Deadline just three days away to enter 2024 Governor’s Business Plan Contest

MADISON, Wis. – The deadline to enter the 2024 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at govsbizplancontest.com. It’s a free chance to win cash and other valuable in-kind prizes while building ideas into companies.

To view a webinar on how to win the Governor’s Business Plan Contest, click here.

The contest is designed to help entrepreneurs write business plans, prepare them to launch a company, get feedback from mentors and to interact with investors and other professionals. Past finalists have created companies that have attracted more than $320 million in grants, loans, and private equity financing – all while creating jobs and value for Wisconsin.

For their initial entries, contestants will submit 250-word idea abstracts online at govsbizplancontest.com.  Contestants who advance to subsequent contest rounds will have the opportunity to expand their plan in stages.

About 70 judges drawn from the finance, sales, marketing, research, and technology sectors across Wisconsin will score the entries and provide feedback on submissions.

Since its inception in 2004, more than 4,660 entries have been received and about $2.8 million in cash and services (such as legal, accounting, office space and marketing) have been awarded. Contest categories are Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Information Technology and Life Sciences.

Wisconsin residents 18 years old and older are eligible, as are teams from Wisconsin-based businesses and organizations. Businesses or teams from outside the state are also eligible to compete if they demonstrate intent to base or expand their business in Wisconsin. Entrepreneurs may also enter multiple ideas, though each idea must be separate and distinct.

Companies or individuals that have not received angel or venture capital for a plan in its current form are eligible to enter. More than three-quarters of the finalists from the contest were still in business at the time they were surveyed by the Tech Council.

As with past contests, the 2024 competition will take place in stages and culminate at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference, in June 2024.

To enter, become a judge or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit govsbizplancontest.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.