SCRA sponsoring EngenuitySC’s $5,000 Ignite! Ideas Contest; Deadline Extended to October 26
October 16, 2015
Seeking great ideas to help our #SCStrong community move forward
COLUMBIA, SC – EngenuitySC is seeking great ideas to move the Midlands forward via the $5,000 Ignite! 2015 Ideas Contest, sponsored by SCRA. Our community needs innovative ideas now more than ever – whether the idea directly impacts S.C. flood relief or has a long-term effect on our region.
Individuals and organizations can read contest details and enter at http://engenuitysc.com/ignite/ignite-ideas-contest. Applications are open now through Oct. 26, 2015.
Any and all startups, small business owners, social entrepreneurs, savvy students, big thinkers and go-getters are encouraged to pitch forward-thinking, grassroots ideas that will contribute to the new, #SCStrong landscape of our resilient region. This year, the winner of SCRA’s $5,000 prize will be selected via online voting and announced at Ignite! on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, at the state-of-the-art, newly designed University of South Carolina Alumni Center in Columbia, S.C.’s Congaree Vista district.
An anchor sponsor of Ignite! and the sponsor of the Ignite! 2015 Ideas Contest, SCRA grows the technology-based economy in South Carolina by supporting and making investments in early-stage companies and commercializing intellectual property. Multiple economic impact studies show SCRA’s cumulative output into South Carolina’s economy to be over $18.1 billion since 1983, creating approximately 15,000 technology-related jobs with annual wages averaging between $55,000 and $79,000.
“At SCRA, we recognize the importance of the entrepreneur in the growth of our region’s economy,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. “As an applied research organization, we are delighted to support local entrepreneurial ventures by sponsoring great initiatives like the Ignite! Ideas Contest.”
A nonprofit economic development organization chaired by Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, USC President Dr. Harris Pastides and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Vice President Keith Shah, EngenuitySC hosts Ignite! annually to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and economic competitiveness in the Midlands.
How does it work?
Contestants should create a two-minute video describing their well-thought-out, innovative, exciting or just plain awesome concept to positively impact the Midlands, describing the intended use of the $5,000 prize money from SCRA, upload to a service such as YouTube or Vimeo, then submit the video link and short entry form to the EngenuitySC website. While the idea and plan are what really matter, the video itself will be shown to the community for voting, thus increasing the importance of video quality. Submissions close at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2015.
The top five contestants will present their ideas in-person to judges on Oct. 29 at EngenuitySC, who will pick the top three finalists. Rather than presenting live at Ignite! as in years past, the top 3 finalists’ entry videos will be shared online and the general public will select the winner by online vote from Nov. 2-17. Finalists’ videos will be shown at the event and the winner will be announced live on stage at Ignite! on Nov. 18, 2015, in front of hundreds of local business and community leaders.
“Each year as the Ideas Contest submissions roll in, we’re amazed by the creative minds and entrepreneurial spirit of this community,” notes Meghan Hickman, Executive Director of EngenuitySC. “We received a record number of entries last year and although the ideas were impressive, we expect even bigger and better concepts from the Midlands this year.”
How did the $5000 prize impact last year’s winner?
Ignite! 2014 Ideas Contest winner Shambi Broome used the $5,000 to jumpstart Webgyrlz Code, a unique coding program designed to teach web coding to elementary aged girls. Through in-school, after-school and day camp programs, Webgyrlz Code aims not only encourage girls to take interest in STEM based careers, but also empowers them to become successful no matter what career they choose. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/webgyrlzcode.
Who can enter?
• South Carolinians living in the Midlands (which includes Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter and Saluda Counties)
• Individuals
• Organizations (if entering on behalf of an organization, be sure to list your pitch person as the main contact)
• Students (including those who are entering the USC Proving Ground competition, which is limited to the USC community)
• Sorry! Past Ignite! Ideas Contest winners are not eligible to enter.
To learn more about Ignite!, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com/ignite and follow the #IgniteCAE hashtag and @EngenuitySC on Twitter.
Or follow on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/engenuitysc.
About EngenuitySC
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., EngenuitySC is an economic development nonprofit focused on enhancing our region’s competitiveness and prosperity. In partnership with business, government, education and community leaders, EngenuitySC specializes in regional collaboration and project management, the activation of local industry clusters and regional research, analysis and marketing. For more information, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com/.
