COVINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2015) – The Kentucky Innovation Network at Northern Kentucky ezone announced today that the Northern Kentucky Business Pitch Competition, www.nkystartups.com, is open to entrepreneurs in 11 counties. The Kentucky Innovation Network and Kentucky Angel Investors are sponsoring the Competition, which is managed by the ezone.
Applications for the Competition are free and will be accepted until May 17, 2015 from entrepreneurs and companies from 11 counties, including Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Carrol, Gallatin, Owen, Grant, Pendleton, Harrison, Bracken and Robertson counties.
The top five applicants will be selected and announced on May 19. They will receive coaching from the Northern Kentucky ezone and make their pitches to three accredited Kentucky Angel Investors on May 27 at UpTech. $1,500 in prize money will be awarded to first and second place.
“We are looking for the best entrepreneurs in our 11 county region,” said Casey Barach, director of the Kentucky Innovation Network at Northern Kentucky ezone, UpTech founder and Senior Vice President of Tri-ED. “We have a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem with our partners, including UpTech and the INKubator at Northern Kentucky University. We want to build on that foundation and attract entrepreneurs from the broader region.”
The Competition application, rules and details are available at www.nkystartups.com. The Competition is part of NKY Startup, a collaboration of the Kentucky Innovation Network, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and the ezone to support entrepreneur events and programs in Northern Kentucky.
About Northern Kentucky Tri-ED:
Founded in 1987, the Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED) serves as the primary economic development marketing agency for Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky. Since 1987, 600 companies have located or expanded in Northern Kentucky accounting for the creation of 51,600 new primary jobs for a total of 120,800 jobs created. These jobs have generated an economic impact of $25B. New and expanding companies have accounted for $6.9B in capital investment. Tri-ED is a key partner in Vision 2015, a 10-year strategic plan for growth in the region. For more information, visit www.NorthernKentuckyusa.com. Northern Kentucky Tri-ED can also be followed through social media channels via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
About Northern Kentucky ezone
The Northern Kentucky ezone, a division of Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation and operator of the Kentucky Innovation Network’s Northern Kentucky Office, provides support for start-up entrepreneurs and established companies commercializing a new product, technology or process. Support includes early-stage capital in the form of grants, loans, forgivable loans and equity investments through the Kentucky Enterprise Funds and the Kentucky Department of Commercialization and Innovation. Since the program began in 2001, the ezone has assisted 350 companies, helping raise over $160 million in grants, equity and forgivable loans for Northern Kentucky companies. The ezone has assisted clients in achieving 44 awards from state funding sources. To discover more, visit www.NorthernKentuckyezone.com
About Kentucky Innovation Network
The Kentucky Innovation Network provides business assistance to entrepreneurs from 13 locations across the state. Formed in 2002 by the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Kentucky Innovation Network serves all 120 counties throughout the Commonwealth from 13 offices, including Covington, focusing on the development of innovation-driven companies in Kentucky. Visit www.kyinnovation.com for more information.
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