Entrepreneurship competition seeks business plans

From soup to nuts to hair and clothing and just about everything in between, the Bard Center Business Plan Competition has accelerated entrepreneurial opportunities for dozens of start-ups. Celebrating the competition's 10th anniversary, the Bard Center at the University of Colorado Denver's Business School is forging ahead with even more opportunities and prizes for CU's best ideas.

Year after year, competitors vie for $10,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. The competition culminates June 16 as six finalists present their proposals to a panel of judges and community members. Companies interested in participating must submit a registration form and participant waiver agreement by March 25 and submit the complete proposal by April 29.

Past winners include:

• CaraSolva, which provides cost-effective, point-of-care solutions for out-of-hospital care.
• Olomomo Nut Co., a high-end, all-natural and organic nut brand with kettle-roasted nuts, coated with original and exotic spices and flavor blends.
• Tensegrity Prosthetics, for a prosthetic foot.
• MetroBoom, a full-service style salon exclusively for men.

The Business Plan Competition is designed for early stage companies that have received no Angel or Venture funding and that have generated little or no revenue to date. The primary purpose of the competition is to provide these early stage ventures with an opportunity to test their ideas and receive meaningful feedback on their business plans.

This year, the competition is open only to CU entrepreneurs. Check out the event information page for complete details and/or register online.