Could You Use Some Seed Money To Start Up Your Own Business?

Could You Use Some Seed Money To Start Up Your Own Business?

One state currently has a Start-Up Capital Investment Fund. This funding program supports high-tech start-up companies as they near commercial viability by providing access to early-stage capital to accelerate company development.


These funds will extend the personal investment of entrepreneurs during the critical stage when they are developing their businesses to the point of readiness for outside investment.


The fund targets companies throughout the state that are creating the newest technologies in the following competitive areas:

• Advanced automotive, manufacturing, and materials;
  
  
  
• Alternative energy;
  
  
  
• Homeland security and defense;
  
  
  
• Life sciences

To find out more about this funding program, you can visit their website

YES! There Are STILL Angel Investors Around!

Yes there are still angel investors that are around!

In one state there is one angel network that was formed to make financial and intellectual capital available for early stage and growing entrepreneurial companies!

This particular angel network seeks a balance among risk-adjusted returns, enhanced job creation and economic development in the state. The network looks to fill the gap for companies looking for and investment of $250,000 to $1,000,000.

The network is a not-for-profit entity that is member-led with each individual member making their own investment decisions. The culture of the group is intended to be one of active investors willing to contribute to the large amount of work involved in deal flow, vetting opportunities, presentation preparation, due diligence, negotiation and post-investment monitoring.

For more information you can either contact them by phone or you can visit their website.

"There Are No Grants To Start A Business" - Of Course There Are!

Here is an excerpt from an online site:

"Generally speaking, there are no grants to start a small business. A lot of books get sold and they all refer to the government website....

This is absolutely not true!

In my research of grant programs I have many of them that have been created to help people start their own business. Some of these grant programs are not government grant programs and I think that there is where some of the confusion is.

For example there is a grant program that grants up to $25,000 for those that want to start their own business. However this particular grant program is limited to minorities but if you are a minority (and that includes women) then this is definitely one grant program that you should consider.

You will have to submit a business plan as part of your application but if you are considering starting your own business then you should have a business plan already in place.

The above grant program that I mentioned is not a government grant program it is a grant program that is sponsored by a for-profit business! Maybe that makes it harder to find it because it is not a government grant program but it is a grant program none the less! This is grant money that you do not have to pay back if you get it!

You can see many, many more examples of grant programs to help you start your own business by visiting my Grant Basics 101 Website.

When you visit this site you will see many, many examples of grant program that help you start your own business.

Remember, when you read something that says that there are no grant programs to help you start your own business it is just a myth!

Grant(s) To Help Start A Business?

"I am trying to find a type of grant for a vehicle so I can start a delivery business. If anyone has any ideas please let me know."

Most of the grant programs that I have seen to help one start a business basically start out with you having to submit a business plan (and hopefully you have one!)

If you are a minority then there is a grant program that you can apply for that awards up to $35,000 so that you can start your own business - but pleased be advised that you will have to submit a business plan in order to apply!

Many states (and more local areas) are starting (or already have) grant programs to help locals / residents start a business but again be advised that you will have to submit a business plan (in most of them). So you can also start checking your state (and more local) website(s) to see what kind of grant programs that they have available.

Grant Program For Minorities That Want To Start Their Own Business!

Over $100,000 has been donated in business grants to minority businesses!

One business received $100,000 alone!

Other start-up businesses received a grant of $25,000 each! (One of these businesses is a start-up tutoring business).

So far over $1 Million Dollars has been awarded to emerging minority businesses. Businesses across the country competed for an opportunity to win a total of $200,000 in business grants!

This grant program was launched to stimulate economic growth and development in urban communities. In addition to the grant money, the program provides web-based educational resources including webinars, blogs and business advice from national judges and past winners.

So if you are a minority and are looking for free money to help start a business of your own then this is one program that you should be looking into further! You can find out more information about this program by going to the program's website!

Four Business Plans Win Cash In Contest!

The first prize cash amount for this contest is $50,000! The recipient's business plan that won first place will use its technology to use vibrations to power small electronic devices, including sensors and medical devices.

A student group proposing to make tiny device that scavenges energy out of small vibrations won the second annual prize.

Other finalists included:

• a business which developed a method to produce silane gas on-site for customers in a novel manner that is flexible, low-cost and environmentally benign
  
  
• a business plan which seeks to place small food digesters outside restaurants and cafeterias to produce natural gas from decomposing food
  
  
• a business which will offer a proprietary smart battery management system, enhancing battery utilization in electric vehicles.

Says a spokesperson for the competition, "this prize is part of the effort to meet the challenges I've described. It's also part of the effort to develop an entrepreneurial culture and a culture of innovation."

Officials from the company said they used their prize money to move their technology forward and as evidence of the strength of their concept -- eventually winning a stipend and work space from another organization and more funding from another funding program that provides seed capital for businesses.

Still Think That There Are No Grants To Start A Business?

While on Twitter someone sent me a message saying that the SBA (short for the Small Business Administration) was not aware of any government grants to help start a business.

My reply was that just because the SBA says that they are not aware of any government grant programs to help start a business - that doesn't mean that there aren't any out there.

Secondly it is NOT only the government that has grant programs! Here are some excerpts from my files and databases:

• If you are out of work, you may be able to get money (up to $10,000) to live on as well as money to pay for entrepreneur training in order to run your own business. These programs are run with federal money and state money. Each state has different rules and the main idea is that they have money for you to train to get a better job along with money to live on while you are training. And your new job can be starting your own business! These programs are run through state offices located in your state capital but will have additional offices all over your state. You can find your local office by calling 411 and asking for the state capital operator in your state capital or you can visit their online website for more information.
  
  
• Maybe you don't need a bunch of money to get your idea off the ground. Maybe all you need is just a few thousand dollars to get started. Well, there are hundreds of non-profit organizations that offer small grants and easy loans aimed at people who would never be able to get money from traditional sources. It is difficult to locate all of these groups around the country but two good starting places are.........
  
  
• There is an international entrepreneurship competition for bold and innovative business ideas that can help to solve some of the key challenges of this century.
  The goal of the competition is to promote the creation of sustainable new business ventures that combine financial returns with social and environmental benefits. These can include new products and services, operational processes and business models.
  
  The competition encourages ground breaking innovation and problem solving – challenging entrepreneurs from across the world to make a real difference through developing new markets and making a sustainable profit.
  
  To enter, participants business ideas must address a key challenge. Entrants will be required to write a 5-page outline summarizing their business idea.
  
  This competition is looking for the best business ideas from across the world!
  
  Entries will be accepted from individuals, teams, new companies, existing companies creating spin-offs, students, scientists, academics and entrepreneurs. Regional, national and international participation is encouraged.
  
  Business ideas can be based on a new product, a service, operational process or business model.
  
  To be considered eligible for this program one of the requirements is that the business idea be a commercial, for-profit venture! If you are not sure whether or not your business idea meets the criteria, this program is happy to discuss your particular case.
  
  All entries must be submitted via their website!. If you have a question or query about a plan that you have already submitted, you can also contact them by email using this email address.

Again, please do not tell me that there are no grant programs to help start a business!

Grant Money For Student Entrepreneurs!

One university here in the United States has a grant program for its student entrepreneurs. This is a grant funding program where students apply for money to advance their own business ideas.

So far $50,000 in grant money has been awarded! In addition to the financial awards, grant recipients will receive counsel from leading business experts on business plan development and funding strategies.

According to one spokesperson for the program, "Participating in this competition is a fantastic learning experience for our students. They are forced to evaluate market potential for their ideas, develop a business case and conduct due diligence".

Those who are selected benefit not only from the financing but they also gain access to business experts and venture capital leaders to determine next steps in the development of their business ideas.

So far over 900 students have received these grant money awards for their start-up businesses. Grants are administered at three funding levels:

• business design grants at $500
  
  
• assessment grants at $1,500
  
  
• up to $10,000 for integration grants

Past grant recipients include:

• $5,000 for a designer and manufacturer of light sport aircrafts
  
  
• $1,500 for an online marketplace for booking charter aircraft
  
  
• a business that provides web-based software that offers operational support for solar PV contractors
  
  
• $1,500 for an online business that offers online information and products for urban gardening
  
  
• $500 to a business that provides a web application that alerts patrons to daily specials from local restaurants
  
  
• $500 to a business that provides a debit card for international travelers
  
  
• $500 to a business that offers speed dating through interactive gaming
  
  
• $500 to an Indian senior-living facility in United States

This program benefits students, as well as the local and university community, by stimulating entrepreneurial efforts and starting new businesses.

For more information about this grant program for students you can visit their website by clicking here.

Government

Job Opening

Not only does our government have grant programs they also have many job openings as well! There is currently a job opening in Alaska for someone to work with dogs. The job includes managing a dog kennel and operating and running a dog sled! According to an online article the salary for this job position can be as much as $66,000!

There is even an interview with the person who formally held this position.

You can read the article by clicking here.

Small Businesses

Receive

Grant Money

For Energy Programs

2 small businesses have received grant money to build solar photovoltaic systems to generate electricity at their respective places of business.

Says one of the grant recipients, "I've been thinking about doing solar for a long time, for years actually. It's just been so expensive. I found out about that grant this summer."

Unfortunately one of the down sides to this grant program is that the application for the grant is 150 pages long! But that didn't stop the two businesses (one of which is a farming business) from applying for the grant money.

According to a spokesperson for the grant program, "These funds are a good example of the Obama administration's commitment to helping rural businesses become more energy efficient. In the long run, the funding that is being obligated is good for both the economy and the environment."

One of the grant recipients will use the grant money to install 13,000-watt systems at his farm and the storage facility. He hopes to have his systems operating by the end of the year.

The other grant recipient, who has a small business running a tavern, will install one five-kilowatt system on the roof of his downtown business and he hopes to have it operating by early next year.

Grant Programs For Single Mothers! Single mothers who are living on a low income can now qualify for a number of grant programs. Recently President Obama has started yet another grant program for single mothers who want to go back to school to continue their education. As for other kind of grant programs that single mothers can apply for here is a recent excerpt: There are also lots of others grants out there that mothers who want to go to college can apply for. It would benefit all mothers to apply for as many as they can and not rely on just one. Mothers do not have to repay the grant money because it is a government grant that help mothers with low income to go back to school. The grant money can be used to help mothers tremendously. The money can be used to pay for college expenses such as books, tuition and even daycare while in college. Also available to single moms who decided to go back to school is a tax program which allows mothers an opportunity to use their first $4,000 as tax free money. Mothers can study at their local nearby community college, junior college or even study at home online. Many mothers take this last option of studying at home because it's a lot easier to stay home with the kids and at the same time get their college degree. President Obama has made every effort to help mothers go back to school and get their degree. There's no reason why any mother out there should not take this wonderful opportunity. There is now also an online website where you can enter a drawing to win $10,000 towards your education. Registration is required and the deadline to enter is December 31, 2009

Do You Need Financial Help For Your Business?

Believe it or not there are still angel investors around! What are angel investors? They are people (and businesses) willing to invest in your business!

Here is an example of one such angel investor program!

If you would like more money for your business then there is a program that you may be eligible to apply for!

What you will need to do is submit your business plan and if the sponsor(s) of this program like it then they will fund your business! It really doesn't get much more simpler than that!

In order to be eligible: Your business plan has to be for a business that will make money! Your business will also have to break even within 2 months and make a profit within 3 months! You will also have to tell the sponsor how they will receive their equity or ROI.

Priority will be given to businesses that are already established!

For more information about this funding program you can also visit the website for more information.

Grant To Start A Business An Example One woman didn’t want to leave her job but in November, the firm that she worked for announced restructuring plans — and axed her position! For about six years, she had been kicking around an idea with her now-husband: a Web site that tracked parking spots for rent in urban areas. They got the idea while chatting about parking gripes over dinner one night with friends, and the next morning went online and secured the domain name for their site. “It’s a scary jump to take the risk to leave a full-time job,” she says. Although she didn’t have any knowledge about the parking business she joined forums and associations, meeting everyone she could. Financing has also been tough. She and her husband approached banks and other traditional sources but found few willing to lend — and those that would insisted on tough terms. So, the two have relied on friends and family, as well as government grants. Another problem was more personal: finding enough self-discipline. “There’s no one telling you what to do anymore. There’s no one telling you to get out of bed at a good hour.…You’ve got to spend your heart and soul into it. You’re now your own boss.” Revenue from the site hasn’t met their early expectations. But she now thinks that those hopes were unrealistic, and the site has shown strong growth in other ways, expanding its network to 30 cities. She also adds that she has no intention of giving up entrepreneurship. “I’m not going back to being a full-time employee,” she says. “I’m working full time now, for me. It may sound selfish, but I’d rather do something for me and build my company than helping someone else build theirs.”

Here Is An Example Of An

Entrepreneur Who Got An Investor!

One man who had long worked in the home-building and remodeling industry — a lucrative field when the housing market boomed a few years ago. But after it began collapsing in mid-2007, he could no longer make a livable income, and took a job selling cars at a dealership. While working full time, he got the idea of building a Web site where consumers could solicit bids from contractors and where general contractors could solicit bids from subcontractors. A Web site, he figured, would simplify a traditionally nettlesome process and allow subcontractors to find jobs that they wouldn’t otherwise know about. In late 2007, he started working with the local small-business help center at a local university to build his business plan and buy up domain names. A counselor at the center also connected him with a local angel investor group.

In February 2008, he pitched the group on his plan for his website and asked for $200,000 to cover start-up costs. Four hours later, one angel called him and said that six of the group’s members would collectively give him the money so then and there he quit his job the next day.

“Once they said, ‘This is such a good idea that we want to put our money in it,’ that was the day I thought, wow, I’m really onto something,” the 28-year-old entrepreneur says.

He spent the next several months working on the site, investing $50,000 of his personal savings, along with $150,000 in bank financing. But growing the business was much harder than he expected, mostly given contractors’ reluctance to use the Internet. Over the first six months, only about 50 signed up for subscriptions to the site. But things are looking brighter in recent weeks as more contractors who are hard pressed to find work realize the Internet can help them. The site currently has about 190 paying subscribers, and he just secured another $200,000 of angel financing!

What’s more, the company, which has six employees, recently sold a franchise in Minnesota and another in Wisconsin for $20,000 each, and is currently talking with other potential franchisees.

He is optimistic that the company will be churning a profit by summer, but recognizes there are still many challenges ahead. “This is a high-risk operation in a struggling industry,”

*Names and specific website addresses have been withheld until the proper permission has been received!

A State Grant Program For Small (For-Profit!) Businesses!

Over $100 Million Dollars will be made available this summer to help create jobs in one state's area! According to one Senator: "The availability of these funds will provide an additional stimulus to our urban cores in the form of new jobs, investment in infrastructure and the creation of a more business-friendly environment.” The money will be used to finance business investment, infrastructure upgrades and downtown redevelopment that will advance the state’s economic vitality. The fund will support projects that help provide a framework for future growth in regions with stymied development. This funding program will be administered by a development organization and will be used to help attract businesses, improve commerce and revitalize local economies. It seems that this money has been already provided but the Governor just recently decided to release the funding! The funding will invest in projects that advance local development and small businesses, for instance making improvement to industrial parks and providing loans for purchase of equipment, real estate or other needs. Please note that the deadline to apply for this funding is June 15, 2009! Eligible applicants include municipalities, businesses, academic institutions, and non-profits. The funding awards will range from $100,000 to $5 million. The program will give a preference to requests for loans, with principal repayments able to be recycled for future projects, and according to the Governor, to ensure that each project meets the specific needs of its region. All applications will undergo a competitive review process by a regional office of directors. Application forms are now being made available online and you can download them from their website

"The Commerce Department wants to help businesses on the path with $50 million in the president’s 2010 budget to create regional “clusters” in which communities partner with colleges, universities and the business sector “to build on natural strengths." The president’s 2010 budget also includes $50 million for business incubators and “hundreds of millions” of dollars in economic grants for businesses and communities."

Grant Program For Non-Profits! *Please note that the deadline to apply for this grant is June 30, 2009! Eligible organizations must be a 501(c)3 non-profit with offices in the local area. Nominations for this grant program may be submitted at their website 5 p.m. CDT on June 30, 2009. This local area grant program was started to help local non-profits continue to offer important services to the local area! The programs will help local non-profits continue to offer important services to the area while also recognizing the hard-working and dedicated individuals who themselves have made a difference in the community. Over $50,000 in grant money will be awarded! Two grants will be awarded to non-profit organizations whose focus is in the areas of: youth development arts and culture environment stewardship The finalists will be notified in September, and the two recipient organizations will be awarded their grants at a recognition event later in 2009.

Have You Made A Positive Impact?

One adult and one high-school student will be recognized by having a grant award donated in his or her name to a qualified non-profit organization of his or her choice.

Eligible recipients must reside in the local area!

The deadline to apply is June 30, 2009.

The two selected individuals will be notified in September, and grants in these individuals` names will be awarded to qualifying organizations of their choice by the end of the year.

For additional information about this local grant program, please visit the website.

So far this organization has provided nearly $100 million to community organizations across the country with a special emphasis on those supporting K-12 education, positive youth development, arts and culture outreach, school safety and Internet safety. Through direct grants and a robust matching-gifts program for employees and retirees, this organization creatively and thoughtfully delivers a commitment to championing the communities where their customers and employees live.

You can also contact them by Email or by phone.

Grant Programs For The Unemployed? You may be eligible for a $5,000 grant towards training for a new job or career! For example one women who left her job used the grant to take computer classes and is now working at the same facility where she got her training! According to one online article: "There are dozens of grants and loans available for job training, career development, and assistance with starting a business. And you don't have to fall on hard times to take advantage of these programs. These programs are available to anyone seeking to change careers. The process of getting the job-training assistance through the program begins with a counselor assessing your skills, goals, the current job market, and financial assistance options. With the classes you want to take in mind, you choose three schools from a list of state-approved institutions, narrow that to the best option, and then work with the staff to put together a package of financial assistance. Assistance is provided for different types of career seekers: If you lose your job to foreign competition, there is a program that provides money for job-training programs up to 104 weeks at what the state and federal government deem a "reasonable cost." The program used to apply primarily to manufacturing, but the recently enacted federal stimulus package extended eligibility to service jobs. There is another financial program that will provide training grants of up to $10,000 per person for workers who lose jobs in layoffs of 50 or more people. This program can even help you with other costs such as bus fare or car insurance! There is also a loan program which will provide up to $10,000 with an interest rate of 7.8 percent which can be used to help pay for a nondegree program or up to half-time enrollment in an associate's degree program. There is also a program that will provide you with waivers which will allow you to collect unemployment benefits, even though your job search is on hold while you're attending school. The waivers are good for one year, and can extend unemployment benefits up to 18 weeks. If you are looking to start your own business then you can receive help from one of the centers that will help you meet with a bank. Then the US Small Business Administration can further assist new business ventures by guaranteeing up to 90 percent of the loan amount. An example of guarantee fees for the borrower under the program: A seven-year $50,000 loan would be set at the prime interest rate plus 2.75 percent. As an example, one women who took advantage of one of the programs started her own business. She got together another woman who was a baker with 20 years of experience who also wanted to start a business of her own. Their goal was to open a café, but neither had much in the way of managerial skills. While at a career center, she found that she could get federal funding for computer and business classes. Now, she is a co-owner of her own Café and Patisserie business which opened last year!

Do You Consider This To Be A Legitmate Grant Program?

I'll let you decide! Do you consider the program mentioned below a legitimate grant program? Would you be interested in applying for this program? I only ask because when I see that a funding program requires an applicant to pay a fee - I really do not consider it a grant program!

A woman's non-profit, private organization has a funding program which gives business grants to women who have been dreaming of starting their own business! This funding program is also open to those women who have already started their own business but are seeking more funding to grow their business!

One of the past grant recipients won a $500 grant to start their own crafint business!

In order to apply you must:

• be a woman a U.S. resident over the age of 18
  
  
• have made at least a $15 donation/application fee to this organization

Each business grant is awarded on the quality of the business plan and application materials. Because the grants do not have to be repaid, your credit history is not taken into consideration.

The grants are awarded on the quality of your business plan, not your credit rating.

Are You A Budding Entrepreneur Looking For Funding?

There is currently a contest that provides money, mentoring, marketing and technology tools for women entrepreneurs that need help in growing their own businesses. You can find out more about this program by visiting the organization's website

Grant Program For Your Non-Profit Boating Organization! There is a organization that provides grants to non-profit boating organizations in the United States to help encourage boating safety projects! Over the past 20 years, this organization has awarded over $800,000 in grant money! While all applications will be considered, the organization will give preferential consideration to grant proposals that incorporate new and innovative ideas that focus on how to reduce alcohol related fatalities. Some of the grant money has been used for: creating a online chart that highlights local area safety issues the making of publich service announcements for a movie theater flying a blimp with safety messaging above popular boating spots Grant awards of up to $4000 will be awarded! So far over 15 boating groups have been awarded grants from the over $$40,000 dollars available! Your organization can find more about this grant program and download an application by going to the grant program's website. You can also contact them by phone via their toll free number. Your application can be either emailed or snail mailed to them directly!

Scholarship To Study

Parapsychology!

Parapsychology is the study of paranormal psychological phenomena, such as extra-sensory perception, psychokinesis, and survival of consciousness after death.

There is a scholarship program available that was designed to assist a student attending an accredited college or university who wishes to pursue the academic study of the science of parapsychology. Remember that the scholarship program is for undergraduate or post-graduate students who are pursuing or wishing to pursue the academic study of the science of parapsychology, and is not a general scholarship award.


The scholarship award is $3,000 and eligible applicants must demonstrate a previous interest in parapsychology by including a sample of writings on the subject with the application form. Letters of reference are also required from three individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s work and/or studies in parapsychology.

Scholarships are awarded annually.

To apply for this scholarship program you can go to their website and download the application form (which is in .pdf format. Once you have printed out the application form, fill it out and return it to the foundation by the due date. You can also request an application form by email. Applications and collateral material may be submitted via post, fax or as MS Word or Adobe Acrobat attachments to an email directed to the email address above.

Past Recipients:

• One past scholarship recipient was a student at a university in Indiana where he was completing his PhD coursework through that university's Folklore Department. His master’s thesis centered on the Victorian folklorist and psychical researcher Andrew Lang who attempted to integrate both fields but succeeded in alienating both. Much of this student’s research project was to have focused on the connection between parapsychology and folklore, including an examination of paranormal photographs as texts of belief and objects of veneration.
  
  
• Another scholarship recipient was a student at a university in Israel. At the time of their scholarship award the student was looking forward to teaching a course at the university based on his master’s thesis, Paranormal Abilities and the Kabbalah. His studies centered on the relationship between paranormal abilities and the Kabbalah utilizing a parapsychological perspective. Through exploration of the Kabbalistic literature dealing with clairvoyance, psychokinesis, prophecy, out-of-body experiences, altered states of consciousness, and reincarnation, he planned to contrast the phenomena of the Kabbalah with the scientific experimentation conducted in parapsychology laboratories.
  
  
• Another scholarship recipient was both a psychotherapist and a doctoral candidate at an institue in California. She had done extensive research on dreams and her dissertation was an outgrowth of that work. She hopes to write a book based on her dissertation and pursue the implications of parapsychology for clinical practice.
  
  
• Another student who received the scholarship was involved with the Institute for Parapsychology in North Carolina and was interested in continuing his training in experimental parapsychology, and working on a proposed masters thesis entitled “Dissociation and ESP.” He was also working on an historical investigation of the poltergeist case on which William Blatty’s book, The Exorcist was based.

Business Plan Competition!

This Business Plan Competition is aimed at students, university graduates, scientific staff and professors as well as entrepreneurs, business employees, inventors and developers. Anybody from anywhere in the world, who has an innovative and high-growth nanotechnology or polymer-based materials business project can participate.

To participate in the competition any idea must have the following characteristics:

• Nanotechnology or polymer-based materials related - Nanotechnology is defined as the techniques and procedures used to manipulate the matter at the nanoscale level (10-9 m). For a broader definition please refer to classification systems of Patent Offices (i.e. USPTO, EPO, WIPO, etc.).
  

• Business oriented - The fundamental objective of the Competition is to promote the creation of start-up ventures, in any application field of nanotechnology and polymer-based materials, in specific regions of Italy. Participants must aim at developing their ideas into real businesses.
  

• Start-up phase - The competition is intended for new business ideas, and not to provide expansion capital to existing businesses.
  
  Owners of existing businesses are not precluded from entering the competition. However, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to evaluate the eligibility of teams that have already started operations (the product or service has already been delivered to the customers, or the company has already been established), on a case-by-case basis. Within such limitations, existing business owners are encouraged to enter.

Only after registration, Entry Teams will be allowed to submit an Executive Summary of their business project. Early submissions are encouraged. The Executive Summary must be emailed in PDF format to the competition's email address.

Receipt confirmation will be given within 24 hours.

The Executive Summary must not exceed 4 pages (excluding title and appendices) of text typed, single spaced, 10 or 12 font size, and at least 2 cm margins on all sides. Detailed spreadsheets and appropriate appendices should follow the text portion of the Executive Summary, and will not be counted in the 4-page limit. However, each Team should presume the judging panel will not necessarily read the appendices. Nevertheless, appendices should be included only as support to the presented findings, statements and observations.

Executive Summaries must be written in English.

Each Team must indicate a team member as referent for the verification of the contents of the submitted Executive Summary. If necessary, this reference will act as a contact point during the preliminary screening by the Organising Committee.

Executive Summaries must include/address the following indications:

1. Business Concept: explain your idea and its innovation. Be direct and effective. Basically, how you would describe your business to a potential investor/customer.

2. Opportunity and Strategy: focus on the existing problems/needs you solve/meet with your services or products. Highlight the primary benefits your idea brings to customers and how you would tackle them.

3. Technology: outline the technology at the base of your business idea. Do not be too technocratic, focus on the core technological features of your offering. For specific information about the technology involved use the appendices. Describe your position regarding the protection of Intellectual Property.

4. Market Analysis and Competitive Advantage: describe the target market, how big it is and its key features and trends. Highlight why customers would buy the products, and the market opportunity for sustainable margins and growth in the long term. Consider and indicate the competitors and how your company would face them. Highlight your competitive advantage and entry barriers for potential competitors. Keep the focus on the keys to success in your competitive environment.

5. Economics and Financials: explain in more details the assumptions used for revenues and expenses projections. Give an essential prospect on when cash flow would become positive. Outline your capital needs and what you would use such capital for. Try to be as clear as possible so the judges can see what your business potential is.

6. Team and Organisation: give a short summary of each Team member's background, what they would bring to the company, and how he/she would help the company to succeed. Briefly describe an implementation plan, with milestones and key success factors. Illustrate existing and potential risks involved.

7. Appendices: any additional detailed or confidential information that could be useful to the readers of the Executive Summary but not appropriate for distribution can be presented here. Appendices can include: detailed technology description; patents; market studies; highlights of Profit and Loss statement and/or Balance Sheet; etc.


For more specific information you are kindly requested to consult their Official Rules and Requirements which is available as a .pdf download

A Total Amount of € 600.000 Grand Prizes - Anybody anywhere with an innovative and high-growth nanotechnology or polymer-based materials business idea can participate and try to win one of the 2 Grand Prizes of € 300,000 each, using the money to start operations in Italy.

The two prizes are not cumulative: Teams must compete either for the nanotechnology or the polymer-based materials category.

Nanotechnology category - The winner of the nanotechnology Grand Prize will receive the € 300.000 to start its operations inside the national nanotechnology cluster in a specific region of Italy.

Polymer-based materials category - The winner of the polymer-based materials Grand Prize will receive € 300.000 to fund a start-up in the technological district on polymeric and composite materials of a specific region of Italy.

Financial Assistance For Diabetics!

Here is a quote from an article appearing on Live-PR.com:

The Federal Government has billions of dollars in free aid and assistance available for diabetics and diabetic small businesses. Many of these grants, loans and other sources of aid are seldom awarded because eligible diabetics and diabetic businesses do not know about them, do not have internet access or knowledge of existing programs.

For instance, did you know that there are financial grant programs out there for diabetics who are handicapped, sixty-two to sixty-five or older that can provide assistance with necessary home repairs such as roofing and both inside and outside home repairs?

One of the staff members of these programs has said:

"There are billions of dollars in assistance and grants earmarked for people previously identified as credit risks. Public and private funds are now available for them to repair homes, start a business, consolidate debts and any worthwhile purpose." . In addition there are also several reduced-cost and free programs that already exist now to help diabetics and the economically disadvantaged who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Such programs include energy assistance, free prescriptions, home repair and legal aid.

The programs also includes job training, financial assistance, phone bill assistance, diabetic recipes, free grants and scholarship information.

For additional information on these programs you can contact the program director or you can visit the organization's website. The organization can also be contacted via their offices, telephone, email and website.

Even Big Companies Like Dell Get Government Grants!

If you still think that there are no grant programs out there then you should read the information below:

Dell, the computer company, will continue to get MILLIONS of dollars in state and local grants. In return the company has promised to create more jobs and invest money in the area.

This comes after a court decision was made when Dell was sued because an advocacy group thought that the government grants that they were getting were benefitting the company more than it was benefitting the community. When the initial court ruling was in Dell's favor, the group decided to appeal but their appeal was rejected by the State Court Of Appeals. The court has ruled in favor of Dell which may possible mean that the computer company will not have to pay income tax on the government grant money that it has received. Basically the decision was that state officials have the right to decide who they give government grant money to.

Texas-based Dell could get up to $278 million in state grants and tax breaks if it makes good on its promise, plus a local package worth $37.2 million that covers taxes and startup and other costs.

Grant Program For Entrepreneurs!

Here is a quite bold grant competition program that is seeking entrepreneurs who have ideas to help solve the problems of the world!

The goal of this funding competition is to promote the creation of sustainable new business ventures that combine financial returns with social and environmental benefits. These can include new products and services, operational processes and business models.

The competition encourages ground breaking innovation and problem solving – challenging entrepreneurs from across the world to make a real difference through developing new markets and making a sustainable profit.

This funding opportunity is an open funding competition. They are looking for the best business ideas from across the world!

Entries will be accepted from individuals, teams, new companies, existing companies creating spin-offs, students, scientists, academics and entrepreneurs.

Regional, national and international participation is encouraged.

Business ideas can be based on a new product, a service, operational process or business model.

To be considered eligible for this competition, all entries must:

• Be innovative
  
  
• Be a commercial, for-profit venture
  
  
• Address one of the major points of the organization itself
  
  
• Not have received more than $100K in funding by the submission deadline
  
  
• Demonstrate a positive social and/or environmental impact as well as an economic return

If you are not sure whether or not your business idea meets the above criteria, the sponsors of this funding program are happy to discuss your particular case. You can visit their website for more details and contact information.

All entrants will be required to submit a 5-page executive summary of their business idea. Up to five additional pages will be allowed for relevant exhibits and appendices e.g. team CVs, financial reports, letters from potential customers.


All entries must use 10-point or larger font and be submitted as a single Word or PDF attachment. This should be no more than 2MB in size.


Entries will only be accepted via the 4-step registration process accessed via the 'Submit your idea' page of our website.


Executive Summary Guidelines


All executive summaries should contain the following information and headings:

Team Name
Opening Statement
The Idea & Unique Selling Point (USP)
The Market Opportunity
The Management Team
The Financial Plan
The Environmental and Social Benefits

To download detailed guidance on the Executive Summary please click the link that is provided on the website. (This download is in .pdf format)

All teams must have one designated team leader. The team leader will be the main point of contact for the competition organizers and will take responsibility for coordinating with each team members.


All work submitted must be the original work of the members of the team which they are free to disclose. Teams will not be able to submit the same proposal in to more than one category, though contestants can be members of more than one team.

Entrants need not have registered a company at the time of entry to the competition but will be required to do so in order to receive cash prizes.

Financial assistance will be offered to all competition finalists. For international entrants this will cover travel and accomodation costs. For UK entrants financial assistance will cover accomodations costs on the reqired dates only.

All entries must be submitted via website!

If you have a question or query about a plan that you have already submitted, please contact the competition organizers via email.

There Are Even Grant Programs To Help Start A Business In Canada!

Here is an excerpt from their website:

".......and calls for a mining institute to retrain out-of-work forestry workers as miners, and there is $60 million over five years for young farmers and food producers to start their businesses".....

Again - never let anyone tell you that there are no grant programs to help start a business!

Even Canada has such grant programs!

"Am I Eligible To Receive A Grant To Open A Daycare In My Home?

Am I eligible to receive a grant to open a day care center in my home? / Am I eligible to receive a grant to open a day care center in my home?

You might be eligible to receive funds from a grant program that is operated through your state's program. Almost all States provide funds for child care through this grant program. States and/or local agencies (i.e., county, city, regional offices) may provide services directly or purchase them from qualified providers. Child care is also funded through other grant programs at the state and local level.

You can check out more information about this grant program including the names of your state official and the state program contact information by going to the grant program's website.

---

Where do I go to get funds to start or improve my child care program?

Does my state help child care providers? centers? family child care homes? day cares?

How do I contact my state to get help with starting my child care program?

Where can my families find child care funds?

The state agency responsible for subsidizing child care programs can tell you if funds are available to help you start a new child care program or expand your existing program, and they will let you know how to apply. Information about these state agencies can be found online.

The agency can also tell you how the families you will be serving would apply to receive subsidies to help them pay for child care.

* - You can also find out more information about daycare-related grants on my Daycare Grant Basics 101 page.

Grants For Daycare - Is This Just A Myth?

For some time now I have been seeing this article and it's really been bugging me!

The Straight Facts First - (The Plight of Grantseeking for For-profit Business Owners)

Before you begin your 8 Steps to Obtaining Grants, there is some very important information you need to understand first. While there is a lot of talk about "how to find grants" in the child care field, most caregivers, especially independent home child care operators or persons starting a private or for-profit child care facility, don't realize that it is almost impossible for them to find grant money from any level of government. That is of course, with the exception of perhaps that which might be obtained from new business startup programs and the odd program operated by their provincial or state governments, generally under the Department of Children and Family Services.

'Almost impossible' - does that mean that there aren't ANY such grant programs? Of course I know that this is not true. Also you have to remember that it is not only just the government that has grant programs. And even though the above article says that there is the "odd state program for start-up grants I have found that these kinds of state grant programs for start-up businesses are becoming more and more and increasing at a more than "odd" rate.

The truth is "When it comes to private enterprises --- no matter how worthy or socially relevant --- unless they seek and obtain non-profit status, there is not(hing) I (or they) can do."

For-profit child care business operators, large and small, may, that's a small may because they aren't all that many programs available with a few exceptions (may) be able to: apply for local state/provincial programs. Other than that, the best way to locate financing for their child care business is to:

• Look into bank loans
  
• Obtain venture capital
  
  
• Seek gifts and loans from family and friends
  
  
• Look for advice from incubator organizations
  
  
• Obtain counsel from local small business and women's associations.

Unfortunately the above article is very troubling. It's obvious that they just don't know what they are talking about!

I Have Read Yet Another Article About There Being NO Grants To Start A Business

I really find it hard to believe that so-called "experts" don't know about the grant programs that are around that are for people that want to start their own business.

Even those professional organizations that say that there are no grants for for-profit daycares amaze me! How was it that I was able to find a client over 10 pages worth of information about grant programs that her for-profit daycare was eligible to apply for?

The article that I read had some words from SCORE about there being no grants to help people start a business. One SCORE member has said that when people come to him asking him about grants to start a business he more or less tells them that there are none! Then what about the grant program for minorities who want to start their own business that awards a $25,000 grant?) The article goes on to say that while there are grants for this kind of thing it is usually tailored to specific kinds of businesses.

I'm really surprised and amazed at all of this! Our federal government has grant programs available for all to apply for - in other words these grant programs are open to all - meaning that everyone including individuals and for-profit businesses to apply for. I will agree however that it will depend on the type of business that one wants to start. A lot of these government grant programs have grant programs targeted to a specific kind of topic or subject matter. However there are some grant programs that are targeted to those that want to start their own business HOWEVER in a majority of the grant programs applicants must submit a business plan and you have to make your business idea viable to those that are going to fund it with grant money (that you will not have to pay back).

Of course the argument comes up about all the "hucksters" that are on TV talking about all the "free money" that is available from the government - which actually in my opinion is true. However the "free money" does come with conditions which mainly consist of you first being eligible to apply for the specific grant programs and secondly going through the necessary paperwork that is required for you to even apply for the grant program(s).

The grant awards that you receive however is money that you do not have to pay back!

Take a look at my grants page and my daycare & grants page and you will see a list of grant recipients that have received grants to start their own businesses!