By LAURIE WINSLOW
World Staff Writer
Published: 6/6/2012 2:14 AM
Last Modified: 6/6/2012 2:43 AM
Business ideas from 25 entrepreneurs have been selected to advance to the next round of an annual competition and vie for a top prize of $30,000.
The top 25 entrants in the TCC StartUp Cup Powered by Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation are: 4 Rainmakers LLC, Aqua Oasis Farms, Cams Grocery, Cheerful Athletics, Construct Interactive, Eloise and Holly, EZ Line Spool Dispenser, Hipperbib, Home Oxygen Reel, idefi Group LLC, InTown, MaxTradeForce, Micro Match Tulsa, Native Geothermal, Raw Intentions, RopeAir, Sapphire Equine Therapy, SERA, Splash Mathematician Buckets, Strada Bianche Design, The Expert TA, The Galley Sink, Ultimate Connect Solutions and Wodoggy Signs.
The competition, in its sixth year, provides awards to local entrepreneurs who develop and pitch the best business model.
Entrants go through a series of events over a seven-month period that provides judging and mentoring.
The top 25 were selected from 76 entries submitted between April 10 and May 14.
“These are Tulsa’s best potential new businesses, and we are excited to guide them into real world companies,” said Elizabeth Frame Ellison, executive director of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation and main organizer of the competition, in a written statement. “Although there will be only three cash prize winners, all of these contestants will get top-quality advice and feedback from their coaches and judges over the next several weeks.”
The TCC StartUp Cup is sponsored by the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, which has become the exclusive sponsor and over the next five years will invest $187,000 in the competition.
The top 25 entrepreneurs now will prepare to present a seven-minute pitch to judges, who will then narrow the field to 12 semifinalists, who will be notified July 5.
Winners will be honored Nov. 13 during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Key dates
Important dates for the TCC StartUp Cup Powered by Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation.
July 5: Top 12 notified
Sept. 4: Top seven notified
Nov. 13: Winners announced
Prizes
First place: $30,000
Second place: $5,000
Third place: $2,500.
More information at tulsaworld.com/startupcup
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