National Entrepreneurship Challenge Focuses on Rural Entrepreneurs and Innovations; Applications Due September 15July 2014 |
On July 24, the American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business Global Social Enterprise Initiative and the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative's StartupHoyas, launched the Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge, the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs and business innovations cultivated in rural regions of the United States.
The Farm Bureau's Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge will recognize new business ideas in any sector and is open to entrepreneurs in any nonmetropolitan county (PDF: 774 KB) in the United States. Participants will compete for prize money of up to $30,000 and technical assistance to help them take their business ideas from concept to reality.
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Innovation. Is a new product or service being developed? Is the business model innovative? Is the idea clever or cutting edge?
- Feasibility. Does the business model seem workable? Is there a clearly defined market opportunity? Does the team seem able to execute its vision?
- Rural impact. Will the business bring a new product to rural America? Will it create jobs in a rural community? Will it help address a challenge common to rural citizens?