Calling All Entrepreneurs

The Pittsburgh Technology Council has launched its 2008 EnterPrize Business Plan Competition, and it's a great way to help entrepreneurs. Even if an entrepreneurial team doesn't win the ultimate competition, it can get cash awards at several phases of the competition, and perhaps more importantly, merely participating can enable the team to get valuable assistance from some outstanding advisors and a lot of exposure to a network of people and potential investors who can help the business grow and be successful.

The competition is open to both new businesses and to young, small existing businesses (less than 3 years old, less than 20 employees, and less than $1 million in annual sales). And it's not just businesses with highly advanced technology products -- the competition is open to any business with an innovative product or service.

The Tech Council is hosting eight workshops and three networking events as part of this year's competition, beginning on February 20 with a workshop on "Developing the Idea" taught by Chris Allison, former CEO of Tollgrade Communications.

For more information, contact Melissa Ungar, Director of Entrepreneurial Programs, at mungar@pghtech.org.