One First Prize of $1000 cash, along with up to $10,000 of in-kind,
B.I.G.* Competition partner services will be awarded. The First Prize cash award must be used for
equipment, materials, rent or professional services to begin a business or launch a new
product or service. The recipient may not use the funds to pay his or her own time. It is
meant to complement "sweat equity," not pay for it. The First Prize winner will be
chosen by the B.I.G.* Competition Judges’ Panel.
The in-kind services may include: engineering services through the Innovation Lab at
Penn State DuBois, participation in the Planet Eureka! Business Translation Workshop and
entry into the Open Innovation Marketplace, market research support through the Ben Franklin
Transformation Group, brand identity support through Vision Creative Group, and business supplies
from a materials’ supplier. Additionally, the 1st place winner will receive consulting
services through Penn State DuBois Office for Technology Transfer for participation in the
annual Ben Franklin Business Plan Competition.
One Second Prize of $500 cash, along with up to $5000 of in-kind, B.I.G.*
Competition partner services will be awarded. The second prize cash award must be used for
equipment, materials, rent or professional services to begin a business or launch a new
product or service. The recipient may not use the funds to pay his or her own time. It is
meant to complement "sweat equity," not pay for it. The second prize winner will be chosen
by the B.I.G.* Competition Judges’ Panel. The in-kind services will
include: engineering services through the Innovation Lab at Penn State DuBois, participation
in the Planet Eureka! Business Translation Workshop and entry into the Open Innovation
Marketplace, and business supplies from a materials’ supplier.
Two Honorable Mention awards of $500 cash each will be given. The Honorable Mention prize
cash award must be used for equipment, materials, rent or professional services to begin a
business or launch a new product or service. The recipient may not use the funds to pay his
or her own time. It is meant to complement "sweat equity," not pay for it. The Honorable
Mention winners will be chosen by the B.I.G.* Competition Judges’ Panel.
No prize substitution is permitted. If a winner cannot accept a prize, it may be
forfeited. The B.I.G.* Competition winners will be provided an award check.
Applicable taxes and/or expenses arising from this award will be the sole responsibility of
the winners.
The B.I.G.* Competition business contest is a joint effort of the
Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development
Commission, Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce and the Office for Technology Transfer at
Penn State DuBois. The KIZ grew out of efforts of the North Central Regional Planning and
Development Commission, the Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce and Penn State DuBois to
create an environment where collaboration and forward-thinking could be nurtured and
supported. The designation of the Zone serves as an impetus to create the environment
needed for the exploration of marketable ideas, the start-up of new companies and the
commercialization of new technologies. The competition was created as the next in a series
of efforts to nurture idea creation, to make consulting services available to local
entrepreneurs, and to spur the development of a culture of innovation in the area.
Complete contest guidelines are available on this site or call
John Weible at 814-371-1506 or Sally Moran at 814-375-4803. All contest applications are to
be submitted electronically after August 1; contest deadline is midnight, Monday, September
14.
