NEW ALBANY, IN — The 17th annual Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is November 18-24, with the theme “Entrepreneurship is for Everyone,” a week of events with the centerpiece being this year’s “The Next BIG Thing Pitch Competition.” Sponsors include Indiana University Southeast, Indiana Small Business Development Center, Novaparke Innovation & Technology Campus, Republic Bank, Floyd County Library, Maker 13, The Root, Idealogy Marketing + Design.
The scheduled events are as follows:
High School Entrepreneur Resource Fair – Tuesday, November 19. 9 AM – 2 PM
This event, held at Maker13 in Jeffersonville from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., connects high school students with local entrepreneurs to learn about the valuable resources, support, and opportunities to foster growth and innovation that exist within our community. This event is sponsored by Republic Bank. To register a student for this event, please email Kyleigh.Hublar@maker13. com.
IEDC ESO Summit & Yearbook Release Celebration – Thursday, November 21, 9 AM – 6 PM
This statewide summit for entrepreneur support organizations (ESO) will be held at FORUM Events Center, 11313 USA Parkway, Fishers, Indiana. Doors open for registration at 9 a.m., with welcoming remarks at 10:00 a.m. workshops and breakout sessions from 11:00 – 4:00 (with lunch at noon). Panels will present and share the best practices in entrepreneur-led economic development around the state. Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) will host a yearbook release party immediately following the summit from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. All 2024 honorees will be recognized on stage. For additional information about this invitation-only event, please email mfulkerson1@isbdc.org.
The Next BIG Thing Pitch Competition – Wednesday, November 20, 6 – 8:30 PM
Applications open October 16 and close November 6, with finalists presenting for prizes on November 20. This exciting evening of innovation, inspiration, and networking brings some of the brightest minds in local entrepreneurship together to showcase their groundbreaking ideas and compete for up to $25,000 in seed capital. This event, proudly presented by
Novaparke, will be held in the IU Southeast Hoosier Room (inside of University Center North) and is FREE to attend. A food buffet and non-alcoholic beverages are included with your admission.
Founders Beer – Friday, November 22
For adults age 21 and over, meet local founders at Parlour Pizza, located at 131 West Chestnut Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (EST).
The Next BIG Thing Pitch Competition – Additional Information
Applications will be accepted from October 16 through November 13, 2024, 5:00 p.m. (EST). No late applications will be accepted. The application must be submitted online at https://www.maker13.com/gew/application and include the following items:
- Completed application form
- Three-minute elevator pitch (provide a video link)
- Executive Summary (applicants must use the Executive Summary template, including a 3-year pro-forma financial projection provided on The Next BIG Thing submission site) Two categories are available for the 2024 Next BIG Thing Pitch Competition. (Executive Summary template: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a6fa6979f07f5ae0a1b3695/t/66f6e5822d 9f653680675532/1727456643782/Executive+Summary_Sample.pdf)
Fast Pitch
This category is for individuals/teams who have identified a problem to solve, have addressed a customer need, have executed market research, and have a rough business plan; however, they have not yet identified or finalized a minimum viable product or service to offer. Business must have operated for six months or fewer.
Participants in the Fast Pitch cohort must be an Indiana resident or have an existing business organized within the state of Indiana. If the business is not yet organized, winning submissions must agree to start the submitted business idea within the state of Indiana to receive financial prizes.
Fast Pitch First Place Award: $5,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, and a 1-year membership to Maker13 in Jeffersonville, IN.
Pitch Tank
This category is for individuals/teams who have a completed business plan and have identified a specific minimum viable product or service to offer.
Participants in the Pitch Tank cohort must be an Indiana resident or have an existing business organized within the state of Indiana. If the business is not yet organized, winning submissions must agree to organize the business within the state of Indiana in order to receive the First Place Award. To accept the Pitch Tank First Place Award, the winning individual/team must also agree to work from office space on the Novaparke Innovation and Technology Campus in Floyd County for the full duration of the 2025 calendar year.
Pitch Tank First Place Award: $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, and office space for the 2025 calendar year at Novaparke Innovation and Technology Campus in Georgetown, IN.
All determinations as to participant eligibility shall be made at the sole discretion of the Next BIG Thing Pitch Committee reviewing the initial pool of applicants.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Mike Fulkerson, Ecosystems Navigator Indiana SBDC, Southeast Region
303 Scribner Dr. Suite 202 New Albany IN. 47150
Direct: (502) 794-0799
Email: mfulkerson1@isbdc.org https://www.maker13.com/gew
Add a Comment