyd Gue
$1,000 donated by Palmisano Contractors, LLC
$1,000 donated by St. Bernard Business & Professional Women’s Club
$1,000 donated by the St. Bernard Tourism Commission
$1,000 donated by Nunez Community College Foundation
$750 donated by Southern Insurance Agency, LLC
$500 donated by Mr. & Mrs. Terry Tedesco
$250 donated by Ms. Adele Faust
Business mentoring services by Park Investments, Ltd. | valued at $15,000
Office space at the Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company
St. Bernard Entrepreneurial Center | valued at $10,000
Legal services by John Brian White, Esq., InHouse Consultants, Inc., and AdamsIP, LLC | valued at $5,000
Legal services by Sherman Strategies, LLC | valued at $5,000
Marketing consulting by Ragusa Consulting | valued at $5,000
Website build by evanSchmidt Design, LLC | valued at $5,000
Accounting services by Person Huff CPA Group for 1 yr. | valued at $4,500
Social media set-up package by Sidewise | valued at $3,000
Corporate identity design services by evanSchmidt Design, LLC | valued at $2,500
Brand starter kit printing services by Pel Hughes | valued at $2,500
Copywriting by Shine Productions | valued at $2,500
Digital billboard spot on Judge Perez for 1 month by Outfront Media | valued at $2,100
Advertising in St. Bernard newspapers | valued at $1,500
St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce membership benefits | valued at $1,250
Sterling Hall venue rental by Arc | valued at $1,000
Corporate photo shoot by Bill Haines | valued at $600
Catering by Crave | valued at $500
Business card printing by Printers Wholesale Group | valued at $300
Catering by Arabi Food Store | valued at $250
The $110,000 Prize Package is not an entirely cash package. The Prize Package includes in-kind products and services that have been assigned a fair market value. The total value of the Prize Package is estimated to be valued at $110,000. Startup St. Bernard, the Meraux Foundation, its agents, and affiliates, and the organizers and partners of Startup St. Bernard are not responsible for the commitments made by those who donated cash, products, and services to the prize package.
A panel of judges with business experience will review the submissions and score the entries. The five highest-scoring businesses will be selected to “pitch” the judges at the Startup St. Bernard entrepreneur challenge in a TED Talks-style presentation format. The live public event will take place at the Arlene Meraux River Observation Center during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week in March 2015.
The event is open to the public, and everyone is invited to come show support for the entrepreneurs.
