Entrepreneur competition to be held next month in Cape

Local entrepreneurs who compete in a new Delta Regional Authority pitch competition could become part of a regional network designed to promote business growth.

Cape Girardeau also will hold a Delta Challenge competition event planned for five regional states in February and March. A partnership between the Delta Regional Authority, a federally funded economic development organization, and Idea Village, a New Orleans-based business support service, created the Delta Challenge, which is an "idea showcase" that will lead to a newly formed entrepreneurship network and fellowship opportunities to attend New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, organizers said in a recent conference call. The DRA's federal co-chairman, Chris Masingill, said the new network "will provide entrepreneurs with additional connections and tools they need for success."

"There is significant entrepreneurial activity going on all over the region, and we want to connect that, we want to build those relationships with what's happening through this network," Masingill said.

In the series of pitch competitions, the Delta Challenge will choose entrepreneurs to become fellows -- two winners and one alternate from each regional event. Support organizations for the entrepreneurs also may join.

Winners of the regional pitch competitions, starting in Cape Girardeau on Feb. 24 and going through March 2 in cities in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, will attend New Orleans Entrepreneur Week later in March, where they can further pitch their ideas to national-level investors and attend educational and networking events.

The DRA has partners at the local level, Masingill said, who will help identify which entrepreneurs will join the network. The pitch competition is basically "an open call," for ideas, he said.

"This first round, we want to really encourage all scopes of potential entrepreneurship ideas," he said.

The DRA will host informational webinars for potential participants and support organizations leading up to the pitch competitions, and full application details are available at dra.gov/entrepreneur. Applications are being accepted.

Competitors, if they want to travel to another regional competition, may participate in more than one if they are not successful the first time, organizers said.

More details about the Cape Girardeau event are expected to be released as the competition date nears.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.