Entrepreneurial college students, high school students, and transitioning veterans competed at the annual North Country Regional Business Plan Competition at Clarkson University, hosted by its Reh Center for Entrepreneurship
College student teams fell into six categories: Information Technology / Software, Social Entrepreneurship / Non-Profit, Clean Technology, Advanced Technology, Products and Services.
Prizes for the college tracks were awarded $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place. The top two college student teams in each category advanced to the New York Business Plan Competition in Albany, N.Y.
A high school track was available for students in grades nine through 12 who live in the North Country region and either run their own business or work on a business plan in the classroom. While winners in this track did not move on to the statewide competition, they were eligible to win both cash prizes and scholarship money to Clarkson. Prizes for the high school track were $500 and a $4,000 per year scholarship to Clarkson for first place; $300 and a $2,000 per year scholarship to Clarkson for second place; and a $1,000 per year scholarship to Clarkson for third place.
Three teams of transitioning veterans were given a track for veterans who are starting their own business. Clarkson provided growth and pitch coaching assistance prior to the competition, as well as post-competition assistance to encourage veterans to start-up and grow their businesses in the North Country. While winners of this track did not move on to the statewide competition, veterans were eligible to win cash prizes or space in Clarkson's Peyton Hall Business Incubator.
Prizes for the transitioning veterans track were $2,000 or incubator space for one year for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place.
