University of Nevada, Reno, students will compete for $10,000 worth of professional services as the school launches a business plan competition this autumn.
The contest is intended to help students get a head start on their plans for the Donald W. Reynolds Governor's competition, a statewide event conducted in the spring.
But organizers also hope the UNR contest will create some viable business plans that will solidify the school's position as a center for developing entrepreneurs, said Timothy Casey, executive director of the Institute for Innovation and Informatics at UNR.
Casey said the institute encouraged faculty members across the campus not just in the business and engineering schools to help students organize teams. This autumn's competition had about half a dozen participating teams by the entry deadline last week.
Business plans will be submitted on Nov. 20, finalists will be notified Nov. 23, and oral presentations before two panels of judges will be Dec. 1.
Because students will be competing for free consultations with legal, business and financial professionals in northern Nevada, Casey said organizers hope members of the winning team will be encouraged to start a company in the region. The services are donated by participating companies.
