{"id":3639,"date":"2021-02-10T08:37:15","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T14:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/?p=3639"},"modified":"2021-02-10T08:37:18","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T14:37:18","slug":"how-a-new-competition-can-bring-your-ideas-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/10\/how-a-new-competition-can-bring-your-ideas-to-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How a new competition can bring your ideas to life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
The UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization is hosting the inaugural Big Idea Competition to foster economic growth and entrepreneurship in the Rio Grande Valley. COURTESY GRAPHIC\/BIG IDEA COMPETITION<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

UTRGV\u2019s Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) is giving any interested entrepreneurs the chance to bring ideas to life through the Big Idea Competition.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the CIC\u2019s website<\/strong><\/a>, their purpose is to promote economic growth in a region that has been historically underdeveloped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIC Manager Stephanie Mendez says the competition allows them to achieve this goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Mendez says anyone in the Rio Grande Valley with an idea they are willing to share are welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the competition\u2019s StartupTree<\/a> <\/strong>site, ideas can be submitted individually or as a 4-person max team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideas cannot be existing businesses or be receiving any type of funding already. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ideas will be judged by local business professionals and entrepreneurs who will select competition finalists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competition organizers held a virtual<\/strong><\/a> info session Wednesday where Associate Director of the CIC Derek Abrams discussed a timeline of the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFebruary 17th<\/sup>, everything must be submitted by 5 P.M,\u201d Abrams says.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Once submitted, finalists will be notified by the 24 and then must meet on the 25 for a finalist info session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finalists will present in a virtual finale starting at 1 p.m. March 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information or to enter the contest, visit the CIC\u2019s website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UTRGV\u2019s Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) is giving any interested entrepreneurs the chance to bring ideas to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":3640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-radio"],"yoast_head":"\nHow a new competition can bring your ideas to life - The Valley's Student Station<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/10\/how-a-new-competition-can-bring-your-ideas-to-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How a new competition can bring your ideas to life - 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