(Cassie Condon joins Post News Director Canon Rath to chat about the BIG Changes coming to the Big Event!)
North Platte, NE- ( April 29, 2024)- The North Platte Young Professionals (NPYP) are proud to announce the return of their highly anticipated pitch competition for the fifth consecutive year. This year's competition promises to be even more exciting, offering aspiring entrepreneurs and young minds the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas and compete for substantial prize money.
NPYP acknowledges the unwavering support of their sponsors who make this initiative possible. Eagle Communications, through the Schmidt Foundation has graciously stepped up again this year to donate prize money for the Community Category. Third Place will win $2,500. Second Place will win $5,000. First Place will win $10,000.
Mid Plains Community College demonstrates its commitment to fostering young talent by once again sponsoring the Youth Category for MPCC college scholarships, that can be used at any MPCC campus, or for summer courses. The prize awards for those entering under 18; Third Place will win a $1,000 scholarship. Second Place a $1,500 scholarship. First Place will win a $2,500 scholarship.
As the years have gone by, it was time for the program to grow and adapt to the community’s needs. “As a committee, we felt it was in the community’s best interest to adapt our program to what would work best for our landscape. In the beginning we build the program from others who had Big Idea framework, and now it is time to adjust,” stated Cassie Condon, North Platte Young Professional Advisory Team Member.
“Our sponsors, volunteers, and community have invested a lot of time to build this pitch competition into something unique in the state. We want to recognize that and allow it to grow from here. Each finalist that is selected to move forward will be required to meet with business coaches one on one to review their business plan or model prior to the Live Event. These sessions are a huge benefit to our finalist as they prepare for their Live speech and to move their idea forward,” Condon stated.
The NEW judging format for the idea pitch competition has also been adapted this year. As in years past, all entries will be judged based off of two criteria for the first two rounds: Originality and Creativity 50%, and Feasibility 50%. The third round will be determined by public voting and judge’s polling at the live event in October, with the contestant receiving the most votes securing the 1st place prize, the second most votes winning the 2nd place prize, and the third most votes obtaining the 3rd place prize.
The votes are weighted with public voting and judges combined.
This idea pitch competition is seeking application/ideas through September 16, 2024. We want to hear your ideas and with the top three ideas winning prize money and support to help bring their product, service, or enhancement to current business to fruition.
It's simple to turn in your idea… grab your phone, turn on your video and tell us what our BIG IDEA for North Platte is. Then upload that video to BigIdeaNorthPlatte.com. Finalists will be chosen, and we will help those applicants prepare and flush out their ideas for in an entertaining pitch performance on October 23rd, where in front of a focus group of North Platte residents you can see and hear support for your new idea, plus the chance to win BIG money and prizes.