Global Entrepreneurship Week is only days away, and semifinalists for the first One in a Million competition will spend two days during the celebration pitching their ideas in hopes of winning a $10,000 cash prize.
This is the first year for the competition, and it is part of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation 1 Million Cups initiative and will be featured during Global Entrepreneurship Week USA. Out of 377 entrants, there are now 15 semi-finalists from nine U.S. states. The business pitches range from a phone and tablet application that tells you the nutritional information of your meal in real-time, to a filter and flavor water bottle system.
The semi-finalists will compete on Nov. 17-18, and the final five will give their pitches in a livestreamed event.
The One in a Million competition is a pitch-your-business contest. First place takes $10,000, second place receives $5,000, and third place will receive a $1,000 gift card. It will take place at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo.
Finals judges:
Marcelo Claure, president and chief executive officer of Sprint
Nicole Glaros, partner and chief product officer of Techstars, a global entrepreneurial ecosystem
Paul Kedrosky, investor, entrepreneur, and writer. He is cofounder and managing partner of SK Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm
Semi-finals judges:
Trey Bowles, cofounder and chief executive officer of the Dallas Entrepreneur Center
Nathan Gold, conducts workshops, keynotes, and one-on-one sessions in person and online to help people throughout the world prepare for high-stakes, can’t-miss presentations
Alicia Herald, founder and chief executive officer of myEDmatch
Anita Newton is vice president of marketing at Adknowledge, a global adtech firm, and is cofounder of Mighty Green Solutions
Sherry Turner, helps Kansas City-area women achieve financial independence, sustained employment, access to capital, and advancement through her leadership role with OneKC for Women