2004 Headlines
Johnson School Announces 5th Annual BRV Business Idea CompetitionWinner to Receive $10,000 and Free Legal Advice November 17, 2004, Ithaca, New York The Johnson Graduate School of Management's BR Ventures (BRV), a student run venture capital organization that invests in early stage businesses, is calling for entries for its 5th Annual Business Idea Competition (BIC). The competition is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to earn cash winnings and growth assistance from Cornell University's "Entrepreneurship Triad." The first place winner will receive $10,000 from BRV as well as 20 hours of legal assistance from Cornell's Entrepreneurship Legal Services (ELS). The second place winner will receive $2,500 and the third place finalist will receive $1,000. Entries must be electronically submitted by December 1, 2004 via www.brv.cornell.edu. Seven finalists will be announced in January and asked to present their business idea to a panel of notable judges from the venture capital industry on February 24, 2005 at Sage Hall on Cornell's campus. Judging will be based on the viability of the business idea and the attractiveness of such ideas to venture capital investors. In 2003, approximately 100 entries were submitted to the competition and BRV expects a 20 percent increase in entries this year. While the majority of entries are from within the Cornell community, this event is open to individuals from all over the United States. Cornell students, faculty and staff may submit their ideas at no cost; all others must pay a submission fee of $50 per entry. BRV is composed of 2nd year MBA students who are well-versed in venture capital and entrepreneurship. BRV fosters entrepreneurship throughout the Cornell community by identifying, supporting, and adding value to entrepreneurs and funding high-growth companies. The 20 hours of legal services offered to the BIC winner will be provided by ELS--a joint program of the Johnson School and Cornell Law School. Through ELS, Cornell law students provide affordable, professional quality legal services that are vital to the formation, operation, and eventual success of any start-up or emerging growth-oriented business. The 20 hours from ELS are valued at $500; similar assistance from an established law firm could cost in excess of $4,000. BR Incubator (BRI) can help applicants to develop their competition idea and will provide guidance on issues to address in advance of the entry submission. BRI is a Johnson School program that provides consulting and commercial advice to help emerging growth companies prosper by helping the entrepreneurs turn their ideas into a plan of action. BRI provides individualized services to clients by matching the talents and skills of MBA students with the varied and diverse needs of the businesses. Cornell University is the only school to offer all three services of the "Entrepreneurship Triad"—BRV, BRI and ELS. With the right idea, a new company could use BRI to develop their business plan, ELS could assist the new company in formation and development of start-up legal matters, and BRV could provide seed funding for the new company. For more information on BRV visit: www.brv.cornell.edu; for BRI, visit: bri.cornell.edu; and for ELS visit www.els.cornell.edu. The Johnson School at Cornell University, founded in 1946, is Cornell's graduate school of management. The Johnson School combines leading edge intellectual capital with "real time, real world" business practice and is among the top business schools in the world. Opportunities for experiential learning, such as immersion programs and student-run venture capital and mutual funds, distinguish the Johnson School's curricula. Programs include MBA and doctoral degrees, a twelve-month MBA option for students with advanced degrees in science or engineering and an executive MBA. The Johnson School is located at the center of Cornell University-the largest of the Ivy League schools and one of the world's top research institutions. For more about the Johnson School please visit: www.johnson.cornell.edu. For More Information |
