UT to Host and Participate in Business Plan Competition

University of Tampa business students will test their business savvy in the second annual Florida collegiate business plan competition, “The Sunshine State Venture Challenge,” Nov. 15-16 at the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

The challenge will judge original business plans developed by students enrolled full or part time during the 2006-2007 or 2007-2008 academic year. The business plan must be for a seed, start-up or early stage venture and must address the entire business concept.

Entries will be judged in two separate categories: Investment Intensive Plans that likely require venture capital investment; and Limited Investment Plans that could be launched based on existing revenue, personal funds, loans or angel investments.

The winner in the Investment Intensive category will present the winning plan to investors at the next Florida Venture Forum. The Florida Venture Forum seeks to help ensure the success of entrepreneurial ventures by offering expert counsel, educational advice and managerial assistance.

The Sunshine State Venture Challenge is intended to build relationships and professional networks among those who provoke new venture creation in the state’s campuses and communities. This event will engage students, faculty, business leaders, and government leaders from all regions of the state, and showcase exciting proposals created by high achieving students.

Students currently enrolled in a full-time or part-time curriculum at eligible Florida colleges and universities are invited to compete.

The challenge is sponsored by the Florida Venture Forum and Winter Park Angels. Seven Florida schools are hosting as members of the organizing committee: Florida International University, Rollins College, University of Central Florida (UCF), University of Florida, University of Miami, University of South Florida and The University of Tampa.

“The Florida Collegiate Business Plan Competition is a first step toward building relationships and professional networks among aspiring entrepreneurs, business leaders and champions of entrepreneurship on Florida’s campuses,” said Cameron Ford, founding director of UCF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI).

Thomas Kruczek, executive director of the Rollins College Center for Entrepreneurship, said the challenge is particularly worthy since the state of Florida consistently ranks as one of the most dynamic environments for new venture creation.

“This competition will help ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in these aspiring business leaders,” he said.

For more information about the competition visit the event Web site at www.cei.ucf.edu/competitions/flcollegiate.html.

The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on approximately 100 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the university boasts 5,500 students from 50 states and more than 100 countries. Approximately 65 percent of full-time students live on campus. More than half of undergraduates are from Florida.

The Florida Entrepreneur and Family Business Center is part of the John H. Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa. In addition to housing academic programs and coordinating student-based activities, the center offers outreach efforts to the community such as hosting the Inc 500 Speaker Series, the Entrepreneur and Family Business Speaker Series and the Self Employment in the Arts Conference.