By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Future entrepreneurs will present their business ideas during the 5th annual Central Nebraska Business Idea Contest.
The top 10 will present their business ideas at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at Cunningham’s Journal in downtown Kearney in an event similar to the “Shark Tank” television program. The winner receives $1,000.
The purpose of the event, sponsored by the Center for Rural Research and Development at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, is to support a culture of entrepreneurship in the area by providing those entering with feedback through networking with other entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Over 50 people entered the contest. The entries were divided into categories: retail, IT/tech/web, service, product invention, and food service/food related. Five guest judges, with training and business expertise in these fields, evaluated video entries in their respective category to narrow the choices to the top 10.
Participants’ business ideas don’t have to be a full business model, just a description of the product or service, what need it serves, who the customers might be and how it would be made available to those customers.
The event is also sponsored by Economic Development Council of Buffalo County, Invest Nebraska Corp. and UNK’s College of Business and Technology and Dean Tim Burkink.
-30-
Source: Shawn Kaskie, 308.865.8135, kaskiesc@unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.ed
