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The Entrepreneurship Initiative is a branch of the HGCF. Each year, Mr. Grinspoon provides monetary awards to students who demonstrate the “entrepreneurial spirit” and who have a strong desire to own their own businesses. As part of this initiative, a competition is held between participating area colleges at an annual entrepreneurship banquet. Participating institutions include American International College; Bay Path College; Elms College; Greenfield Community College; Hampshire College; Holyoke Community College; Mount Holyoke College; University of Massachusetts (School of Engineering &amp; the School of Business); Smith College; Springfield College; Springfield Technical Community College; Westfield State College; and, Western New England College. At the banquet, one student representative from each institution has the opportunity to sell his/her idea to investment bankers who serve as judges via a ninety second “Elevator Pitch”. Award winners for first, second and third place, for $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively, are chosen that evening. The Competition:

The HGCF Entrepreneurship Initiative is grateful to the following community banks which have sponsored the Elevator Pitch since its inception:

Bank of Western Mass Berkshire Bank Country Bank for Savings Florence Savings Bank Peoples Bank United Cooperative Bank West Bank &amp; Trust Co. Round 1: Each college or university has a system in place to choose the candidate that will compete on its behalf. Some colleges run an elevator competition on campus with an independent panel of judges who choose the best candidate to move to the live elevator pitch. Others vote through their students organizations. For information about a specific institution’s protocol, contact the Faculty Advisor at the institution of interest. Judges evaluate pitches based fifty percent on "fundability" (demonstration there is a need or market) and fifty percent on the quality of the presentation. Round 2: The main competition at the annual entrepreneurship banquet is considered Round 2. It is being held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at The Log Cabin in Holyoke, Massachusetts. At the live competition, students will be called in random order to give their elevator pitches. Again, each student will have ninety seconds only. In Round 2, the judges are area investment bankers who are accustomed to making decisions regarding financing new business ventures. Judges will be choosing winners based solely on the caliber of the ninety second pitches. This means participants are not allowed to use note cards, technology, handouts, or props. Contestants will have ninety seconds only. The finalist and a guest will receive free admission to the banquet. Students who participated in Round 1 are also encouraged to attend the banquet to support their institutions’ representative and hear some excellent speakers. The cost per ticket is only $10 per person. Students interested in attending the banquet should register through the faculty advisor form their institution. Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled full-time at one of the participating institutions during the current academic year Individuals or teams of two students Students who, if chosen to represent BPC at the banquet, are available to deliver their pitches in person in Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at The Log Cabin

For more information please visit this website: http://www.hgcf.org/entrep/index.php?page=6015