Grow Great River Region

The next Creative Capital Pitch Session will be held on Thursday, January 28 at Dos Rios is Des Moines. This will be SPN’s first event held in Des Moines and we’re excited to work with two new partners: Paragon IT Professionals and the Technology Association of Iowa.

If you’re unfamiliar with the format, it’s three rounds, and the first begins today:

• Round One: Create and upload a one-minute video pitch of your idea to YouTube and complete the submission form by 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, January 19; eight contestants will be notified of their acceptance Wednesday, January 20.

• Round Two: January 28, Dos Rios restaurant, each contestant receives five minutes to pitch a panel of judges and the audience.

• Round Three: (also January 28, at Dos Rios) Judges select three finalists; a Q&A between the finalists and judges is held; the audience votes to determine the winner. Winner takes home $1,000, no strings attached.

Here’s a few more details followed by an FAQ. If you have additional questions, please leave a comment and we’ll promptly answer it. To view the press release on the competition, visit Paragon’s blog.

• Date: Thursday, January 28
• Time: Doors open at 6:00 p.m., competition begins at 6:30
• Location: Dos Rios (316 Court Avenue), Des Moines

Here’s your chance, submit your pitch today!

Here’s a picture from our first CCPS held at Nomad Lounge. (Picture compliments of Nomad Lounge.)

History

In early 2009, Invest Nebraska Corporation approached us for collaboration to hold a pitch session that would attract our audience of entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives in the Omaha area. After our first successful pitch session in February, we’ve held two more, one in Omaha and another in Lincoln. In 2010, we’re bringing CCPS to Des Moines with new partners, Paragon IT Professionals and the Technology Association of Iowa.

Format: Three Rounds

1. To enter, individuals upload a one-minute video pitch to YouTube and complete the submission form by the published deadline. Eight contestants will be chosen and notified of their acceptance, and a post on SPN will be published to announce the eight and present their video pitches.

2. On the day of the competition, each of the eight contestants receive five-minutes to pitch the panel of three judges and the audience in attendance.

3. The panel of judges choose three finalists, conducts a judge-finalist Q&A, and lastly, the audience votes to determine the winner. The winner is awarded a $1,000 check, no strings attached, and a “winner badge” to display on their website. Contestants receive a “participation badge.”

Rules

The rules of the CCPS are given in an FAQ format and have evolved with each competition. To view the most recent set of rules, see siliconprairienews.com/2009/09/creative-capital-pitch-session-iii-lincoln-here-we-come.