UTRGV’s Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) is giving any interested entrepreneurs the chance to bring ideas to life through the Big Idea Competition.
A first place prize of $3,000 and other sub-category prizes are up for grabs to participants who make it to the final round.
According to the CIC’s website, their purpose is to promote economic growth in a region that has been historically underdeveloped.
CIC Manager Stephanie Mendez says the competition allows them to achieve this goal.
“We really hope to spread the awareness,” Mendez says. “To get people excited about entrepreneurship and really be kinda like a pipeline to resources out in the community.”
Mendez says anyone in the Rio Grande Valley with an idea they are willing to share are welcome.
According to the competition’s StartupTree site, ideas can be submitted individually or as a 4-person max team.
Ideas cannot be existing businesses or be receiving any type of funding already.
The ideas will be judged by local business professionals and entrepreneurs who will select competition finalists.
Competition organizers held a virtual info session Wednesday where Associate Director of the CIC Derek Abrams discussed a timeline of the competition.
“February 17th, everything must be submitted by 5 P.M,” Abrams says.
Once submitted, finalists will be notified by the 24 and then must meet on the 25 for a finalist info session.
Finalists will present in a virtual finale starting at 1 p.m. March 3.
For more information or to enter the contest, visit the CIC’s website.
