elcome to the Northeast Ohio Business Plan Challenge 2005 presented by COSE and Crain’s Cleveland Business! COSE provides many exciting rewards for entering this competition. First and foremost, the result is a finalized business plan, which is an invaluable tool for running a business. Just as important to COSE, however, is the opportunity to provide each plan author with feedback from seasoned and knowledgeable judges to help improve both the written plan and the business model of all the entrants who apply.
In addition, the Northeast Ohio Business Plan Challenge creates an environment through ongoing educational and networking opportunities that bring established and emerging entrepreneurs together with peers, mentors, vendors and assistance providers. NEO411, our resource referral partner, can provide access to assistance providers and offers a resource guide for your specific business needs.
Category Prize Winners
- What You Get
- $30,000 Category Prize
- Prize package
- COSE membership
- Feedback on your plan
- Meetings with COSE staff and other members of the business community who will work to help you achieve your business goals
- Media coverage
- Promotional materials for you to use as a Northeast Ohio Business Plan Challenge Winner
- What COSE asks
- Agreement to be "shadowed" for the year by the Business Plan Challenge media sponsor
- Agreement to speak on behalf of COSE in our mission to advocate on behalf of small business
Judges Special Recognition Awards
- What You Get
- Up to 30 plans will be recognized with individual monetary awards from a pool of $30,000
- Prize package
- COSE membership
- Feedback on your plan
- Meetings with COSE staff and other members of the business community who will work to help you achieve your business goals
- Media coverage
- Promotional materials for you to use as a NEO Business Plan Challenge Winner
- What COSE asks
- Agreement to be "shadowed" for the year by the Business Plan Challenge media sponsor
- Agreement to speak on behalf of COSE in our mission to advocate on behalf of small business
Top 10 in each category
- What You Get
- Feedback on your plan
- References to local business support resources to help you improve your plan and grow your business
- What COSE asks
- You will work on your plan, continue to pursue financing options and, if applicable, to enter the Business Plan Challenge again in the future
Submitting a Plan to the Challenge
- What You Get
- A completed business plan! (This is the greatest benefit of this Challenge, from our perspective!)
- Feedback on your plan, to guide you in making improvements
- References to local business support resources who can work directly with you to help you improve your plan and grow your business
- What COSE asks
- You will continue to manage your business to your plan, pursue financing options and, if applicable, to enter the Business Plan Challenge again in the future
- That you'll tell others about the Business Plan Challenge and encourage them to enter
Just for registering on the Web site
- What You Get
- Invitation to Business Plan Challenge networking and Letter of Intent event
- Up to date information about the Business Plan Challenge and events going on to help you prepare your entry
- Business referral’s and resources through NEO411
- Information about business plan clinics and resources that can help you write your plan and grow your business
- What COSE asks
- That you work hard on your plan and complete it by the deadline date
- That you have fun!
