University, Ventureprise hosting InnovateHER Challenge

The InnovateHER Challenge national prize competition organized by the Small Business Administration (SBA), in partnership with Microsoft, is seeking products and services that impact and empower the lives of women and families.

Regional competitions are under way to identify 10 national finalists that will compete for $70,000 in cash prizes funded by Microsoft.

The Charlotte regional competition, hosted by Ventureprise and UNC Charlotte, invites applications; the deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The InnovateHER Challenge seeks entrepreneurs offering products and services that:

• Have a measurable impact on the lives of women and families
• Have the potential for commercialization
• Fill a need in the marketplace

Teams that would like to compete must submit a one-page application to Ventureprise that includes: problem description, solution details, opportunity overview, market size, team description and any additional relevant information. Prospective applicants should review all challenge rules.

Applications will be evaluated based on the challenge criteria to select five teams to compete in the Charlotte regional finals. The finalists will present to a panel of judges on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 17, at UNC Charlotte, where one Charlotte winner will be selected to compete nationally.

The winner will complete a business plan for consideration in the national competition to be held during Women’s History Month on March 17, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The national competition will award three cash prizes totaling $70,000.

Submit all applications to Devin Collins via email to devin.collins@uncc.edu no later than 5 p.m., Nov. 3.