Northern Kentucky Business Pitch Competition focuses on early-stage startup ideas

Northern Kentucky is providing residents yet another opportunity to enter the fast-growing Greater Cincinnati startup ecosystem.
 
The Kentucky Innovation Network at Northern Kentucky ezone, in partnership with Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed, will host the Northern Kentucky Business Pitch Competition later this month. Open to applicants in 11 counties throughout the state, the competition is free to enter and offers up to $1,500 in prize money. Startup teams and entrepreneurs have until Sunday, May 17 to apply and will be notified by May 19 if they've been selected as finalists.
 
Designed for early-stage companies that have yet to secure any major funding, the competition hopes to attract Kentucky-based startups in need of mentorship. At no cost to the company, the Kentucky Innovation Network will provide individual one-on-one mentors to the top five applicants.
 
The five finalists will pitch their ideas at UpTech in Covington at 5-8 p.m. May 27. They will have 10 minutes to present their ideas to a panel of three judges, all of whom happen to be investors in Kentucky companies.
 
“We are looking for the best entrepreneurs in our 11-county region,” says Casey Barach, director of the Kentucky Innovation Network and founder of UpTech. “We have a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem with our partners ... and we want to build on that foundation and attract entrepreneurs from the broader region.”
 
Students from the region are encouraged to apply. In fact, this kind of competition may be ideal for budding entrepreneurs as the rules exclude companies with more than $25,000 in revenue and those that have raised over $100,000 in equity capital. It's a true first step for Kentucky residents with a grander vision for their business idea.
 
The winner of this year's pitch competition will have the opportunity to present his or her idea at the third annual Kentucky Angel Summit in Frankfort later this year.
 
Those interested in applying should visit NKY Startups for further details.