I hear from lots of folks kind of, sort of, maybe wishing, they could start their own business. To them I say, Just Start! There has never been a better time to start a business, period.
In fact, the folks at Intuit just made it an even better time to start a new venture with a national campaign aimed at helping aspiring entrepreneurs get into to business now. The highlight of the campaign is a $50,000 grant awarded to one lucky start-up.
Enter the “Just Start†Contest
Aspiring business owners can enter the “Just Start†contest by submitting a letter or video to www.IWillJustStart.com, or by visiting one of the local “Just Start†events in four major cities. Entrants will describe their business dream, what they need to do to make it happen and how they would use Intuit’s “Just Start†business grant to get started.
Experience the “Just Start†Feeling
Budding entrepreneurs can experience “Just Start†in four busy commuter hubs across the country. At each “Just Start†Lounge, they can enter the contest by sharing their business dreams on video. They can also draw inspiration from local entrepreneurs, obtain expert advice from local business experts and get a free copy of QuickBooks Simple Start.
- Cities include:
- Seattle – Oct. 24-25, Westlake Center.
- Chicago – Nov. 1-2, Union Station. (I will be at this event, come by and say hi)
- New York – Nov. 7-8, Grand Central Station.
- Boston – Nov. 13-14, South Station.
Visit the I will just start page to get a feel for the types of entries. Scrolling through some of the video entries is a great way to get fired up about your dream.
The contest entries are due by December 15th and the winners will be announced in January 2008. I have been asked to judge the entries, along with Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends and Ramon Ray of Smallbiztechnology.com. We will review the submissions and select five semi-finalists. Those entries will be posted on the site in mid-January, when visitors can view and vote for their favorite.
I can’t be bribed so you must go to the site and just get your entry posted!
